Dele Momodu: Time to build a modern Nigeria (Part IV)

I have watched, and listened to, our President. He speaks like someone who really wants to succeed but lacks the courage to fight the cankerworm that made others before him to fail. Fellow Nigerians, please permit me to thank all those who have responded to this serialised analysis of what we need to do as... Read More

babatunde Fashola, Dele Momodu, development, Goodluck Jonathan, lagos state, Legislators, national assembly, nigeria

November 23, 2012

PDP floors ACN (again) in Lagos as tribunal declares Busari Akande winner of LG poll

by Isi Esene The Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Lagos yesterday declared the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Busari Akande, as the validly elected chairman of Agbado Oke-odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of the state. The Tribunal declared invalid the Certificate of Return earlier issued to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate,... Read More

acn, Augustine Arogun, babatunde Fashola, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Busari Akande, lagos, Local Government, PDP

November 21, 2012

James Silas: It’s okay to ban ‘Okada’ in Lagos but… (Y! Superblogger)

Change is inevitable and sometimes painful… humans are not built to accept change in auto-mode – we adjust and eventually conform. I’ll want to say I’m one of the people who did not only vote for Governor Fashola but also admire his mission and drive to make Lagos State a better place or a “Mega... Read More

babatunde Fashola, ban, James Silas, mega City, okada, Y! Superblogger

November 19, 2012

‘Chinese is possible language of the future’ – Fashola defends planned introduction of Mandarin in Lagos public schools

by Isi Esene Governor Babatunde Fashola has given reasons for championing the introduction of Mandarin in Lagos public schools. He defended the initiative saying it is not to discourage the teaching of indigenous languages. He said it is to give pupils functional education in consonance with current global realities. Fashola who said this at the... Read More

babatunde Fashola, education, Frederick Fasheun, ikeja, lagos, Lateef Jakande, Mandarin, Mobolaji Johnson, Olayinka Oladunjoye

November 14, 2012

Do not add my wife on Facebook – Governor Fashola warns

by Isi Esene The Lagos State government yesterday released a statement dissociating First Lady Abimbola Fashola from several social media accounts purported to be operated by the wife of the governor. In a release by the special assistant to the governor on media, Hakeem Bello, the government made it clear that the governor does not... Read More

Abimbola Fashola, babatunde Fashola, facebook, Hakeem Bello, imperssonation, social media, twitter.

November 12, 2012

Opinion: Are you not entertained: Lagos the new Monaco?

by Afam People often ask me how I can live in this country. How I can stay here for months at a time and not pine for Manchester. The answer’s simple, Nigeria’s really entertaining. The time has come for me to discuss the reshaping of the Lagosian coastline. Yes, this reshaping currently appears to be... Read More

Atlantic Ocean, babatunde Fashola, Bintin, Eko Atlanti City, Lagos Bar- beach, Manchester, Monaco

November 12, 2012

Tope Olofin: Lagos… mega city or traffic city? (Y! Superblogger)

“My supervisor handed me a query, asking me to explain why I have become a latecomer. Is she nuts or does she use voodoo to bypass the traffic?” Ring… On the other end of the line comes a groggy voice. “Hello.” Hmmmm, I refuse to be hurt, so I continue, hey buttercups, how are you?... Read More

babatunde Fashola, commercial motorcycles, lagos, New Traffic Law, okada, Tope Olofin, traffic, Y! Superblogger

November 11, 2012

SNAPSHOT: ‘Okadas’ make the long journey home

by Isi Esene Commercial motorcycle operators popularly known as ‘okada’, have started looking elsewhere to earn a means of livelihood after feeling the effect of the new Lagos traffic law restricting them from plying many highways. Here, they are seen loading their motorcycles in trucks for the long journey back home. “We’ll go back to... Read More

babatunde Fashola, highway, lagos, okada, transportation

November 11, 2012

Hauwa Gambo: All I want to say is, thank you, America (YNaija Frontpage)

Whether the rest of the world hates America’s guts or not, they have to admit those guys know how to run a democracy! On Wednesday, the Olympics of politics finally drew to an end as Barack Obama, candidate of the Democratic Party for the United States Presidential election retained his place as his country’s 44th... Read More

babatunde Fashola, barack obama, democracy, frontpage, Hauwa Gambo, lagos, Mitt Romney, okada, US elections, US Presidential Elections, ynaija, YNaija Frontpage

November 9, 2012

Kay Aishida: This madness, a mega-joke (Y! Superblogger)

