₦airaland Forum

johnie:
Justice Bolaji Candide-Johnson, of the Lagos High Court, on Thursday, said that the court would visit the Lekki-Epe Expressway in its bid to determine the legality of toll gates on the road.

"By the agreement of the counsel, it is agreed for the court to conduct a visit to the scene together with a demonstration," he said at the hearing.

The judge also called for the contribution of all counsel on how to proceed with the visit and the demonstration.

The News Agency of Nigeria, however, reports that the court is yet to fix a date for the visit.

Mr Adegboruwa told the court of the need for an expert to partake in the demonstration to determine the existence of an alternative route on the highway as claimed by the concessionaire.

The visit has now been fixed for this Friday, November 5.

We are waiting to see the 'alternative road'.

I am happy that the matter is being handled expeditiously by the judge. Good job!

The legislators dilly-dallied over this matter for over a year after complaints were made to them and at the end of the day, did noting about it.

The judiciary is supposed to be the last hope of the common man. We are watching!

Lagos 2011: The Dicey Game

Written by ADEWALE AJAYI
Saturday, 09 October 2010

Governor Babatunde Fashola
As the race for the governorship position in Lagos State ahead of the 2011 election gets interesting, ADEWALE AJAYI examines the chances of the aspirants.

IT is yet unclear which of the political parties that have their presence in Lagos State will produce the next governor.

It appears uncertain if the incumbent governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, will be given the ticket to run for a second term in office by his party, given the political intrigues that are currently in play.

Of all the 63 political parties registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), only two have significant presence in the state and aspirants have shown interest to contest on those platforms. The parties are Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The other parties are still invisible despite the fact that elections might hold in about six months.

Even in ACN, members are yet to make their intention to contest the governorship race public, but there are surreptitious moves in the camps of those who appear to be interested. This is because the party is yet to decide whether Governor Fashola will be allowed to run for a second term or not. Checks, however, indicate that the coast may be clear for him to run for a second term.

Findings show that those who are eyeing the governorship position in ACN include the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Honourable Adeyemi Ikuforiji and the Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire.

Within the PDP fold, seven aspirants are nursing the ambition to run and they have picked nomination forms for the post. They are former Minister of Defence (state), Mr. Demola Seriki; former deputy governor of the state, Mr. Femi Pedro; former Director General/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Ade Dosunmu; Mr. Owolabi Salis, Mr. Tokunbo Kamson, Mr. Babatunde Gbadamosi and Kudus Folami.

There is no gainsaying the fact that the battle for the soul of Lagos will be between the ACN and the PDP. The parties have remained the major contenders for the position in the last 11 years. Whether the table will turn in favour of the PDP this time round is a food for thought.

Babatunde Fashola
Before he emerged governor, he was Chief of Staff in the administration of former Governor Bola Tinubu. He was less popular then among the people of the state, because he confined himself to the job he was appointed to do.

Now, most of the challenges that have confronted his administration since 2007 were hinged on the fact that he was not amenable to how politicians behave in some circumstances. There is no doubt that his administration has performed creditably in some areas and that might enhance his chances of getting the ACN ticket to run for a second term. However, some schools of thought have argued that his performances were relatively concentrated in the urban areas with little or no attention paid to rural areas and satellite towns. That accounted for why the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Ikuforuji, tackled him when he was presenting the 2010 budget. He alleged that Fashola had not done enough and that he should not be obsessed with the accolades he had received so far that he had performed.

Muiz Banire
He was a lecturer before former Governor Tinubu appointed him commissioner during his first term in office. He was commissioner for special duties and from there, he was moved to the Ministry of Transportation and later seconded to Ministry of Environment.

His interest in the race initially was informed by the fact that the incumbent governor allegedly had an agreement with his political godfather to serve for just a term. Banire was said to have capitalised on the said agreement, hence, he started oiling his political machinery to succeed Fashola.

Adeyemi Ikuforiji
Before his election into the House of Assembly in 2003, he was a lecturer in the United States of America. Upon his election, he had his eye on the speakership position, which he contested with Honourable Jokotola Pelumi, who eventually got the ticket. When Pelumi was impeached by his colleagues in December 2005, Ikuforiji was elected the speaker.

He became the darling of Tinubu during his tenure as governor because he was able to put the House in order. That feat earned him his reelection as Speaker in 2007, ostensibly in order to assist in checkmating Governor Fashola. It was said that it was in demonstration of this that his political godfather has resolved to compensate him with higher position of governorship in case the incumbent refuses to ‘behave’.

Ade Dosunmu
He is said to be one of the loyalists of Chief Olabode George. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer of NIMASA when George was the chairman of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA). He was first appointed as an administrative staff before he was promoted.

His interest in the race has the blessing of his political godfather. He is pulling weight among members of the party and most of George’s loyalists are determined to work for him. For instance, on the day he declared his intention to run, he was followed to the PDP secretariat by a large number of party members, who were mainly from Lagos Island where he is from.

Tokunbo Kamson
He is former general manager of Lagos State Water Corporation. When he retired, he decided to take a shot at the governorship race in the 2007 election. He came third in the party primaries of that year.
This is the second time he will be showing interest in the race. His strength has been his ability to oil his political machinery and have a hold on his supporters.

Demola Seriki
Seriki has been in the party for a while. He took a shot at political office when he contested the senatorial seat for Lagos Central Senatorial in 2007. He was appointed minister of state by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. He was in office until he was relieved of his appointment by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

His decision to run for governorship position may have been influenced by his rising profile because of his appointment as a minster, but the fact remains that he does not have a large followership.

Femi Pedro
Pedro was appointed former Governor Tinubu’s deputy when Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele resigned the position. He was impeached by the House of Assembly less than two months to the end of the administration.

The politician, who has banking experience, ran for the governorship position in 2007 on the platform of Labour Party (LP), after he was denied the ticket in the Action Congress. It is being argued whether he is eligible for election or not due to the impeachment saga. This notwithstanding, he has a sizeable number of followership.

Owolabi Salis
Salis was based abroad before he made his mark in politics in 2007 when he contested for the governorship position on the platform of Action Party of Nigeria (APN). The party’s performance in that year’s election was woeful and this might have influenced his decision to join PDP. He is said not to have many followers.

