Metro
Ban on Okada: Hausa Community Lures Sanwo-Olu with Massive Votes
Some leaders of the Hausa community in Lagos State have appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to reverse the ban on Okada operations in six local government areas of the state.
The leaders, who spoke in separate interviews with The PUNCH, on Wednesday, said Okada riders who hail from northern Nigeria contribute significantly to the voting population of Lagos and should not be economically strangulated.
Sanwo-Olu had on Wednesday banned the operations of commercial motorcycle riders in six Local Governments and nine Local Government Development Areas in the state.
The affected councils are Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Surulere, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland and Apapa.
The governor said, “We will not sit back and watch criminally-minded people use that mode of transportation (motorcycles) to perpetrate crimes and criminality in Lagos. Lives are being lost on a daily basis, preventable accidents are happening every day and the riders are not respecting any of our traffic laws.
“The situation has led to a complete breakdown of law and order. This ban has come to stay and we will not tolerate any weakness in enforcement.”
But the Seriki of Obalende, Saliu Waziri, told The PUNCH that the government should rethink its decision.
Waziri said the government should instead get the data of Okada riders in Lagos to fish out any intruder or criminally-minded fellows.
He said, “This issue has taken us a long time and we have been trying to put our members on the line. I want to advise the government to rethink its decision because Lagos can’t operate without bikes because of traffic. Government should register Okada riders in each local government to know those working in any local government. By so doing, the government would know who to pick when any issue arises.
“Some of our members stay here in Lagos and vote during elections. That should count for something because we contribute to votes during elections. The government should change the system of Okada riders not stopping them.”
Waziri, however, ruled out the possibility of taking any legal action against the state government.
The Seriki Hausa of Ajah, Ibrahim Ngoma, agreed with his Obalende counterpart that the government should consider the voting population of Hausa Okada riders in Lagos.
“Truth be told, Governor Sanwo-Olu has been understanding with Okada people unlike Governor (Babatunde) Fashola. Okada members should obey the law while I appeal to Governor Sanwo-Olu to look into the matter and lift the ban before the election because the ban is affecting my people,” he said.
Also, another leader of the Hausa community in Lagos, Iliyasu Kira, in a telephone interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday, pleaded with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to reverse the ban.
According to the Seriki Hausa in Shasha in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos, the voting population of the Hausa Okada riders in Lagos is not something the government want to joke with.
He said, “I appeal to the government to leave Okada riders to continue their operations. These Okada riders help the government during elections with votes. Our voting population in Lagos constitutes over 2.7 million because most of us vote here in Lagos. We are not all bad people.
“Many of our people are Okada riders in Lagos. If the government claims that robbers are rampant among Okada riders, then the government should sieve out the criminals. The government should provide replacement for our members affected by the ban.
“We don’t have the power to start any legal case with the government. This is why I am appealing with the government to reconsider the ban.”
An aide to the Sarkin Hausawa of Agege, Abdullahi Salihu, in a chat with The PUNCH, said the Hausa community in the state will not challenge the government’s ban.He said, “The Chieftaincy Council of Hausa Community in Agege, under his Royal Highness, Alhaji Musa Muhammed Dogon Kadai, doesn’t challenge government laws. We believe that whenever government makes a law, it’s for the best of the general public. So, challenging the government’s law is like saying we don’t want the betterment of the state. We know that many of our people earn their daily income from the Okada business but that doesn’t mean that because of their own income we should jeopardise the security of lives and property in the state.”
Salihu said he also spoke with the Sarkin in three of the affected LGAs, saying they gave the same position as that of the Hausa leadership in Agege.
He said, “Majority of them are on the same page as we are here. They said our stand on the issue is also their stand, so that’s the resolution we have reached. We are urging every member of the community to abide by the rules and laws of the state government. Anybody found wanting, we’ll not be reliable for the person’s act because the law is the law anywhere. We cannot get our people to protest or take action against the law of the state government. So, that is the resolution we all came about after I called them.”
The Punch
A delegate of the Abia State Security Trust Fund (ASSTF) led by the Executive Secretary, Barr. (Mrs.) Cleo Nkolika Ubani, has paid a working visit to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) in a bid to exchange ideas and draw more inspiration for a profitable venture, the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) learnt.
It would be recalled that LSSTF is the pioneer security trust fund in the nation, having been established in 2007.
The team, it was further disclosed, was on the visit to understudy the activities of its Lagos State counterparts.
