Category Nigeria News

Lagos Govt Declares 176 Estates Illegal Over Unapproved Layouts

By in News, Nigeria News

Due to failing to obtain required layout approvals, the Lagos State government has declared the development of 176 estates in Eti-Osa, Ajah, Ibeju-Lekki, and other parts of the state illegal.

This was made public by the ministry of physical planning and urban development in a statement released on Monday.

The government gave developers a 21-day deadline to begin the regularization of their documentation or face sanctions, according to the statement.

It accused the estates of breaking planning laws by failing to obtain layout approvals, which the state imposed on estate development.

READ MORE: NUJ Declares Badeggi FM Shuffled In Niger

The Lagos State government has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the developers of the 176 illegal estate developments that are primarily located in the Eti-Osa, Ajah, Ibeju-Lekki, and Epe axis of the state.

The Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development published a statement that partially reads, “These estates, deemed illegal due to their failure to obtain layout approvals,” on Monday.

The affected estates were criticized by Oluwole Sotire, Permanent Secretary of the Office of Physical Planning, as they violated the T. H. E. M. E. S+ Agenda’s guiding principles and undermined Lagos’ sustainable development goals.

He reaffirmed that the ministry would not allow unapproved changes to the physical planning process for the state.

See the following statement in its entirety:

LASG lists 176 illegal states, provides a 21-day ULTIMATUM to verify approval of layouts, and approves of a process for laying out approvals.

The Lagos State government has identified 176 illegal estate developments, most of which are located along the state’s Eti-Osa, Ajah, Ibeju-Lekki, and Epe axis, and has given them a 21-day deadline to process their layout approvals.

These estates were listed in a document released on Monday by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, and they were deemed illegal because they failed to obtain layout approvals.

According to the Office of Physical Planning, Engr., Permanent Secretary. By operating without approved layouts, the illegal estates and the Oluwole Sotire violated the Lagos State Government’s T. H. E. M. E. S+ Agenda and the sustainable development ethos. Adron Homes, Elerangbe, Aina Gold Estate, Okun-Folu, Diamond Estate, Eputu, Prime Water View Garden, Ikate Elegushi, and Royal View Estate, Ikota, among others, are among the illegal estates that have been identified.

The Permanent Secretary has given these estates’ owners, Alausa, Ikeja, 21 days to complete the necessary paperwork before approving their layouts with his office at the Ministry of Planning and Urban Development.

According to him, the Ministry’s routine activity was to process and approve layout approvals in accordance with its mandate to regulate the development of public and private estates in Lagos State in accordance with the T. H. E. M. E. S+ Agenda of the Lagos State Government.

He also emphasized the importance of all developers and real estate professionals registering with the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA), which oversees, coordinates, and monitors real estate professionals in the sector.

Badeggi FM Challenges Niger Governor’s Closure Order

By in News, Nigeria News

Badeggi FM, a radio station in the governor’s state of Nigeria, has rejected Governor Umar Bago’s request to stop operating, calling for “concrete evidence” of any wrongdoing and questioning the legality of the action.

Aisha Shuaibu, the general manager of Badeggi FM, claimed that the accusations of inciting public unrest and promoting anti-government sentiments were politically motivated and baseless on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief program.

Where is the proof, if he claims that Badeggi FM has been unethical and that we are inciting people against the government? The evidence must be seen. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) should be in charge of weighing all the available data. NBC will punish us if we are found guilty, Shuaibu said on Tuesday.

She claims that the station had neither been issued any formal sanctions nor served any formal notice of wrongdoing.

The General Manager revealed that Badeggi FM is still broadcasting and has not stopped working despite the governor’s closure order and a visit from Niger State Urban Development Board officials who had visited the premises.

READ MORE: SERAP Gives the Niger Government a 48-hour ultimatum regarding Badeggi FM Closure.

The state government issued the order to close the station a few days ago in response to concerns over what it called unethical journalism and incitement.

The station believes that political unease may have resulted from its editorial focus on local issues, particularly insecurity, banditry, and community challenges.

“From our end, we make sure to speak with residents, farmers, youth leaders, and vigilantes who are directly affected by insecurity. They show up on our live television programs and reveal what’s actually happening in their neighborhoods. According to me, the governor doesn’t want the truth to be revealed. He opposes bringing up these details, Shuaibu said.

She further claimed that tensions may have gotten worse as a result of the station’s recent interview with former FIRS chairman Muhammad Nami, who is widely believed to have endorsed a 2027 gubernatorial candidate.

“I believe the only thing we did recently was to speak with Muhammad Nami, who is well-known for his interest in 2027. The governor seems threatened, in my opinion. She stated that, especially now that the APC has supported him for a second term, he doesn’t want criticism or other political options in the state.

The governor allegedly called the station’s managing director a treasoner in a more grave accusation.

Shuaibu characterized this as defamatory and revealed that station management is considering seeking legal redress.

The managing director’s accusation of treason is completely unacceptable. She stated that she intends to bring legal action against him for defamation of character.

Why Nigerian International Airports Don’t Have Wifi – Keyamo

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Festus Keyamo, the minister of aviation and aerospace development, has explained why there isn’t wifi in the country’s international airports. &nbsp,

Keyamo, who spoke on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, attributed the issue to an argument between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) over who is responsible for providing wifi at the airports.