Babatunde Gbadamosi
Though he is not popular in the political circles, Gbadamosi is from a renowned family in Ikorodu. His family background may, to some extent, be an advantage for him.

Kudus Folami
He is a former vice chairman of PDP in Lagos West and was appointed a top official of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He is popular among members of the party.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/sat/index.php/politics-analysis/2189-lagos-2011-the-dicey-game-.html

Court to visit Lekki-Epe Road over toll suit

October 29, 2010 04:57AM


Justice Bolaji Candide-Johnson, of the Lagos High Court, on Thursday, said that the court would visit the Lekki-Epe Expressway in its bid to determine the legality of toll gates on the road.


Speaking at the resumed hearing of the case, brought by a Lagos lawyer challenging the erection of toll gates on the Lekki-Epe Expressway, the judge explained that the court would visit the highway to see things for itself.

"By the agreement of the counsel, it is agreed for the court to conduct a visit to the scene together with a demonstration," he said at the hearing.

The judge also called for the contribution of all counsel on how to proceed with the visit and the demonstration.

The News Agency of Nigeria, however, reports that the court is yet to fix a date for the visit.

Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa had, on September 28, filed a suit challenging the Lagos State Government over the erection of toll gates on the road which was concession to Lekki Concession Company in 2009.

Mr Adegboruwa told the court of the need for an expert to partake in the demonstration to determine the existence of an alternative route on the highway as claimed by the concessionaire.

The case has been adjourned till November 1 for further hearing.


Source: http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/5635668-147/story.csp#

[b]Court to visit proposed toll-gate at Lekki-Epe expressway[/b]By FAITH OMORUYI
Monday, November 01, 2010

A Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere has ruled that it would visit the proposed toll-gate to be constructed at Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos before determining a suit challenging its construction. The court made the decision to determine if it infringes on the movement of a legal practitioner, Ebun-Olu Adegoruwa, who had instituted the suit against the state government and four others over construction of the proposed toll gate.

In the suit before the state high court, the claimant had stated that the toll-gate if constructed would violate his fundamental rights to freedom of movement as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution of 1999.
He is contending that Lagos State government along with Lekki Concession Company Limited, Lagos State Works and Management Board, Attorney-General of Lagos State and Eti-Osa Local Government Council are not entitled to charge or collect any toll, money, fee or tariff on any road built in Lagos.

The trial judge, Justice Candido-Johnson, made the ruling to visit the site after listening to counsels on both sides. Adedoruwa had urged the court to grant his application seeking a referral to the Appeal Court to determine whether he had the right to challenge the defendants over the toll-gate before returning to the High Court for continuation of proceedings. The defence had, however, urged the court to see the site of the proposed toll-gate before proceeding on the matter.

The claimant is asking the court to declare as illegal, the construction and collection of toll at the Lekki-Epe Expressway by the Lekki Concession Company and the state’s concession to the company as illegal and a hindrance to mobility of Lagosians.

He is also praying the court to order the removal and dismantling of those toll points on the expressway. Specifically, the lawyer is urging the court to make an injunction restraining the defendants and their agents from collecting money from him or any member of the public for using that road.


Source: http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/nov/01/national-01-11-2010-021.htm

Spot the difference (between the Area Boys and the LASTMA men):

johnie:
As I drove even further up the road, approaching Phase 1 (ocean side), I observed that the hemp-smoking, stern-looking young men who dig trenches along the path of motorists are still operating there.

These young men used to push out vehicles stuck in the sand (while trying to avoid the heavy traffic on the expressway). Now that the situation on the expressway has abated somewhat and fewer vehicles are passing on the coastline, resort to digging holes in the sand to trap unsuspecting motorists who they then proceed to extort money from

(http://www.businessdayonline.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15821:lastma-efficiency-in-extortion&catid=96:columnists&Itemid=539):

LASTMA officials have added more to their briefs. They have transformed into grotesquely lawless ambuscaders, ambushing motorists and mouthing sections of the traffic laws to justify their decent to infamy. Part of their briefs is public education and enlightenment. This should include ensuring that relevant traffic signs are placed at auspicious points on the roads to guide motorists. The signs are not there but this won't bother LASTMA so long as their trap continues to catch the traffic crooks.

If you doubt this, just make a U-turn at a place where there is no sign suggesting otherwise, you are likely to be accosted, even assailed, by a gang of LASTMA officials who had laid ambush at the corner. Your defence that there was no such sign is always matched by a well-practised refrain: 'ignorance is no excuse in law'. And before you could say Jack, one or two of them have slipped into your vehicle without your consent or invitation. This is a constant feature of the operational methodology of the authority. Next, they intimidate you with bogus charges and outlandish fees as penalties. It is a prelude to extorting you and that's what officials of LASTMA call traffic management and control.

Now, where that "Louis Theroux" who posts on Nairaland?

johnie:
Theroux’s hour-long account of life among the ‘area boys’ was deeply unsatisfying. This was sad, as he had found some good sources in the NURTW, which handled right is an extremely good political story. But he clearly had little understanding of what it was all about, or else was pretending not to understand, which came across as a patronising and bogus innocence.

[b]I am glad that other reviewers in the British press also reacted negatively to Theroux’ approach. For example, AA Gill in The Sunday Times, who clearly has crossed swords with Theroux before, says, “he continues to offer his wheedling journalism, which pivots on asides, voice-overs, and selective editing to stitch up his victims. He also chooses the easiest targets – fundamentalists of all sorts, single-issue loonies, the over-the-hill and deluded, generally Americans – tickling for a touch of easy prejudice.

“He came up against people who were even more silkily manipulative than he is. Theroux was completely stitched up and turned over by the Nigerians. It was such a blissful comeuppance, culminating in his trying to interview a man who couldn’t even be bothered to speak to him, but allowed a minion to offer plausible, glib and patronising answers. A deeply funny disrespect… all around there was a real story he couldn’t get close to investigating. He was lost and stammering in front of his own cameras, floundering in a tide of people who were far better at this sort of thing than he was”.