How can you get yourselves an army of losers to enforce your policies? Honestly, I’m very angry right now. Extremely angry. I mean,what nonsense is this? For your information, I’m a Lagosian and I’m also thick in the middle of this madness. I mean,what is this? Of course, I’m referring to the ban on ‘okada’... Read More

babatunde Fashola, Kay Aishida, lagos, motorbike, okada, Y! Superblogger

November 8, 2012

SNAPSHOT: Will BRT bus vandalization stop Fashola? ‘Okada’ riders seem to think so

by Isi Esene This Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) bus was allegedly vandalized yesterday by commercial motorcycle operators popularly known as ‘Okada’. This incident happened at Berger bus-stop. Reports say policemen later arrived the scene to douse the tension. The motorcycle operators are said to be fomenting trouble to force the government of the state to... Read More

babatunde Fashola, brt, New Traffic Law

November 8, 2012

Medicine after death: Lagos plans ‘alternative jobs’ programme for ‘okada’ riders

by Isi Esene The Lagos Sate government has declared its intention to meaningfully engage registered motorcycle operators popularly known as ‘okada’ riders who have been thrown out of work due to the enactment of the new traffic law which prohibits them from plying certain roads in the metropolis. According to the new traffic law, only... Read More

babatunde Fashola, Kayode Opeifa, lagos, New Traffic Law, okada, Rotimi Oladele

November 7, 2012

“Stay in your village if you can’t obey traffic laws,” Gov. Fashola warns ‘Okada’ operators

by Isi Esene Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday warned anyone coming to Lagos with the intention of living in the city to endeavour top keep abreast of it extant laws because the government has every intention of enforcing its laws no matter whose ox is gored. He said his government has a duty to enforce the... Read More

babatunde Fashola, lagos, motorcycle operators, New Traffic Law, okada

November 6, 2012

Kolo mental: ‘Okada’ rider strips naked to escape arrest in Lagos

by Rachel Ogbu The clash between law enforcement agents and commercial bike riders in Lagos state seems to be on going. Yesterday horrified passersby watched as a man called Sunday Udoh, 38, stripped himself naked to evade arrest by law enforcement agents for violating the new Lagos State Traffic Law. Udoh who is a commercial... Read More

babatunde Fashola, Lagos State Traffic Law, okada ban, okada restrictions

November 6, 2012

LOOK: Governor Fashola locked in a passionate kiss with wife, Abimbola (and we like)

by Isi Esene These public figures never cease to surprise us, yesterday, it was Jumobi Mofe-Damijo unleashing a butterfly tattoo on her right bossom; today it’s Governor Babatunde Fashola showing a very public display of affection (vPDA) to his wife, Abimbola at the closing ceremony of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials meeting. Who... Read More

Abimbola Fashola, babatunde Fashola, Governor, lagos, RAUF AREGBESOLA

November 4, 2012

Lagosians set to stage #OccupyLagos over Hurricane Sandy… in last week’s news with a pinch of salt

by Stanley Azuakola Babatunde Fashola, the governor of Lagos, should gear up for the fight of his life. Lagosians have sworn to stage an Occupy Lagos protest over an announcement by the government that in seven days, the state would experience ripple effects from the deadly Hurricane Sandy which hit the United States last... Read More

Adams Oshiomhole, babatunde Fashola, Femi Fani-Kayode, nuhu ribadu, PDP

November 2, 2012

Photo of the Day: Fashola, we hope you know this is not an ‘okada’

by Isi Esene It’s just as Achebe said: because the hunter has learnt to shoot without missing, the bird has learnt to fly without perching. With the restriction of movement placed on commercial motorcycle operators in Lagos State a number of owners have devised means to bend the law by going back to the future... Read More

babatunde Fashola, Lastma, motorcycle, okada

November 1, 2012

Opinion: Fashola, why so deceitful?

by Olumide Makanjuola If you know Lagos State very well, you will understand how ridiculous and insensitive the state government has made itself look with the ‘okada’ restriction law on 475 roads In the last few months, we heard rumor on plans by the Lagos State government to ban commercial motorcycle riders popularly called... Read More

babatunde Fashola, campaign, deception, hypocrisy, lagos state, okada, okada restrictions, Okada riders

October 27, 2012

Temie Giwa: The riders and their representatives (YNaija Frontpage)