“There are many things involved, but when I first took office, I saw the situation first-hand. And the first issue I tried to resolve was a dispute between two of my agencies regarding Wi-Fi management.

According to the NAMA, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, “Well, if you look at the law of NAMA, it says NAMA is in charge of all navigation equipment, radio, communication, and all.” It’s our responsibility to look after Wi-Fi, NAMA said.

Another of my agencies, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, was claiming that it was a part of the airport’s infrastructure. Additionally, FAAN has the authority to manage all airport infrastructure, per law. They then responded that “Wi-Fi is an infrastructure component,” according to Keyamo.

READ MORE: 712 billion Lagos Terminal Rebuilding Funded With Subsidy Removal Gains – Keyamo

He claimed that the back and forth continued until last year when he decided FAAN should step down and NAMA should take over providing Wi-Fi at the airports. &nbsp,

He explained that the 2024 Budget, which NAMA is now in charge of Wi-Fi, meant the project could not be completed at that time. &nbsp,

He added that the 2025 budget has now been included, giving assurances to Nigerians that Wi-Fi will be available at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport terminal 2 by the end of 2025. &nbsp,

UBA Appoints Abiola Bawuah As First Female CEO For Africa Operations

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Abiola Bawuah, CEO, UBA Africa

The Board of Directors of the United Bank for Africa Plc, Africa’s Global Bank, today announced the appointment of Mrs. Abiola Bawuah, as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UBA Africa. Bawuah will also join the Group Board as an Executive Director, overseeing the Group’s operations across the African continent, outside Nigeria. UBA operates in 19 African countries beyond Nigeria, in addition to global operations in New York, London, Paris and the UAE. 

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Ado-Odo Set to Host Dignitaries for Final Burial Rites of Olofin Adimula Oodua

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Oba Abdul Lateef Adeniran Akanni, Olofin Adimula Oodua of Ado-Odo

Government officials, private sector leaders and Royal Fathers and Chiefs are some dignitaries expected to attend the final passage ceremony and 41-day prayer of the late Olofin Adimula Oodua of Ado-Odo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Abdul Lateef Adeniran Akanni on Saturday, February 19, 2022.

The event, which will have the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR and his Deputy in attendance will hold at Alamuwa Grammar School, Ado Odo, Ogun State.

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Kennedy Uzoka lights up the UBA Foundation’s Garden Ahead of the Yuletide

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l-r: Group Head, Customer Fulfilment Centre (CFC), United Bank for Africa Plc, Prince Ayewoh; Group Head, Personal Banking and Retail Liabilities, Ogechi Altraide; Deputy Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba; Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr Kennedy Uzoka; Executive Director, Chiugo Ndubisi; MD/CEO, UBA Foundation, Bola Atta; Head, Commercial and Corporate Banking, Muyiwa Akinyemi; and Head of Operations, Alex Alozie, at the 2021 Christmas and New Year Light-Up Ceremony of UBA Foundation Garden

Africa’s global bank, United Bank for Africa, through its UBA Foundation, has been spreading joy across Africa for many years as they continue to give back to the underprivileged in the communities in which they operate.

At the UBA Foundation gardens in Lagos, where the bank is headquartered, a lights up ceremony was held to mark the start of the festive season. The garden lights were activated by UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Kennedy Uzoka, joined by other key management staff and some bank customers.

Uzoka, who is also the chairman of the UBA Foundation, emphasised that giving back was the main tenet of the UBA Foundation. He said, ‘We have over the years, engaged in various activities aimed at appreciating our host communities all around Africa and especially in countries where we operate and so for us, these lights symbolise hope for the future and all the goodness it will bring into people’s lives.

‘it is hard to believe that we have been in this pandemic for almost two years. People have lost friends and family members, and businesses decimated by the effects of the pandemic. There has been a general feeling of hopelessness, but we desire to fill people’s lives with hope once again.’ Continued Uzoka.

The UBA Foundation has been very active in combatting the spread of Covid -19 across Africa as the bank did not waste any time at the start of the pandemic, donating over $14m  to its communities across Africa to support the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

This year, the Foundation will be feeding tens of thousands of people across Africa through its annual Foodbank initiative. Food, hygiene products and other gifts items are handed over to those who have less, especially during the festive season.

The CEO, UBA Foundation, Mrs Bola Atta, said that the light-up ceremony was important for the Foundation, adding: “This goes beyond lighting up the Marina and adorning the streets with beautiful colours. It reminds us as an institution of our promise to continue to touch lives and treat our communities with kindness. We are living in challenging times and a little gesture to put a smile on even one face goes a very long way. We should all endeavour to do whatever we can, within our power, to uplift others.”

Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr Kennedy Uzoka; flanked by Executive Director, Chukwuma Nweke; Head of Operations, Alex Alozie; MD/CEO, UBA Foundation, Bola Atta, and other staff members at the  2021 Christmas and New Year Light-Up Ceremony of UBA Foundation Garden, at Marina, Lagos

The Lighting Ceremony, which observed all necessary Covid-19 protocols, was witnessed by members of staff and customers and featured Christmas carols by UBA’s CFC choir and a guided tour around the beautiful UBA Foundation Garden at the Lagos Marina.

UBA Foundation, the CSR arm of the UBA Group, is committed to the socio-economic betterment of the communities in which the bank operates, focusing on development in the areas of Education, the Environment, Economic Empowerment and other Special Projects.