Shomolu, Ilaje among worst slums in Africa

Shomolu, Ilaje among worst slums in Africa

Compilation by: Aisha Abdul-Lateef

Shomolu, Ilaje among worst slums in Africa
Ilaje and Shomolu have been listed at No. 11 and 13 respectively among 20 worst slums in Africa. Slum, according to Microsoft Encarta Dictionary is an overcrowded area of a city in which the housing is typically in very bad condition. In a report release by Africa Ranking (www.africaranking.com) an “in-depth information” provider on interesting African fact. According to Wikipedia.org, a slum is a heavily populated urban informal settlement characterized by substandard housing and squalor. Other settlements in Lagos state listed include Ajegunle at No. 15 and Makoko at No. 5.

Lagos State has the highest number of radio stations
Lagos has been listed as one of the highest state with radio stations. Lagos state was listed at No.1 with 31 radio stations including two higher institution radio stations, one traffic radio and a sport radio.

Oyo state is No.2 with 23 Radio stations, Kaduna state followed with 17 radio stations, including one higher institution radio station.


Abuja, the federal capital territory came fourth with 16 radio station including an Armed Forces Radio station. Anambra and Kano tied at fifth position with Anambra having two university radio stations. Ondo follows with 13 radio stations, which includes a community radio and two higher institution radio stations. While Rivers and Enugu tied at No.7 with Rivers having one higher institution against four in Enugu.
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Editorial: SBSR – MORE CAN BE DONE

Editorial: SBSR – MORE CAN BE DONE

Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR is a concept designed for a large corporation to give back and impact the society. But being socially responsible is not an option open to only big organizations and brands, it is a must for all business whether small or big. Small Business Social Responsibility, SBSR is a way for small businesses and cottage industries to impact their community positively especially their immediate business environment. It is an opportunity to replenish and reduce the effect of businesses on the community. The failure to replenish the earth, our inability to give back what was taken from the earth is what we faced today ecologically – climate change.


The notion that social responsibility is not for small businesses is a gross misunderstanding. Indeed, small businesses are in an enviable position that makes a little input result in a very large output. Already, small businesses are providing jobs for community members, increasing Internal Generated Revenue, IGR for the Local Government but they can still do more. Sponsorship of events and programs of developmental values is a sort of SBSR. Idea, they say rules the world. Our business has partners – big businesses and brands that can be lured into joining us in giving back to our community.

The Smithyz Bar and Restaurant way
Smithyz Bar and Restaurant in Bariga conceived an idea that will not only promote youth development and draw attention to talents in the community but also provides a platform for talents to showcase their skills. With determination and negotiation, the Bar made a solid plan and approached other community businesses but more importantly, they were able to convince their big partners to support and be part of the event. They convince their partners, sold them the benefits derivable from being part of the event. And the rest is history.


Idea moves the world, you don’t have to go it all alone. Only when we help our community grow, only then can we achieve our business growth. We are aware of other businesses doing so much to promote community development. But we need much more to explore our community development options and exploit the many talents that are numerous in our communities.
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SPECIAL REPORT: Gated street and Security

SPECIAL REPORT: Gated street and Security

By: Ola Pat, Aisha Abdul-Lateef and Olarewaju Yussuf
Locked gate of Oduguwa Street
It has become part of the Lagos culture for residents to have a street association that cater more to the security needs than to their environmental challenges, a carryover from the failure of government to provide adequate security for the citizenry. It is a “rarity” to find a street in Lagos apart from Victoria Island and a part of Ikoyi without a gate. Shomolu-Bariga, Gbagada and Environs are all gated communities and understandably so. CommuneMagazine, CM can reliably inform you that streets without a gate are making frantic effort to make their gate.


The street gate concept escalated in Lagos during the regime of the Sanni Abache Government, when issue of security was jettison totally by all level of government. And since then, the lives of the citizens have never be the same as street  gate and security levies became part of citizens monthly expense yet millions of Naira is budgeted for and expended on security by all level of government. This excludes the notorious and unaccounted for security vote, an assault on citizens’ intelligent.