About a month ago, I was carjacked and robbed on a Lagos highway and a motorcycle played a significant role in this horror. My story is the norm, motorcycles are dangerous in Lagos, and we all know this. Public policy is an art and a science and those who are entrusted with this responsibility must... Read More

babatunde Fashola, Lagos State Government, motorcycle, NAPEP, Public policy

October 25, 2012

“We can not continue this way!” – Lagosians protest ‘okada’ restriction

by Isi Esene Lagosians have continued to groan under the weight of the new traffic law which placed restrictions on the operation of commercial motorcyclists on major highways in the state. Many Lagosians have now resorted to trekking long distances to get to their destinations – a proposition which has not gone down well with... Read More

babatunde Fashola, brt, buses, commercial motorcyclists, lagos, okada, traffic

October 24, 2012

Opinion: Fashola and ‘okadas’ – Lagos can’t become New York overnight

by Babatunde Rosanwo Productivity in Lagos is highly dependent on efficiency; whether for the transport of goods, labor, or services between point A and B. The merit of banning okadas from the streets of Lagos is an easy one; this particular means of transport is prone to accidents, the okada riders are unruly, they flout... Read More

babatunde Fashola, commercial motorcyclists, economy, goods, highway, Labour, Lastma, okada, productivity

October 23, 2012

Fashola means business: Lagos bus drivers and conductors to wear uniforms from January

by Isi Esene Oh boy, what have y’all done to the stern Governor of Lagos State? Many commercial motorcyclists have complained over the ban on their operations on major highways in Lagos State but the government is not soft-pedaling (pun intended) on the traffic law as the commissioner of transportation, Kayode Opeifa, has disclosed that as... Read More

Ade Ipaye, babatunde Fashola, Kayode Opeifa, lagos, Lastma, traffic

October 12, 2012

Third Mainland Bridge set for total closure on Sunday

by Isi Esene The Lagos State government has announced that there will be a full closure of the Third Mainland Bridge on Sunday. The bridge is billed to undergo repairs and traffic will be diverted from the hours of 6am till midnight. Kayode Opeifa, commissioner for Transportation announced this on Thursday stating that the closure... Read More

babatunde Fashola, Kayode Opeifa, lagos, third mainland bridge, Transport commissioner

October 6, 2012

‘In my country…’ – A lament by Cheta Nwanze

by Stanley Azuakola This evening, a public affairs commentator Cheta Nwanze @chxta, penned some of the most touching lines written yet about our sorry state in Nigeria on twitter. He touched virtually everything in a series of tweets that lasted over an hour. These tweets would rend your heart. – To start the week,... Read More

#Aluu4, babatunde Fashola, Bode George, Cheta Nwanze, country, Emmanuel Uduaghan, Idris Wada, James Ibori, liyel imoke, Murtala Nyako, nigeria, peter obi

September 19, 2012

More, please: Fashola requests N30bn supplementary budget

by Stanley Azuakola The Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola wants more money. Even though the state House of Assembly had approved over N430 billion in the year 2012 budget which was signed into law, the governor wants an amendment to the Year 2012 Budget Appropriation, to allow the government access extra N30billion. Fashola sent a supplementary budget,... Read More

babatunde Fashola, Ben Akabueze, lagos, supplementary budget

September 12, 2012

“Beautify your environment or go to jail” – Lagos govt warns residents

by Isi Esene It’s official, the Lagos State Government has made it mandatory for residents of the state to beautify their environment or risk a six months jail term. According to reports, this information was disclosed yesterday by Tunji Bello, the commissioner for the Environment, at the inauguration of the Lagos State Parks and Gardens... Read More

babatunde Fashola, environment, gardens, lagos, LASAA, LASPARK, Lastma, LAWMA, Olukunle Sotade, tunji bello

September 9, 2012

No thanks: Fashola rejects chieftancy title from the Oniru of Lagos

by Isi Esene The governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola yesterday politely declined receiving a chieftancy title from the Oniru of Iru land, Lagos, Oba Abiodun Idowu Oniru. He, however, accepted an award of excellence presented to him by the monarch who was celebrating his 75th birthday and 18th coronation anniversary. He explained that the... Read More

anniversary, babatunde Fashola, birthday, bola tinubu, chieftancy, excellence, lagos state, Oniru of Lagos, Ooni of Ife, title

September 4, 2012

Okada operators sue Lagos State, seek reversal of new traffic law

by Isi Esene The new traffic law passed by the Lagos State Government has drawn the ire of commercial motorcycle operators in the state and they have decided to drag the government to court calling for a reversal of the law. The defendants in the suit are the Lagos State Government, the Lagos State House... Read More

Ade Ipaye, babatunde Fashola, Bamidele Aturu, commercial motocyclists, court, highway, lagos state, okada, operators, traffic

August 14, 2012

Name and shame: Lagos promises to embarrass poster offenders

by Isi Esene The Lagos State Government yesterday warned organisations who persistently paste posters in inappropriate areas of the state to desist from the practice or be punished. The government’s position was announced by the chief executive officer of the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), Mr. George Noah, who warned erring organisations or... Read More

babatunde Fashola, George Noah, lagos, Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, LASAA, posters