₦airaland Forum

Shine1177: Wow! I love your answer. You just gave me courage instead of the discouragement i have been facing from people around me.

Good job and God bless you. Am diligently following your posts. Tanx.

Teejayphillip: Watchin moi best sport 2mao... CRICKET on point @ Yaba

Daily Independent (Lagos)

[size=14pt]Julius Berger Begins Lekki Bridge, Badagry Road Upgrade With N10 Billion[/size]

Michael Simire, 18 May 2009

The sum of N10 billion has been released by the Lagos State Government to bigwig construction outfit, Messrs. Julius Berger Plc, towards the excution of two major infrastructure development projects in the bustling city.

The projects include the expansion of the Eric Moore-Mile 2 Road (which is the initial leg of the multi-billion-naira, multi-phase Lagos-Badagry Expressway rehabilitation scheme) as well as the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge (connecting Lekki Peninsular Scheme I with Osborne Road in Ikoyi).

Finance Commissioner, Mr. Rotimi Oyekan, who made the disclosure last week at Alausa pointed out that the projects were initiated in furtherance of the government's objectives of expanding and opening new roads for improved economic activities.

He said, "Our bold commitment to the initial funding of these projects is to demonstrate to interested private sector partners the sincerity of the government in the total transformation and rehabilitation of urban infrastructure and welcome their hand in fellowship on reasonable terms and conditions in this and other areas of development and growth."

The commissioner stated that the second tranche of the N275 billion Infrastructure Development Bond (IDB) for 2009 would soon be completed as the bond documentation was being rounded up. The first trance of N50 billion of the IDB, he noted, was over-subscribed, a development he attributed to "the public establishing confidence in our governemnt."

The IDB issuance, which commenced last year, will span three years and is designed to bankroll long term infrastructural projects. The financing vehicle is regarded as an alternative to short term borrowing, tending not to overburden the citizenry with arbitrary levies and tax increases.

Oyekan disclosed that government had established a Sinking Fund of N1.5 billion as Consolidated Debt Services Account (CDSA) into which is deposited monthly a sum of N1.8 billion, which is being managed by the bond trustees.

He described last year's performance on Land Use Charge as encouraging as, according to him, the N500 million target was overshot by 100 per cent. A new N3 billion target has been set, he stressed, saying that there has been an improvement in the collection machinery.

"Enumeration and assessment of properties in catchment areas yet to be covered are ongoing with a view of bringing all areas of our local governments on a common platform of uniform property taxation devoid of inconsistency of complaints," he disclosed.

The commissioner added that, to facilitate the delivery of affrdable housing units to low income earners, government was procuring mortgage facilities while inculcating a new culture of home ownership.

"The plan is to kick-start the mortgage programme by encouraging some civil servants to acquire/own their inhabited staff quarters in the pilot phase. Thereafter, the scope and intensity of the mortgage programme will be widened to embrace willing partners in the implementation of the scheme," he said.

Oyekan went further, "I wish stress with emphasis that the reality of the all-pervading global economic meltdown will not dissuade government from prosecuting this programme as this is identified as one of the means of dousing the harsh effect of soaring and seeming uncormfortable cost of building materials. Presently, high-level discussions are being held with stakeholders particularly the participating banks, with a view to resolving emergent greu areas. Hopefully, the drea will be translated to reality soon."

[size=14pt]Eko 2012: Egbunike, Onyali partner Team Anambra[/size]

September 15, 2012 | 12:10 am

Anambra state com-missioner for youth and sports, Dr. Edozie Okay Aroh, has revealed that the duo of Innocent Egbunike and Mary Onyali and other sports professionals in the state will partner Team Anambra at the Eko 2012 National Sports Festival slated for November this year.

The renowned banker turned sports admini-strator stated this while inaugurating a 13-man Main Organizing Committee (MOC) at the Government House Awka the Anambra state capital. He maintained that the sports ministry was fully ready to rewrite Anambra state sports history at the festival and other subsequent sports events in the country.

His words: “We have discovered in recent times that Anambra state have had dwindling and series of poor perform-ances in major sporting competi-tions in the country and we are not happy with it.