To achieve this desired street security, every streets has its owning governing bodies i.e. association or committee saddled with the street security. Whatever the named chosen, they are often voted in every year or two with the tag Landlords-Residents’ Association under the leadership of a landlord. Posts such as Chainman, financial secretary and treasurer are often reserved for Landlords, a carryover from the colonial politics. This is the norm in all the associations except in some few communities.

In an interview granted CM, Alhaji Tajudeen Bello, chairman Onasanya Street Association gave reasons why the chairmanship and treasurer positions are reserved for Landlords. According to him, tenants can move at anytime to another area without batting an eye lid. These positions are very sensitive because they are sometimes entrusted with levies collected from residents. The Chairman of Olusoji Residents’ Association chairman, Mr. Ajiboye Afolabi also collaborate this statement, he averred that the landlord or any members of his/her household cannot run away with the association’s money because they have a landed property that tied them to the community while the same thing cannot be said for a tenant, who can vanished without a trace.

The Lagos State Government, LSG has been inundated with the reports of abuse and perpetual locked down of some street against traffic permanently. The fight to remove this hindrance to easy access to government infrastructure began during the Administration of Babatunde Fashola. In fact, the fight was to open up the inner roads to vehicular traffic in order to reduce traffic on major roads and prolong the life span.

In February 2016, the LSG re-launched the campaign against locking of street gates between the hours of 5 am and 12 midnight with a note that streets that failed to comply will have their gates pull down. The LSG also stipulated as part of the term of having a street gate that every locked gate between 12 midnight to 5 am must be manned so that in cases of emergences the gates can quickly be opened.

The senior special Assistant to the Governor on Community Affairs Adversary Council, Mr. Tajudeen Adeniyi Quadri said it is totally on acceptable that street put up gates or barricades that obstruct buses and articulated vehicles. “This government therefore observes with caution that though the erecting and closing of these gates may be desirable, the consequences on the overall urban efficiency, aesthetics and functionality of the city and especially traffic flow poses questions difficult to answer.” He declared.


Hon. Muslim Folami, Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs reiterating the LSG determination to have all streets gate open to the public said “In view of the challenges posed by the unrestricted erection of street gates, the State Government is revisiting the directive on the gates and barricades. Any contravention of this directive will attract necessary punishment for defaulters”
Meanwhile, he went further to say that street that have failed to comply with the LSG directives have had their gates about 148 gates earmarked for demolition, 84 of which have been pulled down. “The Ministry promoted 24-hour access through gated streets in the State with the involvement of Community Development Associations in the State. So far, enforcement in 84 locations has been effected as at April, 2016. This is being done to improve security, free flow of traffic, safety of lives and properties of all citizens in the State.” he said.

In spite of government effort to guaranty freedom of movement according to the Nigeria constitution, the residents of Oduguwa Street woke up on Oct 5, 2016 to operation show your receipt. The street, one of the longest and a major access road in the Ladi-Lak area of Bariga to about four other major streets and a mini-market had 10 gates, 9 of which were locked down by the street’s security coordinators. According to one of those manning the only gate left opened, who refuse blatantly to identify himself to CM correspondent on ground, the gates were locked down because some of the residents failed to pay their security levy, thus only people with evidence of payment i. e. receipt will be allowed to go out of the street. He went to further to say the residents were given two weeks ultimatum.

All effort to speak with the chairman or the person representing the security coordinators was frustrated. One of the residents, who spoke with CM based on the condition of anonymity, said he did not know the chairman of the committee. But he had heard about the purported lock down but he did not believe it is possible. A shop owner in the community said although they allowed people to come into the street, she had to go and meet one of her customers at the lock gate because it was a long journey for her to go round and use the open gate.

As at 11:25 am, when our correspondent was leaving the Street, the gates were still under lock and key. CM sorts the opinions of some community leaders on the issue of locking up residents in order to effect payment of security levies. In a Whatsapp chat with Ayoola Julius Esq, popularly called The Law, he found it unjustifiable and totally unacceptable to lock residents in simply to force them to pay their dues. “Street Associations are not government institutions and as such they have no competence to do what they do by locking out residents on the account of nonpayment of security levies. This is different in th case of private estate.