It made one hanker for someone to do a really good documentary about what is really happening in Lagos – it does not need to be propaganda for Fashola (who figured in Theroux’ film only as a shadowy figure) but the subject t desperately needs a broader view, to somehow convey the city’s fantastic, and, yes, ‘delirious’ atmosphere - what Odia Ofeimun calls its ‘citiness’.[/b]

Delirious Lagos .

Thursday, 28 October 2010 00:00

Kaye Whiteman (writing from London)

In all the international attention Lagos now excites, there is a brooding figure in the background, almost like Dr Frankenstein, by the name of Rem Koolhaas. This eccentrically brilliant Dutch architect has made his name putting forward theories about the city of Lagos as a prototype 21st century world city. He has considered it in a thick volume called Mutations, and was interviewed at length in Glendora’s seminal book Lagos: A City at Work. Anyone interested in this extraordinary city needs to know what Koolhaas has been saying, even if he contradicts himself, and is reportedly still undecided on his final views. He finds the idea of Lagos as a hyper-anarchic twenty-first century city intolerably exhilarating, in keeping with his general thrill over cities, seen first in his 1978 book Delirious New York, a title he could equally have applied (and may yet) to our city by the lagoon.

Indeed, my contribution to a special issue on Lagos of the ‘Archiafrika’ newsletter produced in Utrecht, the Netherlands, was titled ‘Delirious Lagos’. I felt the idea conveyed the excitement and vitality which the city communicates. It was edited by the Bukka Trust, a lively group of professional Nigerian architects based in London and Lagos, with whom I have been associated, for example in the debate on ‘Mega-city or Crisis City’ organised here in London in June, reported in this column).

Bukka trustees agree the Koolhaas factor, however unpredictable, continues to be important, as behind some of his hyperbolae, he has hit on one truth - the logic of the city’s profound sense of autonomy. What helps Lagos function is a myriad of operational ad hoc structures, dependent on and interwoven with the easily-forgotten informal sector, but with their own set of official relationships. These include the deeply influential market organisations, still mainly dominated by women, and different forms of trade and professional unions, from transport workers to cab drivers. The turbulent road transport workers (NURTW) are particularly influential politically. And need propitiating, as any politician that seeks power in the city will tell you.

[b]These thoughts surfaced while watching a BBC2 documentary on ‘Law and Disorder in Lagos’, made by Louis Theroux. This was the latest in a series of films British television has been making this year, sometimes with more gusto than judgment – remember ‘Welcome to Lagos’ which caused some offence with its sarcastic title and its opening sequence of scavengers on rubbish tips. It is as if film-makers have discovered that if you go to Lagos with a hand-held camera and a microphone, you can easily find people willing to talk at length. Since most Nigerian interview-subjects are naturals, so it is easy to get ‘good film’. While in May, the experienced Jonathan Dimbleby at least emphasised looking for up-beat stories about Africa, and found a talkative musical entrepreneur in Ajegunle, Theroux’s hour-long account of life among the ‘area boys’ was deeply unsatisfying. This was sad, as he had found some good sources in the NURTW, which handled right is an extremely good political story. But he clearly had little understanding of what it was all about, or else was pretending not to understand, which came across as a patronising and bogus innocence.[/b]

[b]I am glad that other reviewers in the British press also reacted negatively to Theroux’ approach. For example, AA Gill in The Sunday Times, who clearly has crossed swords with Theroux before, says, “he continues to offer his wheedling journalism, which pivots on asides, voice-overs, and selective editing to stitch up his victims. He also chooses the easiest targets – fundamentalists of all sorts, single-issue loonies, the over-the-hill and deluded, generally Americans – tickling for a touch of easy prejudice. This time he’s in Nigeria, looking at the gangs, protection rackets and vivid confusion of the streets in one of black Africa’s biggest cities.” This is where Gill really whams into the object of his ire. “something marvellous happened,” he writes of Theroux’ film. “He came up against people who were even more silkily manipulative than he is. Theroux was completely stitched up and turned over by the Nigerians. It was such a blissful comeuppance, culminating in his trying to interview a man who couldn’t even be bothered to speak to him, but allowed a minion to offer plausible, glib and patronising answers. A deeply funny disrespect… all around there was a real story he couldn’t get close to investigating. He was lost and stammering in front of his own cameras, floundering in a tide of people who were far better at this sort of thing than he was”. It made one hanker for someone to do a really good documentary about what is really happening in Lagos – it does not need to be propaganda for Fashola (who figured in Theroux’ film only as a shadowy figure) but the subject t desperately needs a broader view, to somehow convey the city’s fantastic, and, yes, ‘delirious’ atmosphere - what Odia Ofeimun calls its ‘citiness’.[/b]

http://www.businessdayonline.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15816:delirious-lagos&catid=96:columnists&Itemid=539

The buck passing between the government agencies should be stopped and immediate action taken to salvage the shipwrecks. The illegal sand diggers operating along the coast should also be checked immediately.

As I drove even further up the road, approaching Phase 1 (ocean side), I observed that the hemp smoking, stern looking young men who dig trenches along the path of motorists are still operating there.

These young men used to push out vehicles stuck in the sand (while trying to avoid the heavy traffic on the expressway). Now that the situation on the expressway has abated somewhat and fewer vehicles are passing on the coastline, resort to digging holes in the sand to trap unsuspecting motorists who they then proceed to extort money from.

God help you if you enter this trap at night!

Work on the road needs to be completed quickly to reduce/eliminate this.

And this:

Another ocean surge coming, Lagos tells residents .
Monday, 01 June 2009 00:00 Hope Afoke Orivri Dayo Ayeyemi & Kayode Aboyeji

PANIC-STRIKEN Lagos residents along the Ahmadu Bello Way were yesterday told to expect another surge from the Atlantic Ocean this year. But they were, assured that there was no cause for alarm.

The State Government, which yesterday allayed the fear of property owners in the axis, said a surge which occurred over the weekend, was natural.

Residents along the Ahmadu Bello Way woke up last Friday to behold flooded property premises and the dual carriage-way, wondering the efficacy of the multi-million dollar beach stabilisation project carried out by the state government.

But the Commissioner for Waterfront and Infrastructure Development, Prince Adesegun Oniru, who spoke on the ocean wave at a news conference yesterday, described it as a natural phenomenon that posed no threat to neither the beach reclamation project, nor properties along the axis.