[size=14pt]The History[/size]

The National Sports Festival was conceived as a socio-psychological initiative to rebuild the psyche of the Nigerian Nation which was traumatized by civil war in the late 1960s.

Prior to the civil war, since the days of the Empire Day Celebrations in Niger, there existed a sports competition by way of selected athletics and other games organized as one-sport or sartorial competitions between schools and/or organizations. Principal among these were the Grier cup, Manuwa I. Adebayo Cups, Principal Cup, All Nigerian Open Athlete Champions LAWNA Games, etc. However, at the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970, a conscious effort was then made to grow the existing competition in scope and scale, to have an all-inclusive National Multi-Sports competition by way of a festival.

To arrest the drift towards inter-tribal morass occasioned by the 1967-70 Civil War and most essentially, to checkmate the declining standards of Nigerian sports, the Federal Government introduced a biennial multi-sports competition, now commonly referred to as the National Sports Festival, involving all the then 12 States of the Federation. Perhaps, it could be arguably insinuated that the Sports Festival was one of the by-products of the 3Rs of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, enunciated as a way of reuniting the country, and emphasized amongst youths. The founding fathers had the twin objectives of:

With these objectives in mind, the body saddled with the responsibility of actualizing this national policy under Dr. Jerry Enyeazu (who was then the National Director of Sports) got working and came up with the framework of organizing the first National Sports Festival. Case studies of similar programmes in some countries like East Germany and others were undertaken with a view to adapting relevant modalities to the Nigerian situation for nation-wide acceptance. Indeed, the festival is said to have been modeled after the German “Spatakiad Games” where youths gathered every 2 years to compete against themselves.

The Sports Festival actually started in 1973 and has been running till date. Except in 1983, 1987, 1993 and 1995, the festival has been religiously held biennially as a multi-sports festival. The National Sports Festival has become a veritable instrument for National Unity, cohesion, peace, mutual understanding, friendship, cross-cultural affiliation as well as other positive values.

So far, 17 editions of the National Sports Festival have come and gone, the last one hosted by Rivers State, and each contributing to the promotion of the spirit of the Games toward National Development.

The 18th National Sports Festival tagged Eko 2012” is billed for November, 2012 in Lagos State. This is a great opportunity for lovers of sports, and indeed, all Nigerians, to experience Lagos State with her rich culture and numerous developments. It also presents another great opportunity to build national bonds with people from other states across Nigeria, in the biggest sporting competition in the country. For those who will be attending the sports festival, you are most welcome to Lagos!

biolabee: the bridge is a good idea but i dont think it should be tolled.. tax shd be able to finance sth like this

it is owned by the govt so a concession or Build Operate Trasnfer arrangement should suffice whereby the govt pays a lease fee to the concessionaire for a period of 25 years and it reverts to LASG after that

If it is a private owned bridge then a toll is ok
However 500 is to much for the bridge.. a more reasonable charge will have been 100- 200
Where does the bridge terminate?

ItsModella: This OP again? First it was "cartoons lead kids to hell", then it was "demonic covenant associated with weaves and attachments"...now this.

OP, a piece of advice...stop smoking crack and get a job.

OneDemola: The reason toll charge is high is because it is not supposed to compete with the LCC toll (that one is another ridiculous story on its own). The honest truth is that this lekki-ikoyi bridge is supposed to be seen as an 'optional' route, not an 'alternative- just to speak to the logic of the project.

[size=14pt]National Sports Festival: Fela's memories come alive as Eko 2012 begins[/size]
•Oyo dreams gold •Lagos, Osun win first matches

Written by Ganiyu Salman, and Tobi Folorunso

Tuesday, 27 November 2012



THE memories of the late Afrobeat music legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, will come alive today as the 18th National Sports Festival, Eko 2012 kicks off officially today at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos from 3.00 p.m.

Artistic Director in charge of the opening and closing ceremonies for Eko 2012, Peter Badejo, while speaking in Lagos said that Eko 2012 would add a chapter to the history of the National Sports Festival in terms of creativity.

Badejo stated that spectators would be treated to fireworks, Eyo masquerade, contemporary dancers, royal dancers, calisthenic displays, just as he said that he had conducted research into the history of Lagos to build a concept for the Eko 2012 Games.

