By Aduragbemi Omiyale

Some electrical materials have been handed over to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to enable about 21 communities in Yewaland, Ogun State, to have power restored to them after three years of blackout, thanks to the Ibese plant of Dangote Cement Plc.

This gesture spurred traditional rulers from the affected towns to shower praises on the chairman of Dangote Cement Plc, Mr Aliko Dangote, for approving over N100 million for the procurement of the needed electrical items, which were handed to electricity distribution company for the area, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).

The Olu of Imasayi, Oba Lukman Kuoye, described the donation as the result of some positive engagements the management of Ibese Plant had with various interest groups especially the communities and the IBEDC on the way out of the protracted blackout.

“We thank God it is a reality today that we are on the way to getting reconnected to national grid after over three years in darkness. We want to thank Dangote Cement Ibese Plant for this development. We are not taking this for granted.

“Dangote Cement is the only transformer that is illuminating the Yewa communities and Ogun State in general with its CSR projects. The management did not even consider the IBEDC’s inertia but still went ahead to donate materials that are supposed to be provided by the distribution company,” he enthused.

On his part, the Aboro of Ibeseland, Oba Rotimi Mulero, thanked Dangote Cement and Mr Dangote for always rising to the task of helping the communities, saying the provision of the electrical materials would go a long way to further cement the existing cordial relationship between the company and the communities.

The monarch promised that the communities would do everything possible to ensure the protection of the electricity infrastructure when installed and warned that the people would not take kindly with vandals any longer

The Ibese Plant Director of Dangote Cement, Mr Roy Uttam, while handing over the electrical materials within the premises of Ibese Police Station, said the donation was part of efforts made by the cement plant management to halt the prolonged blackout in the affected towns and villages, and advised the people to ensure the electrical installations are protected.

Mr Uttam pointed out that the plant management had invested millions of Naira to purchase the electrical materials in the spirit of good neighbourliness, noting that, “Otherwise it should be the job of the IBEDC to provide the materials as a business venture that would be collecting money from the customers after reconnecting them.”

“The management of Dangote Cement Plc is donating the electrical materials to close out the lingering power outage in the affected communities which have been in darkness for years due to vandalisation of cables and other installations by unscrupulous elements,” he added.

He further explained that the decision to intervene was borne out of genuine care for the people and the desire to help mitigate the negative impact of the outage on socio-economic activities of the people. He reiterated the cement company’s commitment to the sustainable development of its host communities and continued collaboration on initiatives geared towards the general wellbeing of the people.

Receiving the materials on behalf of the management of IBEDC, the Technical Engineer for the Sango Business Hub, Mr Ayodeji Taiwo, thanked the cement maker for the provisions, assuring stakeholders of speedy action by the electricity distribution company to facilitate quick reconnection of the communities within timelines.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The Lagos State government has maintained that no agent or landlord should charge more than 10 per cent of the annual rent for tenancy agreement fees in the state, warning against illegal charges.

The Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Housing, Ms Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, while speaking at the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, warned against the imposition of excessive tenancy agreement fees on house hunters.

She underscored the clarity and unambiguous nature of the Lagos State Tenancy Law, stating unequivocally that any landlord or agent found demanding or collecting more than 10 per cent of the annual rent as agreement or legal fees is in direct violation of the state’s tenancy regulations.

Expressing concern over reports of unscrupulous practices, the Governor’s aide said, “We have been overwhelmed by reports of the activities of these unscrupulous elements making life hard for Lagosians with agreements and commissions that are like asking for an arm and a leg.

“We are calling on members of the public not to keep silent but to report such agents and landlords to us for the government cannot be everywhere, every time.”

Acknowledging the significant challenges posed by the nation’s burgeoning population and increasing rural-urban migration on the state’s housing sector, Ms Odunuga-Bakare recognised that this situation has unfortunately created opportunities for some individuals to exploit vulnerable residents.

However, she firmly asserted the state government’s unwavering commitment to regulating and sanitising the housing sector to protect the interests of Lagosians.

Furthermore, the Special Adviser highlighted the collaborative efforts between the government and recognised associations of real estate agents.

“We have met with associations of real estate agents, and they have assured us that the people who are engaging in such practices are not registered agents that identify with their associations,” she noted.

The legal practitioner suggested that these illegal activities are often perpetrated by unregistered individuals operating outside the purview of established professional bodies.

She called on all residents who encounter demands for tenancy agreement fees exceeding the legally mandated 10 per cent to report such incidents through the Lagos State Real Estate Regulating Authority (LASRERA) on Facebook, Instagram: lasrera 1 and X (formerly Twitter) @lasrera, noting that this call to action aims to empower citizens and ensure the effective enforcement of the tenancy law, thereby fostering a fairer and more transparent housing market in Lagos State.

By Adedapo Adesanya

Amid the resurgence of attacks by Boko Haram in Borno and Yobe States, the Senate on Tuesday asked the military to urgently redeploy personnel and advanced equipment to tackle terrorists in the areas.

The resolution followed the recent killing of over a dozen soldiers in Marte town of the Monguno Local Government Area on Monday, May 12, and a subsequent assault early Tuesday on Gajiram, the headquarters of the Nganzai Local Government Area.

In a motion raised by the Senate Chief Whip, Mr Tahir Munguno, lawmakers claimed while two-thirds of the local government areas in Borno were once under Boko Haram control, collaborative efforts between the Nigerian military and civilian joint task force had successfully reclaimed the territories.

They, however, said the restored peace has led to a relocation of the tactical command to the North-West, where the military is combating kidnapping and banditry.

Expressing concern over the militants’ evolving tactics, Mr Munguno highlighted the use of modern technologies by the group, including drones and an increase in the deployment of improvised explosive devices, which have led to high civilian and military casualties, disrupting transportation networks.

The Senate urged the military high command to swiftly redeploy sufficient troops to the North-East and ensure they are adequately equipped with modern technology to effectively combat the renewed threat, as well as mandate the committees on the army and air force to monitor and ensure compliance with this directive.