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LAGOS, UK FIRM SIGN N2.52BILLION MOU TO PROVIDE 10,000 STREET LIGHTS

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…Deal To Provide 500 Jobs, Facilitate Hybrid Energy Plant

 

The Lagos State Government and a United Kingdom firm, Low Energy Designs (LED) Limited on Monday entered into partnership to construct 10,000 LED street lights covering 300kilometres across the State.

 

The deal, which also includes the provision of about 500 jobs and construction of an LED lighting and Hybrid Energy Power Assembly Plant in Epe, is estimated at $7million (about N2.52billion), and is expected to be delivered in the next 12 months.

 

Speaking at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the partnership held at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode said the development was a major milestone and a positive paradigm shift in the provision of street lighting for the State.

 

Governor Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Olawale Oluwo said the successful commencement of the partnership signposts a positive progress to the Light Up Lagos Project, which he said, is a special initiative of his administration composing street lighting, community electrification and embedded power programme.

 

He said: “With this agreement we are signing today, we are setting a new chart for the future of what street lighting, installation, management and control will be like in Lagos. It is a major paradigm shift.

 

“We have about 33,000 street lights in Lagos under the Lagos State Electricity Board. Now, the LED UK, based on this 300km, will give us about 10,000 street lights. So, technically, they are going to be having about 31 per cent of our entire street light infrastructure and this is a major significant development.

 

“The second major significant development is the fact that as from today onward, what we have with LED UK is what will be replicated to power Lagos with respect to street lighting going forward.”

 

Giving details on the agreement, the Governor said with the partnership, there will no longer be any fixed costs with regards to management of street light installations across the State, while all challenges hitherto associated with street lighting would now be a thing of the past.

 

“As a government, what we are doing is that we are not installing poles, we are not providing security, we are not bothering ourselves with diesel, we are not worried on Fridays and Saturdays about people coming back from clubs knocking down our poles.

 

“All those have been outsourced now. We are not going to be worried about that. We just buy light from investment of this LED UK with all their installations; they manage it, they provide the security, they power it and as long as we see the light, we pay. That is what has changed today,” Governor Ambode said.

 

While appreciating all the key players that contributed to the partnership including the British Deputy High Commission, Lagos State Office of Oversees Affairs and Investment, Lagos State Electricity Board, among others, the Governor assured that government would ensure seamless execution of the deal, as well gets maximum benefit which the programme is designed to deliver.

 

Earlier, Chief Executive Office of LED UK Limited, Mr Alan Parker said his firm was greatly honored to partner with the State Government to deliver the project, adding that over the next 12 months, a British and Nigerian consortium would work to retrofit major roads in the State with urban regeneration project in Ikoyi, Ikeja and Victoria Island.

 

“As part of this project, we will be employing over 500 local people here in Lagos and investing $7million in the construction and setup of a LED lighting and Hybrid Energy Power Assembly Plant here in Epe. This facility will offer ground breaking testing, training and education programs on renewable technologies whilst providing the future for all lighting and hybrid energy power systems in Nigeria.  

 

“These high quality products will be built by Nigerians with the support, experience, knowledge and technology supplied by LED UK for all commercial indoor and outdoor applications for the African market,” Parker said.

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INTERPOL Declares 14 Nigerians Wanted for Global Crimes: Human Trafficking, Drug Smuggling, Robbery, and More”

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INTERPOL Declares 14 Nigerians Wanted for Global Crimes: Human Trafficking, Drug Smuggling, Robbery, and More"

INTERPOL Declares 14 Nigerians Wanted for Global Crimes: Human Trafficking, Drug Smuggling, Robbery, and More”

In a shocking international development, the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) has issued Red Notices for 14 Nigerians linked to serious crimes across multiple countries. The wanted individuals face charges ranging from human trafficking to drug smuggling and organized crime, with their alleged actions sending ripples across the global criminal justice community.

INTERPOL’s website revealed the names of 14 Nigerians sought by law enforcement agencies from countries around the world. The charges include disturbing crimes such as the exploitation of minors for prostitution, drug trafficking, robbery, sexual assault, and even criminal conspiracy.

Among the most prominent figures is Felix Omoregie, who stands accused of leading a criminal network in Belgium that exploited minors for prostitution. The Belgian authorities have issued an arrest warrant for Omoregie on charges of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and organized crime. His age is listed as 47 years old, and he remains a key target for international law enforcement.

Jessica Edosomwan, another wanted individual, is under investigation by French authorities for her involvement in human trafficking. According to the INTERPOL notice, Edosomwan is implicated in trafficking multiple victims for sexual exploitation and laundering the proceeds of her crimes through organized gangs.

Other Nigerians are implicated in a wide range of illicit activities across the globe. Uche Egbue and Jude Uzoma are wanted by Argentina and Brazil, respectively, for their alleged roles in large-scale drug trafficking operations. Chinedu Ezeunara faces similar charges in Uruguay, while Benedict Okoro is being sought by Nicaragua for involvement in organized crime.

