….As Fashola launch 250 new taxi cabs

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo
Pandemonium broke out amongst civil servants, visitors on Thursday at the handing over of the second phase of the Lagos state taxi cab scheme as rumours of bomb about to be detonated in and around the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja filtered in.

The event at which Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State was supposed to hand over 250 taxi cabs to taxi operators in the state, was temporary brought to halt.

This came barely three days after some Lagos residents were thrown into panic over a text message received about an imaginary bomb which in few second will detonate at any part of the state.

Consequently, the police hierarchy in Abuja and Lagos dismissed the bomb threat message, saying the police have put adequate measures in place to protect lives and property in the state.

The rumours about the bomb scare was disseminated through phone calls and text messages to some of the guests and civil servants at the event held within the premises of the Governor’s office at about 3:30 pm when the event was at its peak.

Fashola was represented by his Deputy, Mrs. Sarah Sosan, attended by Prof Bamidele Badejo, Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Babatunde Balogun of Home Affairs and Culture, and Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire of Women Affair and Poverty Alleviation.

While some guest at the event who got the information earlier, were running to their respective houses, dignitaries at the front table were unperturbed as they were ignorant of the news of the bomb explosion.

Some few minutes later press men attached to the Governor Fashola quickly called some of their members who were unaware of the development to move away from the venue. They however warned them to be alert and careful as there was plan by some terrorists to bomb the state secretariat.

At the event, Vanguard saw a good number of security operatives attached to the state Rapid Response Squad, RRS, being briefed and deployed to various strategic areas in Ikeja to maintain peace and order around the area.

As guests were running to their respective destinations, it was learnt that another bomb was to have been discovered around Motor-ways plaza and 7UP PLC corporation headquarters area at the old toll gate along Lagos-Ibadan express road of the state.

Subsequently, five companies occupying the plaza were quickly evacuated by the Anti-bomb squad attached to the Nigerian Police Force.

The companies are Multilinks communication, Office of the Public Defender, OPD, Oceanic Bank, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA and others.

Vanguard further gathered that security operatives of the Anti-Bomb Squad were seen at the area making frantic effort to bring order and calm to the area. And to determine whether there was any bomb planted within these areas.

On the cabs, Fashola, said that his administration would soon eradicate all rickety taxicabs in the state in line with the megacity status and make life more convenient for passengers.