According to Oniru, there was no cause for residents to panic over the safety of their lives and properties.

He said that by this time of the year, spring tides usually causes the Atlantic Ocean to rise by about half a metre, thereby bringing strong tidal waves that usually wash sand from the ocean.

Relying on historical trends, the commissioner noted that what happened at the weekend was likely to reoccur between now and November, because the ocean surge is usually prominent twice in the year that in May/June and November.

He said the Ahmadu Bello Way would have been flooded, but for the reclamation of the beach front, which the government hired Hi-Tech Incorporation to do.

Oniru added that surges from the Bar Beach will become a thing of the past in the area when the Eko Atlantic City project, being promoted by the state government, fully takes off.

The project, which seeks to create a new commercial and residential settlements in the reclaimed area, is expected to establish a new real estate market larger than the present Victoria Island.

He noted that a lot of sand was being washed ashore from the sea as a result of the sand dredging currently going on at the site of the proposed city, which was washing sand onto the walkway.

According to him, it was the duty of the government to sweep the sand off the walkway.

Oniru added that the accumulated sand on the shore is beneficial.

The commissioner said: “We will continue to witness this periodically until the Eko Atlantic City is in place.

“The city will not go through what Victoria Island is presently going through because there will be eight metres of shoreline to protect the city. The development of the city is the permanent solution to the erosion problem at the beach area.”

Oniru said that the fact that the ocean had washed sand onto some of the x-shaped blocks that were used as current breakers did not mean that the reclamation project had failed.

His words: “Lagosians should be rest assured that there is no danger at the Bar Beach. What is happening is natural occurrence. Our responsibility as a government is to clear the sand washed ashore”.
On whether the fate of the Eko Atlantic City project might be subjected to a similar fate, Oniru said that the Ducth project consultant, Messrs Royal Haskony, had tested every aspect of the project in Copenhagen, in the Netherlands and had confirmed its safety.

The commissioner condemned environmental abuses, including open defecation at the beach, saying that security men had been empowered to arrest violators.

He also said that no agency of government was empowered to collect money from members of the public for the use of the beach as a parking lot, saying that users should report anybody demanding money from them to the security agents deployed to sanitise the beach.

Source: http://174.123.16.195/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18971:another-ocean-surge-coming-lagos-tells-residents&catid=43:news&Itemid=799

johnie:
However, the Managing Director, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, promised to deploy the agency's officials to the community to render assistance. "You are just telling me; I will send my men there right away," he said.

Source:http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/ArtsandCulture/x2/XFactor/Features/5633882-147/story.csp#

and

Lagos warns residents on ocean surge
Wednesday, 01 September 2010 01:00 Femi Akinola, Lagos
   

Residents of Lagos have been advised by the state government to be cautious at beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, the lagoon and waterways as it said the ocean is expected to rise between now and end of the year.

Commissioner for Water Front Infrastructure, Prince Adesegun Oniru, gave the advice yesterday at a media briefing on recent ocean surges in some parts of the world, noting that the incident was  natural.

He asked residents not to panic over the expected high tide, assuring that the state government had put many structures in place to prevent the surge which include the permanent barrier at the Bar-Beach and the Lagos Atlantic City.

The commissioner said the briefing was to sensitize the people of Lagos on recent happenings around the world, especially in China, Pakistan, Europe and the Caribbean that were submerged in water.

“There is nothing one can do until we actually change our attitude, because they are caused by nature. Residents should make sure they are careful around the Atlantic Ocean, lagoon and the water ways,” the commissioner warned.

He  also warned residents to desist from dumping refuse into the lagoon, saying its adverse effect was always disastrous, adding, “the ocean and lagoon are not the best places to drop refuse.”

The commissioner explained that the high rise in the water level was normal due to the movement of the moon between May and December yearly.


Source: http://dailytrust.dailytrust.com/index.php/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2082:lagos-warns-residents-on-ocean-surge&catid=1:news&Itemid=2

and this (https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-367311.320.html#msg6435655):

‘The sea eats our beach’ .
Thursday, 08 July 2010 00:00 By Armsfree Ajanaku Onomo News - Metro

.•Disaster looms as an abandoned wreck causes severe coastline erosion in Lekki Beach

For the past four months, Lekki Beach, once a destination of choice for Lagosians and tourists from outside the state, has all but been deserted, no thanks to an abandoned shipwreck, which has been impeding the natural flow of the waves and ocean current.Now, residents, tourists and petty traders want government to remove the wreck so that the beach can come alive again.

ROTTEN trunks of dead and fallen coconut trees, washed up by tidal waves lay at the edge of the shoreline, surrounded by all manner of flotsam.
Beyond the edge, an angry ocean roared, crests of waves rising and falling.

In the past, quite a considerable number of people, maybe in the several hundreds, would have been at that particular area of Lekki Beach.
But that weekend, the place was deserted and none of the fun-seekers who had in the past enjoyed relaxing at the beach with their family and friends were there.

The Lekki Beach has fallen on times as turbulent as the angry waves in the ocean that had damaged the beach and carved out ugly-looking craters along what used to be a beautiful and pristine shoreline.

Scattered about too, were the obviously- deserted holiday tents that were on the verge of collapsing into the water because the coastline was being rapidly washed away. This unnerving scene, no doubt, cuts the picture of a place under threat from what environmentalists say is one of the fastest, and most potentially devastating coastline erosion sites in the Lagos metropolis.

Unfortunately, that is Lekki Beach at present, where worried petty traders who make their living from the beach now backtrack as the ocean advances, eating up what should have been a natural buffer zone.

Also worried are owners of some of the choicest real estate in the country, whose property would be at the mercy of the merciless ocean should it be allowed to run free.

It was learnt that the problem was caused an abandoned shipwreck, which has been impeding the natural flow of the waves for the past four months.

Investigations by The Guardian further revealed that the owners of the vessel had tried to tow the wreckage out of the wreckage away from the shoreline, but failed.
They, thus, abandoned the wreck to rust and rot away in its watery grave while constituting an obstacle that has disrupted the natural ocean flow.