In Angola, Ikechukwu Obidiozor, Alachi Stanley, and Akachi Vitus are wanted for a chilling series of crimes, including kidnapping, robbery, and the illegal possession of firearms. Meanwhile, Bouhari Salif is wanted by China for drug smuggling, and Timloh Nkem is being sought by Canada for sexual assault and failure to comply with legal requirements.

As the web of international crime continues to unfold, Austine Costa and Okromi Festus are under investigation by Indian authorities for serious charges, including criminal conspiracy, forgery, and cheating.

These startling revelations have sent shockwaves throughout the global law enforcement community, with INTERPOL urging the public to remain vigilant. While the Red Notices serve as a warning to those who may have information on the whereabouts of these criminals, questions have been raised about the level of coordination required to apprehend such dangerous individuals.

Could this be the tip of the iceberg for a larger network of international crime syndicates operating with impunity across borders? As law enforcement agencies work tirelessly to track down these fugitives, one thing is clear: the fight against global crime is far from over.

INTERPOL emphasized that the Red Notices are not international arrest warrants, but rather calls to law enforcement agencies worldwide to assist in the identification, arrest, and extradition of these criminals. Public cooperation is now more critical than ever. Anyone with information is urged to contact local authorities and help bring these criminals to justice.

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10-Year-Old Boy Brutally Murdered by Kidnappers in Plateau State

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10-Year-Old Boy Brutally Murdered by Kidnappers in Plateau State After Partial Ransom Payment

10-Year-Old Boy Brutally Murdered by Kidnappers in Plateau State After Partial Ransom Payment

The Rikkos community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State was thrown into mourning after the tragic murder of 10-year-old Tasi’u Abdullahi by his kidnappers, despite a partial ransom payment made by his family.

Tasi’u was abducted on Monday, December 16, near his family’s residence. According to his uncle, Aliyu Muhammad, the boy was lured away by unidentified individuals in front of their home. Days later, the abductors contacted the family, demanding N50,000 for the child’s feeding and a ransom of N1 million for his release.

Following rounds of negotiations, the family managed to convince the kidnappers to accept N300,000. An initial payment of N150,000 was transferred to the abductors as instructed. However, the tragic turn of events left the family and the community in shock and grief.

Despite the family’s efforts to secure the boy’s freedom, his lifeless body was discovered in a sack near their home on Friday. A woman reportedly called the family the day after the ransom payment to inform them of the boy’s death.

“Upon examining the body of the deceased, we observed that our son had been strangled, with blood coming out of his nose and mouth,” Mr. Muhammad revealed during an emotional briefing with newsmen on Tuesday.

Local authorities confirmed the arrest of two suspects in connection with the gruesome crime. The suspects are currently in custody as the investigation continues. Security agencies have vowed to bring all those involved in the heinous act to justice.

The incident has sparked outrage and grief within the Rikkos community and beyond. Residents are calling on the government and law enforcement agencies to intensify efforts to curb the growing menace of kidnappings and ensure the safety of children in the region.

Tasi’u’s family is demanding justice for their son, urging authorities to make an example of the culprits to deter future occurrences. “We need justice for our son. He was innocent and did not deserve such a cruel end,” Mr. Muhammad said, his voice heavy with emotion.

The tragic death of Tasi’u Abdullahi underscores the alarming insecurity in parts of Nigeria, where kidnappings and violent crimes continue to plague communities. As investigations unfold, the Rikkos community hopes for swift action to bring the perpetrators to justice and restore peace to the area.

 

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U.S. Court Sentences Tunde Ayeni to 10 Years for Internet Fraud, Orders $20 Million Restitution

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U.S. Court Sentences Tunde Ayeni to 10 Years for Internet Fraud, Orders $20 Million Restitution

U.S. Court Sentences Tunde Ayeni to 10 Years for Internet Fraud, Orders $20 Million Restitution

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama has sentenced Babatunde Ayeni, a Nigerian internet fraudster, to 10 years in prison and ordered him to pay nearly $20 million in restitution to his victims.

Mr. Ayeni pleaded guilty to charges of fraud, leading to his 120-month sentence. According to court filings obtained by Peoples Gazette, Judge Terry Moorer delivered the verdict on October 31.

The court found that Mr. Ayeni, along with his co-conspirators Feyisayo Oyindola Oginsanwo and Yusuf Olasunkanmi Lasisi, was responsible for defrauding multiple individuals and entities of $19,599,969. Although Mr. Ayeni ceased his fraudulent activities in April 2019, he was held accountable for his past actions.

Acknowledging Mr. Ayeni’s financial inability to pay, the court waived interest on the restitution. However, he remains obligated to repay the amount in full alongside his accomplices.

Upon completion of his sentence, the U.S. immigration authorities will decide whether Mr. Ayeni will face deportation or remain in the United States under three years of supervised release with strict conditions.

Mr. Ayeni’s conviction adds to the growing list of Nigerians prosecuted for internet fraud in the United States. High-profile cases include Abidemi Rufai, an associate of Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, who was recently released, and others like Ray Hushpuppi and Mr. Woodberry, who have faced similar charges.

The U.S. continues to crack down on cybercrime, emphasizing its commitment to protecting citizens and businesses from online fraud.

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