A major highlight of the visit was a training session where both Trust Funds gave brief histories and reasons for the establishment of their Security Trust Funds.
The LSSTF took ASSTF through the rudiments and roles of the secretariat and the Board of Trustees as well as the various kinds of security interventions embarked upon by the Fund, and its impact on general security in the State, which has made it the safest state in Nigeria.
In his address, the Executive Secretary/CEO of LSSTF, Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun, emphasized the Fund’s strongest feature, which is embedded in the acronym, PART (Prudent, Accountability, Resourcefulness and Trust), in addition to maintenance, which is why its assets remain functional for upwards of 12 years.
“Here in LSSTF, we deliberately maintain a lean workforce to ensure that the majority of resources raised are directed towards providing support to security agencies operating in the State, and so we advise that you take that into consideration,” Balogun said.
Dr. Balogun also pointed out areas of the ASSTF amended laws that may be detrimental to their operations while stating that the success of any Fund can be attributed to the high caliber of individuals appointed by Mr. Governor as members of the Board of Trustees.
“These individuals are not only influential but accomplished in their various endeavours, and view their roles as an opportunity to give back to the State. They leverage on their positions and industry connections to reach out to colleagues and partners for contributions to sustain the activities of the STF,” he said.
The host STF took their guests on a tour of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) where the Permanent Secretary of the Agency, Dr. Oluwafemi Damilola Oke-Osanyitolu showed them round the Command and Control Centre towards having a firsthand experience of the various units of the agency, their functions and impact of their activities in the State.
The Abia delegates were also visited EPAIL (Equipment and Protective Applications International Limited) a security manufacturing company on a tour of its facility and its operations.
In their separate responses, members of the Board of the Trustee of the ASSTF, commended the Fund for its efforts thus far in facilitating safety and security in Lagos State. They noted that they are also stakeholders and beneficiaries of improved security as they have their businesses in Lagos. They promised to replicate the LSSTF model in Abia.
In her remarks, the ES of ASSTF, Barr. (Mrs.) Ubani thanked the Dr. Balogun for the warm reception and the ‘Lagos hospitality’.
“The training sessions and visitations were indeed insightful and informative. Even as we return to Abia, I will continue to reach out the LSSTF for support from time to time and look forward to receiving LSSTF on its follow-up working visit to Abia State,” she concluded.
Other members of the delegate were three members of the Board of Trustees of the ASSTF – Mr. Johnson Chukwu, MD – Cowry Asset Management Limited; Mrs. Ngozi Ekeoma, MD – Nepal Group; and Mrs. Nkechi Obi, MD – Techno Oil.
Others were Bar. Eke Okezie, Bar. Linda Phillip Onuoha and Mr Hope Nwaogwugwu.
By Eric Elezuo
Tragedy struck on Tuesday at the National Assembly complex when the Deputy Comptroller of Finance Administration and Technical Service, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Essien Etop Andrew, slumped and died.
During the engagement, which occurred around 1.00pm on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, the official developed sudden health complications. Despite the immediate and diligent efforts of first responders and medical personnel at the National Assembly Clinic, he unfortunately passed away.
Out of respect for the family, the official’s name will not be disclosed at this time.
The House of Representatives extends its heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased during this difficult time. We recognize the significant contributions he made to the Nigeria Customs Service and to our nation.
The House of Representatives stands ready to support efforts to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident and is cooperating fully with all relevant authorities to ensure all necessary protocols are followed.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD., expressed his condolences, stating, “We are deeply saddened by the sudden loss of a dedicated public servant. Our hearts go out to his family during this difficult time.”
Further information will be provided as it becomes available. We ask for patience and respect for the privacy of the family during this period of mourning.
Our sympathies are with his loved ones.”
Thank you.
Source: CKNNews
The FCT Police Command have arrested suspected killers of a retired Army General in Abuja, Brigadier-General Uwem Harold Udokwe, who was murdered by suspected armed robbers at his residence
The late brigadier general was attacked at his Sunshine Homes Estate by armed robbers at about 3am, on Saturday.
The Police in a video obtained by CKNNews revealed one of the killers
The 33 year suspect by the Ibrahim Rabiu from Kano State claimed he led the group.
According to him, five of them were involved in the operation.
He claimed that they live in the Apo area of Abuja.
When pressed further on the gun belonging to the General which they made away with, he stated that it was handed over to someone whom he also named.
He also revealed the name of members of the gang that stabbed the general several times until he died.
Police investigation and interrogation is still ongoing.
CKNNews