An environmental activist, Desmond Majekodunmi has compared the situation to a time bomb gradually ticking away.
“Here we are standing almost adjacent to the third roundabout at Lekki, and we have already detected that the very rapid erosion is going on for several kilometres down there, including Alpha Beach, and the front of the place where the new Chevron Twin Lake Estate is springing up,” Majekodunmi observed.

The big danger, he noted, “is that as we go further down the shore, there is only a small gap between the seashore and the mangrove swamps on the other side, and with this type of erosion, as fast as it is, within a year, it could easily break into that mangrove, and if that happens, it will give the ocean a free run right into the expressway.

He continued: “That means all the work government is doing on the Lekki-Epe Expressway now would be seriously jeopardized.

“All the ocean has to do to achieve that is for this erosion to continue, and then break into the mangrove swamps.

“We know the terrain in Lekki is 70 percent mangrove, and already, there has been a lot of irresponsible sand filling, and that is why you are having some serious flood in Lekki.

“But if the ocean breaks into this mangrove swamp, the effect would be catastrophic.
“It would be absolutely horrible. It would have severe negative impact on the buildings and on the road as well.
“This erosion is occurring in front of a newly developing urban zone where the land is prime property. Some of the most expensive real estate in the whole of Nigeria is being threatened because of this one shipwreck that should have been removed four months ago.”

The activist expressed disappointment that government was yet to act in response to the problem. “There is always this issue of who is responsible, whether it is the federal or the state, and this has really hampered progress in Lagos for years,” he said

Warning of the consequences of inaction or delayed intervention, the environmental expert said: “It is not as if they won’t be able to address it when it happens, but if they wait that long for it to happen, it could cost billions of naira to address it.

“But if we address it before it is late, it is going to be a lot cheaper and it is going to have a lot less negative impact.”

Describing the situation as an “emergency, which required immediate action”, Majekodunmi called on government to intervene, no matter what it takes.
If nothing is done, Majekodunmi predicted that the erosion would “reach the mangrove buffer zone, opening up the whole of Lekki Peninsula to a very devastating blow
from the ocean.”

But so far it may appear the government has been unfazed by the terrifying consequences that would be precipitated if the ocean runs riot.

When The Guardian visited the area recently, no government agency, state or federal, has been to the site to assess the situation in order to take appropriate actions to stem what has been described a looming disaster.

Yet, as observed, the Lekki-Epe Expressway, which has gulped billions in government and private sector funds, via concessioning, is just some ten minutes walk from the spot where the ocean is gradually taking over.

When The Guardian called the Lagos State Ministry of Environment, an official directed the inquiry to the Ministry of Waterfront and Tourism Development.

As for ship owners who usually abandon their vessels whenever they are shipwrecked, Majekodunmi called on government to invoke relevant regulations to bring them to book. He noted that owners of such ships should have insured them, so that “if the owners feel they don’t have the cash to solve the problem, they should tap into the insurance.

“ Unfortunately, the owners of such ships have been taking advantage of this so-called Nigerian factor, and are not allowing themselves to be taken to task and brought to book on those regulations.”

Source:http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16173:the-sea-eats-our-beach&catid=3:metro&Itemid=558

I am however unhappy about the response of the state government.
The commissioner for the waterfront, Prince Oniru on live television promised to do something about the shipwreck a few kilometeres to this beach some three months ago.

I drove further up the road to see if the ships were still there. To my dismay, I found that the wrecks still lay there with the attendant risks they pose to the environment.

Read about the commissioner’s promise here: https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-367311.320.html#msg6435564).

^^^

I drove along the coast yesterday to see the situation of things myself.

Given the sandy nature of the area, the areas that were flooded had become passable as the water had percolated. The tide has also ebbed. The closeness of the sun/moon to this part of the earth at this time of the year is probably responsible for high tide witnessed especially as the flooding happened overnight (solstice/equinox).

In the morning when I passed there, a part of the road was taken over by sand washed onto the road by the tide making it difficult to motorists (except those driving 4x4s) to pass.

Passing there in the evening, I observed that the sand on the road had been packed to the sides allowing free passage of vehicles. I do not know if the clearing of the sand was done by the community (though I suspect the community did).

Kudos to whoever did it!

Alpha Beach residents flee homes
By Gbenro Adeoye


October 26, 2010 02:14AM


Residents of Alpha Beach Village, a seaside community in the Lekki area of Lagos, have fled from their homes following the annual flooding experienced by the community, due to the overflowing of the Atlantic Ocean.


The residents were reacting to the latest flooding, experienced on Monday, which invaded homes, hampered small-scale businesses and threatened their survival. According to them, the situation has failed to attract any response from state or federal emergency agencies. However, there was no casualty recorded in the incident. "This is the worst in recent times," said Caro Austin, a trader. "It started around 3am till day break, and we lost over N50,000 worth of goods to the flood. All the sacks of rice, beans and garri in the shop are soaked and the kegs of kerosene pushed down by the water have also spilled, spoiling everything; and this is only in the shop, it's another story at home." "Many people have left already for nearby communities," added Umughene Austin, Mrs Austin's husband and business partner. "We don't know what to do now and we don't even know where we will sleep tonight yet; we are already tired of living in this place, but it is the money to relocate that is not available now."

More tales of woe

Major parts of the community, populated by over 10,000 residents, was affected by the flooding which left many homes flooded and heaped with sand and debris. Owode Road, the major link between the community and about 15 adjoining communities, including Lafiaji, Mopo Iwaju, Eleko, and Mopo Akinlade, was also flooded by the water, limiting trading in the community's chief occupations - fishing and farming.

Residents had to stay away from work for the day to clear their homes and assess the level of damage as many of them had lost important documents and domestic goods like electronic gadgets to the water. "I've been scooping the water out and trying to clean up the place for over five hours and I still have a long way to go," said Olatunji Kehinde, another resident, who could not put a figure on his loss. "This will take the whole day for me and I still don't know what my oga (boss) will do to me for staying away from work today." The Community's Residents' Association Secretary, Afeez Elegushi, said, "all road has been damaged, and it's making it difficult for our people to do business; government should please come to our aid."