The chairman of Akoka CDA, Mr. Adesanya could not understand why residents will refuse to pay for something they derived direct benefits from. “The only way people understand is locking the gate some of the time”. On being told that the government wants all gate open between 5 am to midnight? He replied, we need to assist the government, the police in areas of security, if not it would have been free for all for men of the underworld. In response to the question, if its right to lock people in because they can’t pay their security levies, he asked if it is right to keep people outside at night in the cold through the month, while people are sleeping inside their homes. Then fail to pay them at the end of the month. “Did you realize those security have families at home? How do you pay them? I think it will be wickedness on our part if those guys were not paid at the end of the month. Its call community watch, who pays for it?
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The songs that help your child develop language.

The songs that help your child develop language.

Reading to your child
Reading to toddler
Schools are back in session, a new session for that matter. The bills are new, fresh and increasing, the more reason why you should not only pay but also be part of your child's education especially for those with pre-schoolers and kindergarten pupils. CM finds this foundational article on helping your child to learn easily with nursery rhymes written by a Montessori Coach - Mrs. Adepeju Falekulo.

Mrs. Falekulo is the Head of Programs at Addlo Montessori Training Center, where she helps women who want to establish Montessori Schools acquire the relevant skills needed to become successful, world class Montessori Directors and School owners. You can find her opinion on child education the Montessori way at www.ayopejufalekulo.wordpress.com. Happy reading:


The Importance of Nursery Rhymes – by Adepeju Falekulo 

Nursery Rhymes are the main ingredient that keeps Pre-school environment alive and fun for the children. Music is food for the soul that is what they say right? Well nursery rhymes fulfill that goal in the lives of our children.

These simple songs feed the child with the rhythm and melody of our language and music. Rhymes are the first introductory steps the child gets to actually putting words together and making a sentence. Observe the young toddler who is just over a year and a half old, they haven’t started really talking yet, maybe a word or two, to express their wants and needs. But if your child has been listening to songs especially simple nursery rhymes for a while they have started singing after you most of the time.

I remember one of our young ones, just about a year and a half, then, they learnt this rhyme about traffic lights, the teacher taught them this rhyme because she wanted to teach them about colours, and relate it to something they may notice in the environment. Well my dear one and a half-year old learnt this rhyme so well that during the Presentation Day for Parents, she stood out; so small, yet so confidently belting out her rhyme. She got a standing ovation.
Mrs. Adepeju Falekulo

Traffic Lights , Traffic LightsWhen you see a Traffic lightThere is something you should knowRed means STOPYellow means READYAnd Green means GO!

Her Mum was so proud of her little girl and said to us that every time they passed by a traffic light, she would recite the rhyme and even told her Dad when the lights were always about to go Red to STOP!

So why are these rhymes so important for our children to learn?
Rhymes introduce children to a rich use of Language. They learn new words and meanings of the words through the rhymes and actions that they use. (For example the song Three blind mice {holding up 3 fingers and covering their eyes} See how they run, They all ran after the farmer’s wife {running feet}, Who cut off their tail with a carving knife {miming pulling a tail and cutting it off}, Did you ever see such a thing in your life? {miming seeing with hands moving out from the eyes/face} As Three Blind Mice. {the 3 fingers} Children love singing this rhyme and they get it. Doesn’t make much sense really, does it? But the children do get the meaning of the words and enjoy singing it.

These rhymes help children learn the structure of putting words together to make sentences. A child who sings lots of nursery rhymes will be able to speak and construct sentences.
Rhymes tell a story and give children the structure of telling stories, they have a beginning, a middle and an end. Children learn to mirror this and they develop story telling skills
Rhymes are enjoyable, they make children happy, they sing, move around and dance and all these are food for the soul.


Rhymes can be used to teach children social skills and are one of the best ways to help them learn concepts you are trying to teach them. So as a teacher, or intending teacher, as a parent or intending parent, start putting together your arsenal of nursery rhymes they will help you to lay a good literary foundation for your child or children. These rhymes are hardly ever forgotten. I remember when I was growing up, my father used to sing and hum, Row, row, row your boat. This rhyme has stayed with me, as it had stayed with him. I used to ask myself is life a dream? Well is it? This is something you could even discuss with the older children. Let’s give our children food for their need to acquire language. Rhymes are one of the strong ways to get lots of language practice for the child.
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