Metro
Alade Estate, Allen Avenue Under ‘Siege’ as Exclusive Neighbourhood Turns Slum
Just like other highbrow areas in Lagos State, their area was originally designed to be an exclusive neighbourhood meant only for Residential , devoid of the rowdiness and overpopulation which characterises slum areas.
However, the once serene and exclusive neighbourhood of Alade and Allen Avenue is fast turning into a slum, where all sorts of vices are carried out both day and night.
As a result, the residents are now perpetually living in fear for their security. Daily they are confronted with strange faces, miscreants, hemp smokers, hard drugs peddlers who do drugs openly, hideout for criminals who do crime in the open, bureau-de- change operators, who have turned the demolished Alade market to their permanent base of operation.
Streets such as Adegbeyemi, Afolabi Aina & Olorunnishola that leads to the estate have been taken over by shanties, street traders, bureau-de-change operators, and others, thereby disfiguring the beautiful and serene environment the residential area was known for.
To draw the attention of the governor to their predicament, the residents have written a petition to The Ikeja Local Government Chairman, Ministry of Environment, Environmental Taskforce and the Commissioner of Police appealing to them to rescue them from the slum their area is fast turning into.
They advocated for permanent removal of street traders, shanties, hard drug dealers in all the adjoining streets starting from the back of the demolished Alade market to all nooks and cranny of the area, an area close to the “seat of power”.
In the petition titled “Adegbeyemi, Afolabi Aina and Olorunnishola Street, Allen Avenue, Ikeja Violation of Residential Character, Conversion To Street Trading, Nuisance, Environmental Pollution, Criminal Activities, Threat To Life and Property”,’ the residents stated it’s high time the state government takes action at restoring the lost glory of the area.
“Alade Estate residents and stakeholders wish to alert his Excellency and all the relevant environmental agencies, Ikeja local government and Commissioner of Police to the menace being caused at Alade, Allen Avenue, Ikeja. It is depressing to see Alade, Allen Avenue area turned into an eyesore, the once beautiful, quiet and peaceful area have been turned to another version of ‘SABO’ with an in-flock of illegal street traders who have set up shops, shanties on drainage points and setbacks both for trading in the daytime, and sleeping purposes at night which has led to violation of residential character of the estate and it’s environs, thereby causing nuisance, environmental pollution, criminal activities, threat to life and property. Not only that, the okada riders have suddenly appeared from nowhere and hijacked a whole section of the road that leads into the estate. Illegal and indiscriminate dumping of refuse and defecation in open places has become the order of the day in every nook and cranny of the area, while some have even set up tents and make their homes by the roadside in Alade,” the petition stated.
The residents further complained of potholes damaging their vehicles and how fast their property value is depreciating by the day. Some landlords have moved out, vehicles are vandalised almost on a daily basis with the disappearance of car brain boxes.
Though In 2016, when traders in Alade Market were relocated to the newly built alternative market, it was done with the aim of redeveloping the original market place into a world-class shopping center. The residents lament three years after, that the environment has been turned into an area where ‘street trading, illegal shanties and structures are now the order of the day.
” We believe this menace is an infringement on us as a people living in Alade estate and it has devalued our properties in total. It is no more the clean and peaceful environment it used to be,” they complained.
The residents called on the governor, and chairman of Ikeja local government, Ministry of Environment, The Police and TASKFORCE, to take urgent action at remedying the situation.
“We hereby, appeal to your Excellency, governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the chairman, Ikeja local government, The Police with all the relevant environmental agencies such as the Ministry of Environment and TASKFORCE to come to our aid to put into action specific steps to restore sanity to Alade by urgently addressing and permanently put measures in place to prevent this unpleasant menace from occurring again.
Abuja, the nation’s federal capital, came alive with joy and excitement on Wednesday as a new set of winners in the ongoing Globacom Festival of Joy promotion received mouth-watering prizes they won at a special presentation ceremony held at the premises of Globacom at Aminu Kano Crescent.
A glittering brand new Toyota Prado, a brand new Kia Picanto, tricycles (Keke Napep) and scores of other prizes including power generating sets, sewing machines and grinding machines were handed over to joyful winners.
Sarah Ilya Madu was presented the keys to her brand-new Toyota Prado by Senator Simon Lalong, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth Development, supported by a stellar cast of celebrities and influencers.
Sarah, a federal civil servant from Borno State, who emerged winner of the Toyota Prado in the draw of the promotion held in Abuja last Friday, expressed shock when she was called up. She dropped the call from Globacom several times because the news was too good to be believed.
She said, “I was prevailed upon by my colleagues to do a video call with the Glo staff who called me. Even when I saw the office environment, I was still doubtful.” She added that when she eventually agreed to visit the Glo office, she went with a hefty colleague just in case she was being set up.
Ufot Victor, a 43-year-old businessman based in the FCT, was expectant about winning as he had been recharging regularly so as to cross the minimum requirement for a car. Winning a brand new Kia Picanto was a huge reward for his dedication.
Other lucky winners also went home with tricycles (Keke), power generating sets, sewing machines and grinding machines. Ireimiya Mallo, a SIM registration agent and native of Nasarawa State, who won Keke, said, ”I was so joyful on learning I had won a Keke”. He disclosed that he would be deploying it for commercial purpose”, while the winner of a power generating set, Felix Gabriel, thanked Globacom for always remembering Nigerians every year in its annual promos.
The Special Guest, Senator Simon Lalong, praised the Chairman of Globacom for putting the promo in place for Nigerians and also extolled his strong support for sports. He said he would love to be a winner in the Glo promo one day soon. Also Senator Yemi Adaramodu, the spokesman of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth Development, said Globacom has always been a brand after his heart, adding that the network is not just attracting customers but also giving out to show that it means well not only for the customers but also for Nigerians.
In his remarks at the event, Globacom’s Head of Division, North West, Mr. Kazeem Kaka, said that to participate in the Festival of Joy promo, new and existing subscribers should dial *611# so as to opt into the promo and to keep recharging thereafter to meet the threshold for the various prizes. He added that new subscribers can participate immediately by purchasing a new SIM, registering it and dialing *611#.
Guests at the event included representatives of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Mariam Imam, Assistant Director, Consumer Affairs at the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Moses Iyi; comedians, Tee A, Seyi Law, and Gordons.
Others were Nollywood duo of Ebube Nwagbo and Juliet Ibrahim as well as popular content creator, Kiekie.
U.S immigration and border officials will be able to arrest migrants at so-called “sensitive” locations again, after the Trump administration overturned policies limiting where such arrests could happen.
Officers will now be able to make arrests at designated “sensitive” areas, including houses of worship, schools, and hospitals.
Officials have been prohibited from doing this since 2011.
Later, the Biden administration expanded the regulation, further restricting the authority’s powers.
“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
“The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense.”
A second directive reinstates the ability for the U.S. to quickly deport any undocumented person arrested who is unable to prove they have been in the country for more than two years.
A 23-year-old Turkish OnlyFans model, Azranur AV aka Ezra Vandan, has been arrested by Istanbul police after announcing her plan to engage in sexual activity with 100 men within 24 hours.
Vandan’s social media post, in which she declared her intention to live-stream the act in an attempt to set a national record, was deemed “obscene” and “damaging” to public morals by authorities.
“My goal is to break a Turkish record first, then a world record!” she wrote in the now-viral post.
Her arrest was carried out by the Morality Bureau of the Istanbul Security Branch Directorate at a cosmetic surgery clinic in Atasehir, Istanbul.