Blame the government

The residents have, however, blamed the government for the continued incidence of flooding in the community, and its response to emergency situations was not spared either. The earliest government response came eight hours after the incidence, when a delegation from the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), led by the agency's Director of Environmental and Management Department, Juliana Gunwa, visited the community. "They are coming long after the damage has been done," said a resident, who did not wish to be named. "Anyone could have died long before now. We have so many little children in the community who were in danger, and anything could have happened to them."


Moreover, the residents claim that nothing has ever been done by the government to prevent the flooding from occurring in the area. Sixty-two-year-old Mufutau Ayodele, who traced the flooding back to his childhood days, said the government has never done anything about it in that period. "It's the community king, Ojomu Ilase of Ajiran Land, who has even been helping to block the sea with sand, to serve as embankments; we have not been seeing the work of the government so far," he said.


Addressing the community leaders, Mrs Gunwa said the delegation will make a "report" and take necessary actions. However, the Managing Director, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, promised to deploy the agency's officials to the community to render assistance. "You are just telling me; I will send my men there right away," he said.

Source:http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/ArtsandCulture/x2/XFactor/Features/5633882-147/story.csp#

Is this estate different from TOS Besnson Estate?

This Oja bus stop, is it after Idiroko Bus stop/Govt College?

How far is it from the local government?

Published 10/22/2010 12:48:00 AM

NNPC, Lagos endorse $25bn refinery, hydrocarbon park deal

Samson Echenim

The Lagos State Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the setting up of a Greefield refinery and hydrocarbon industrial park to be located at the Lekki Energy City within the Lekki Free Zone.

A statement signed by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, said the MoU was signed at the Lagos State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Alausa, on Thursday.

The statement quoted the NNPC Group General Manager, Greenfield Refineries, Mr. Adebayo Ibirogba, describ the occasion as a defining moment in the history of business partnerships in Nigeria.

He said, ”By this MoU, NNPC and Lagos State Government have agreed to co-promote and co-invest in a greenfield refinery and hydrocarbon industrial park at the Lekki Energy City within the Lekki Free Zone.”

Ibirogba further described the transaction as a momentous ”land for equity” commercial transaction and a shared risk investment, which envisaged an investment package worth $25bn spread on 1500 hectares of land in the Energy City.

He also disclosed that the project would be implemented in four tranches over the next 10 years, commencing from next year.

In her remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Olushola Oworu, said the planned development of the Lekki corridor by the state government under an integrated plan would include the deep sea port, proposed city airport as well as the greenfield refinery to be developed jointly with the NNPC and other private sector partners.

According to her, the LFZ will comprise the oil and gas zone, the manufacturing zone and tourism zone, which will have first class hotel and recreational facilities.

Oworu ”It is a multifaceted development of Lagos State we are aiming at. We also hope that with this joint venture, we will be able to create employment for our people, we will be able to bridge the gap between demand and supply of petroleum products in Nigeria and we will be able to eliminate importation of petroleum products in no distant future.”

Investment in the greenfield refinery and industrial park will include a 200 to 300KBPD refinery, an 800 Megawatt power plant, a three million metric tonne per annum fertiliser plant, as well as a 500 metric tonne per annum petrochemical complex, the statement.

It also said all investments would be structured on mutually beneficial and commercial terms amongst the parties to the agreement and anchored on consumer market demand driven by commercial viability.

”With South-West Nigeria accounting for over 40 per cent of national consumption of gasoline in Nigeria, location of a refinery within the nation‘s commercial nerve centre by the Lagos State Government and the NNPC is an expression of genuine commitment to meet the energy needs of not only the city but that of the South West region at large,” the statement said.

Source:http://www.punchng.com/Article2Print.aspx?theartic=Art201010220493971

Reflecting on Nigeria's golden jubilee celebrations, I have observed that some other personalities such as Michael Okpara (Eastern Region Premier) was not given as much prominence as Tafawa Balewa (Prime Minister).  Nnamdi Azikiwe (President), Obafemi Awolowo (Western Region Premier) and Ahmadu Bello (Northern Region Premier).

While Azikiwe, Bello, Awolowo and Balewa have their images on the N500, N200, N100 and N5 notes respectively, Okpara is not honoured in like manner.
Driving around during the celebrations, I observed that the images of the four (Bello, Balewa, Zik and Awo) adorn some major road (e.g. CMS Marina and Akin Adesola) without Okpara’s.

The recently unveiled Independence Tower/Monument  at the site where the Union Jack was lowered for the Green-White-Green flag (should we also christen our flag?) carries the busts of these “fantastic” four on each of the four sides of the tower.

The tower which has the busts of the first prime minister of Nigeria, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, former premiers of Western Region, Northern Region and Eastern Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwwe respectively, is erected at the Tafawa Balewa Sqaure (TBS), the point where they proclaimed Nigeria’s independence in 1960. (http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/11603-sambo-commissions-new-independence-monument-in-lagos)

When mention is made of the founding fathers, Okpara is left out:
Sambo said President Goodluck Jonathan would make efforts to put Nigeria back on the path of honour.
"Although we are not yet there, I want to assure all Nigerians that we shall make all the necessary efforts to put Nigeria back on the path of honour as laid by our great leaders," he said.
He urged Nigerians not to give up on the country, adding: "From the demonstrations we see in Lagos and the commitment of the President, there is hope for Nigeria."
He paid glowing tributes to the founding fathers –Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello and Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa - as well as others for their great contributions and sacrifice. (The Nation Newspaper: http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/14461.html)

Okpara was the youngest of the three premiers at 46 years:
Michael Iheonukara Okpara, (December 1920-December 17, 1984) was a political leader and Premier of Eastern Nigeria during the First Republic, from 1959 to 1966. Dr. Okpara was, at 46, the nation's youngest Premier. He was a strong advocate of what he called "pragmatic socialism" and believed that agricultural reform was crucial to
the ultimate success of Nigeria. (Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Okpara)

The only monument to him outside the east is Michael Okpara Way in Abuja. Others are in the east:
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike;
The Okpara Square in Enugu;
and the Michael Okpara College of Agriculture in Imo State (which has since been renamed the Imo State Polytechnic

I have only used Okpara as a case study. Other personalities like Akanu Ibiam (who was Eastern Region’s Governor) and Dennis Osadebe (First premier of the Mid-West Region) for instance have been similarly left out.

Is it that they did not play significant roles in the quest for independence?