He said that the event would be a big cast of 4,000 people in different capacities as it also accommodated the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti music, entitled 'Water no get enemy' adding that about 200 of the Afrobeat legend dancers were used in the production as well as his band.

"Well, it is a big cast, we have almost 4,000 people in different capacities. We have calisthenic display by 1,000 pupils, We have the Eyo masquerade as I said, we have the Eyo dancers, the royal dancers and the royal female drummers, who initiate Eyo from its beginning. Then we have the contemporary dancers who will come with their expressions in things like the anthem, theme music and the National Anthem.

"Eko 2012 would be different from what had been witnessed in the past. Lagos is very rich in terms of its culture and formative experience. The content of displays at the previous sports festivals was always the same but we are going to come out with something unique," he said.

Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Main Organising Committee (MOC) for Eko 2012, Abba Yola, 11,549 participants and 350 journalists have been accredited for the Games where 25 events are to be competed for.

Meanwhile, AS the football event of the 18th National Sports Festival got under way on Monday, Oyo State team has set its eyes on the gold medal.

The team will open its group matches tomorrow, when it faces Delta State in a Group A match that also has teams from Lagos, Adamawa, Plateau and Katsina.

A member of the team Yomi Akinshade, speaking with Tribunesport maintained that the team is determined to win gold "we've been training hard ahead of the tournament, so we are not bargaining for anything than to win gold," he said.

However, Lagos showed its determination  to go far in the games by recording a resounding victory over  Kaduna in the female category. Lagos defeated Kaduna 6-0 in the female catogory and also defeated Katsina 2-0 in the male  event.

Osun defeated Benue 2-1 in the female football event, while Imo lost 1-2 to Edo and Ogun walked over Adamawa in the female category.

Action resumes tomorrow at various venues for the football event at the games.

[size=14pt]Activist sues Lagos over proposed N500 toll on Lekki-Ikoyi bridge[/size]

The lawyer said the proposed N500 toll fee on the Lekki-Ikoyi Suspended Bridge is illegal.

A lawyer and human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, on Monday sued the Lagos State Government over the proposed collection of N500 toll on the newly constructed Lekki-Ikoyi Suspended Bridge.

In the suit No. FHC/L/CS/1405/2012 before a Federal High Court in Lagos, Mr. Adegboruwa is seeking an injunction restraining the government from collecting any toll from motorists on the bridge.

The activist stated in the originating summons that reports on the proposed toll collection was published by the Guardian newspaper of October 8.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, and the National Inland Water ways Authority are joined in the suit as co-defendants.

The originating summons was supported by a 34-paragraph affidavit deposed to by the applicant.

Mr. Adegboruwa argued that the toll of N500 per vehicle is uncalled for in view of the hardship, hunger and unemployment in Nigeria.

He claimed that the bridge was built on a federal navigable waterway belonging to the Federal Government.

Mr. Adegboruwa also wants the court to determine whether the LASG has the power to erect any structure such as a bridge on the Lagos Lagoon and the Lekki Lagoon which, he said, were categorised by law as federal navigable waterways.

He also wants the court to determine whether the state government is competent to impose any toll or tax on such a bridge.

He argues that collection of such a toll or tax from Nigerians contravenes their fundamental right to free movement.

Also, the lawyer claims that the imposition of such a levy on road users will prevent them from using the bridge and constitute discrimination and violation of the rights of the road users.

The applicant seeks a declaration that the imposition of a toll, fee or tariff on road users is illegal and inconsistent with the Nigeria’s Constitution.

The case is yet to be assigned to a judge.

NAN

Shine1177: I see. The other day the Oba of Lagos support the assertion of Oba of Bini in his new book that Oduduwa came from Bini kingdom. I was so surprise why a Yoruba Oba will support such statement but now i know better. The Oba of Lagos came from Bini so he was supporting his kith and kin

Good job OP. I have more incite into the political history of Nigeria and the very cunny politics of this nation.

Please naptu2. Can you confirm that all political leaders belong to cults? I want to join politics in the nearest future (Governorship to be precise) but people keep telling me that i must be ready to belong to a secret cult, is it a 'criteria'?

Tanx.