What makes the “fantastic four” stand out from the others?

Good job.

Please include tutorial on embedding videos e.g. youtube videos.

Thanks!

Revalidation of Title in Papalanto/Sagamu axis

The Ogun State Government has approved the following policy guidelines for the REVALIDATION of titles within the Papalanto/Sagamu corridor.

1. Excision of all identified and existing communities, villages, towns will be carried out immediately.
2. Revalidation of Title of Private Real Estate Developers who have obtained requisite title and planning approvals will be done subject to:
1. Submission of Title and Planning Approvals earlier obtained for verification and review to ensure conformity with the State Regional Plan
2. Payment of Capital Development Levy and Neighbourhood Infrastructural Charge.
3. Land/Property owners without registered titles or planning approvals obtained before the acquisition can apply for title REVALIDATION under the following conditions:
1. Proof of genuine Title to the Land/Property.
2. Conformity/Compliance of the proposed or existing land use to the State Regional Plan.
3. Payment of statutory title revalidation fees including Capital, Development Levy and Neighbourhood Infrastructure Fund.
4. All other conditions as may be imposed by the government.

POINT MAN FOR OGUN STATE LAND
Surv. Gbenga Ogunnoiki,
Director General (Lands)
Bureau of Lands & Survey
(Behind Central Bank)
Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta.
07065753806, 07037858228
e-mail: dgbls@ogunlands.com
website: www.ogunlands.com

pic 1: The RCCG Parish along the link road
pic 2: Orchids Hotel along the link road
pic 3: Newly opened 'Scintilla' along the expressway
pic 4: End of the road/entrance to the expressway. Oluwanishola (Eleganza) Estate is at the top right corner of the picture.

Ongoing construction work on the road

After the bridge

pic 1-2 This body of water needs to be properly contained.

pic 3: Work equipment

pic 4: One of the buildings along the link road. Probably a church. There's another Redeemed Christian Church of God parish further down the road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yex5qirPpU (please embed if you can)


I came across this interview of a "former" American lady done by Mo Abudu.

Her answers were very profound especially what whe says about upbringing of children.

Her statement about the American culture of not greeting people is spot on though I think it is a recent fad and result of the erosion of their values. For instance, in the past men would tip their hats or bow their head slightly and at least say "Ma'am" when they pass a woman. You would be considered prudish if you practised such today.


We should preserve what we have so we don't become like them who now want to be like us.

If only we would appreciate what we have and who we are.

Published 10/14/2010 2:43:00 PM

We won’t stop releasing water from Oyan Dam — Agency

Francis Falola

The management of the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority has said the agency will not stop the release of excess water from the Oyan Dam, explaining stoppage will endanger the lives and properties of people along the river channel.

In an interview with journalists in Abeokuta on Wednesday on the recent floods in some parts of Lagos and Ogun States, which were widely blamed on the release of water from the dam, the management of the dam led by its Acting Managing Director, Mr. Rasaq Jimoh, denied the allegation, attributing the floods to climate change.

He said, “If we stop the release of the excess water, the safety of the dam will be put into jeopardy and this will have severe consequences on the lives and properties of the people.

“It may lead to the collapse of the dam and this is going to lead to loss of lives of millions of people with billions of properties destroyed as towns and villages along the river channel will be wiped off.”

He said the agency never released water at night in the night but during the day to enable affected communities take precautionary measures.

The authority claimed that its investigation, which included a helicopter survey of the basin and the affected areas, carried out in conjunction with the Ogun State Government, identified the cause of the flood as global climate change that brought about exceptionally high rainfall globally this year, causing a rise in the Atlantic Ocean level and forcing Lagos Lagoon water level to rise and spread into the flood prone areas.

According to him, “A vast area of land (about 120 square kilometer) lying between Ikorodu/Kosofe/Ilate is flood prone and directly under the influence of backflow from the Lagos lagoon. This area is shared by both Lagos and Ogun States .

“Therefore, water from Oyan River , into which the water released from Oyan Dam flows, could only be a small fraction of the aggregate rain water flowing into the Ogun River from these tributaries which include River Ewekoro, Opeji River, Eredu River Iwopin River , Sokori River, Owiwi River and Abjire River among others.

The agency also blamed the flood situation on the construction of structures close to the river bank disregarding warning of “Green Belt Areas,” adding that the structures were put in place by the developers without consideration of possible flood.

He maintained that the existence of the dam had helped in controlling flooding, insisting that the release of water, which he said was usually done gradually, was not the reason for the flood.

He also disclosed that the authority had embarked on proactive measures by ensuring that the water from the dam was released to the barest minimum.

He stated the need for radical and holistic approach from the Lagos and Ogun State governments, Ogun-Oshun River Basin Authority, National Environment Maintenance Agency; State Environmental Maintenance Agency and the owner of estates and buildings in the flood prone areas as well as other stakeholders.

source: http://www.punchng.com/Article2Print.aspx?theartic=Art2010101414471225

Published 10/14/2010 2:43:00 PM

We won’t stop releasing water from Oyan Dam — Agency
Francis Falola
The management of the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority has said the agency will not stop the release of excess water from the Oyan Dam, explaining stoppage will endanger the lives and properties of people along the river channel.

In an interview with journalists in Abeokuta on Wednesday on the recent floods in some parts of Lagos and Ogun States, which were widely blamed on the release of water from the dam, the management of the dam led by its Acting Managing Director, Mr. Rasaq Jimoh, denied the allegation, attributing the floods to climate change.

He said, “If we stop the release of the excess water, the safety of the dam will be put into jeopardy and this will have severe consequences on the lives and properties of the people.

“It may lead to the collapse of the dam and this is going to lead to loss of lives of millions of people with billions of properties destroyed as towns and villages along the river channel will be wiped off.”

He said the agency never released water at night in the night but during the day to enable affected communities take precautionary measures.

The authority claimed that its investigation, which included a helicopter survey of the basin and the affected areas, carried out in conjunction with the Ogun State Government, identified the cause of the flood as global climate change that brought about exceptionally high rainfall globally this year, causing a rise in the Atlantic Ocean level and forcing Lagos Lagoon water level to rise and spread into the flood prone areas.

According to him, “A vast area of land (about 120 square kilometer) lying between Ikorodu/Kosofe/Ilate is flood prone and directly under the influence of backflow from the Lagos lagoon. This area is shared by both Lagos and Ogun States .

“Therefore, water from Oyan River , into which the water released from Oyan Dam flows, could only be a small fraction of the aggregate rain water flowing into the Ogun River from these tributaries which include River Ewekoro, Opeji River, Eredu River Iwopin River , Sokori River, Owiwi River and Abjire River among others.

The agency also blamed the flood situation on the construction of structures close to the river bank disregarding warning of “Green Belt Areas,” adding that the structures were put in place by the developers without consideration of possible flood.

He maintained that the existence of the dam had helped in controlling flooding, insisting that the release of water, which he said was usually done gradually, was not the reason for the flood.

He also disclosed that the authority had embarked on proactive measures by ensuring that the water from the dam was released to the barest minimum.

He stated the need for radical and holistic approach from the Lagos and Ogun State governments, Ogun-Oshun River Basin Authority, National Environment Maintenance Agency; State Environmental Maintenance Agency and the owner of estates and buildings in the flood prone areas as well as other stakeholders.

source: http://www.punchng.com/Article2Print.aspx?theartic=Art2010101414471225

All 33 miners and 6 rescuers safely back to the surface.

@ajanlekoko

No, I haven't been to Okun Mopo before.

I have driven through Okun Ajah however. There is a road linking the expressway to the coastal road from Abraham Adesanya Estate.

The residents of Okun Ajah are mainly the indigenes. The houses built there by 'towns-people' are largely uncompleted or uninhabited.

Between Abraham Adesanya Estate and Okun Ajah is the LASG Lekki II Scheme. The estate has refused to take off despite the efforts of the state government and the subscribers (https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-367311.192.html#msg6218390).


@judeylive

positivechange369 at yahoo dot com

Approaching the expressway

pic 4: a small bridge

^^^
I love the guy's spirit.

I am sure the news media will tail him for a while.

I won't be surprised if he is made the main character of a flick about the saga.

pic 1: After Ocean Bay Estate

pic 2: at the junction of Chevron Twin Lakes Estate site

pic 3-4: Heading towards the expressway. Three foreign joggers.

Onlytruth:

I came close to tears after they pulled the first miner out.
What I found outstanding was the level of national and international support this operation is receiving.
God! The Chileans are really patriotic. And of course I pat the American company that designed the rescue capsule. That is the spirit of America! Never say impossible. I doubt the Chileans could have done this on their own.

I almost cried when the second guy was being rescued - his spirit was so high. He was cracking jokes as h was being brought out.
After hugging almost everybody in sight, he handed out rocks he had specially picked to the president, his wife and others as memorabilia.

The indomitable spirit of the people has been outstanding. The miners had the country’s flag with them in the mine as they waited to be rescued – singing the national anthem proudly.

A number of us would not have anything to do with the country’s flag. When I see the way we treat our national symbols, I am sometimes torn between laughing and weeping. The flag comes in all shades of green; we don’t even know which the correct one is anymore. You now see the flag with the coat of arms emblazoned on the white part. We need to teach civics in our schools again.

A number of us send our children to ‘international’ schools that seemingly want to separate the children from their roots.  I just came across a thread (https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-529710.0.html) where the OP is asking:
“Would you let your husband and his family force you to send your 5 year old back to your village in Naija to "learn respect and be brought up with a "strong pride" in Nigeria" ? (this is their reasoning for doing this).”

The ordeliness of the Chileans is also something that struck me. You could see that the crowd of onlookers was properly managed. What happens in Nigeria often times when there are disasters is that rather than the professionals (policemen, firemen, etc) handling the situation, groups of local residents take charge of rescue efforts when the professionals don’t arrive early enough ( actually, people don’t expect them to arrive early or to arrive at all). Some of these “sympathizers “ end up manifesting their true intentions when they begin to loot the properties of the victims.

The miners all volunteered to be the last to be rescued. My people would probably have all schemed to be the first to be rescued.

Gov. Fashola was at the scene of the recent flood disaster but his vehicle could not reach there because impatient drivers had caused a deadlock. The governor and his entourage had to wade through the water to get there. If only we could be orderly, things would definitely be much better for us.

Some people here have criticed us for our religious attitite to such events. If you monitored the saga carefully, you would have observed that the Chileans have exhibited the same religious streak as we would. In fact, the sister of one of the miners said that her brother had written to her saying that he would now take his religion seriously. Virtually the whole nation lit up candles praying for the miners.

If you ask me, God has indeed answered their prayers.
So the issue is not about being religious, it is about being religious and doing the right things – work and pray!

mikeansy:
How about the story of the Bolivian who came out 4th? he has not been put down the pecking order merely because he is non-Chilean.
His rescue has been purely decided on medical grounds.
May God bless the Chilean people for their unity and steadfastness all through this episode.
I am also proud of President Piniera for his leadership. He is a Hero himself.
I heard the Chilean President had always carried the first letter from the miners wherever he went since they discovered the miners were alive.

The president showed true leadership qualities. His wife has been there for days. She stood by the wife of each of the miners as they were being brought out - hugging and encouraging them as their husbands were being lifted out. The second miner even hugged her tightly despite the state he must have being in.

No doubt the assistance provided by the Americans no doubt brought about the significant progress and professionalism we have witnessed. But it still boils down to leadership and the good spirit of the people.
Haitians are regular victims of natural disasters yet they have not been able manage any of such crises.
Can anyone tell me who the current president of Haiti is? Almost no one. Why? They are nowhere to be found when such disasters strike! But people all over the world have now heard of a man called Pinera!
Is it a black thing?

Yet we must also note that it is poverty that drove these men to take the risks they have taken. One of the miners confided in his wife, his concerns about safety in that particular mine.  The president and the mining minister have all admitted that there are shortcomings that need to be addressed. Let us hope they sincerely do so. They should not be like us who always go back to our phenomenal ‘drawing board’ each time something adverse happens!

pic 1-2: Construction work behind Ocean Bay Estate

Pic 1: Driving along the fence of Buena Vista
Pic 2-4: On the left is Ocean Bay Estate