THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE JUNE 24, 2018
2019: Is PDP still a threat to APC in Lagos? (Nation)
Determined to improve on its unexpected performances in the state during the last general election in 2015, the Lagos State chapter of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says it is poised to surprise the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) come 2019 by winning not just more seats in the national and state assemblies’ elections, but by installing one of its own as the next governor of the state. But pundits, political observers and of course chieftains of APC say the claim of the opposition party, that it is waxing stronger in the state, may not be true after all. And those telling the PDP to think twice about its continuous boast to win Lagos in 2019 are urging the party to take cognisance of the obvious effects of recent developments within the party in the state, on its electoral chances in the forthcoming election. Read more
Godfather syndrome may hinder ‘Not-Too-Young-To-Run’ law — Lagos Archbishop (Punch)
The Catholic Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Martins, said “Not-Too-Young-to-Run” law may not be effective if political godfather syndrome continued to exist in the polity. Martins told News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos, on Saturday that besides the syndrome, there were other factors that could hinder the law from fulfilling its purpose. President Muhammadu Buhari signed the “Not-Too-Young-to-Run” Bill on May 31. The new law, which alters sections 65, 106, 131, 177 of the country’s Constitution, gives youths the opportunity to run for political office with less strict conditions. The archbishop said, “while we laud the enactment of the law, we also recognise that it is not enough by itself to create a space for young people. Read more
Stakeholders urge Lagos to invest in education (Guardian)
Concerned stakeholders in the basic education sub-sector in Lagos State have urged the state government to invest more in basic education, by way of intervention to improve the overall educational outcomes in the state. The group, comprising parents and guardians, retired civil servants, members of School Based Management Committees, Parents’ Forum, Community Development Associations (CDAs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), however, commended the State Universal Basic Education Board (LSUBEB) on the implementation of the year 2015 Universal Basic Education (UBE) projects across the state, as a timely intervention towards the development of basic education in Lagos. Read more
When African tourists came to explore Lagos attractions (DailyTrust)
As the buses in the entourage of the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, screeched to a halt within the Lagos House, Ikeja, Lagos, tourists alighted, excitement written on their faces. Consisting of eight Ministers of Tourism and representatives from 44 countries across Africa, the tourism stakeholders were part of the delegates who had just participated in the 2018 United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Commission for Africa (CAF) conference hosted in Abuja. Within the State House hall where the delegates were being hosted, documentaries about Lagos was shown. Explaining the rationale behind the visit, Muhammed said the visit to Lagos was a major part of the conference and Lagos was chosen because of its foremost place in the country’s tourism architecture. He also has some kind words for his host, Goernor Akinwunmi Ambode. Read more
Now, we can’t sleep again: Lagos residents battle with effects of truck relocation from Apapa port … (Tribune)
A trip to the Apapa Port, Lagos, in recent times, would have left a visitor who, judging from the chaotic history of the place, wondering why a bridge as big as that leading to the nation’s busiest ports could not have conveniently accommodated vehicles and other commuters doing business at the ports. In the absence of the riotous sight caused by articulated vehicles, visitors can now appreciate the full expanse of the bridge and its capacity. A few months back, the opposite was the case. The articulated vehicles, which had turned the bridge to their garage, had taken their regular space across the large expanse of the only road to the ports, awaiting their turn to gain access into the ports. Read more
Wolves in sheep’s clothing: Lagos pharmacies and quackery (Vanguard)
The rot is deep. The health sector is a suppurating sore. Quackery is rife. If there is regulation, it doesn’t catch rogues. In nearly every district in Lagos there are flourishing fake clinics. It isn’t just auxiliary nurses masquerading full time as doctors. There are people who have received no medical training but who are confidently running thriving hospitals. The unsuspecting public are not to blame. Patients do not usually scrutinize doctors licenses and qualifications. This army of counterfeit doctors attend to light and grave cases and routinely evacuate products of unwanted conception. Read more
At Lakotun, Kelani harps on fight against piracy as collaborative task (Guardian)
Alagba Tunde Kelani, the literary cinematographer and chairman of National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), has said the fight against piracy is a collaborative effort by Nigerian government and its citizenry. This was his take at the mid-year Edition of Yoruba Lakotun, a quarterly cultural renaissance show that held at Ethnic Heritage Centre, Ikoyi Lagos, recently. The edition was dedicated to Kelani, who clocked 70 earlier in the year and to the memories of one of his collaborators, the late Professor Akinwumi Isola. The serene atmosphere at the Hubert Ogunde Garden of the centre, was adorned with traditionally appealing pieces of arts, which demonstrated the originality of the true Yoruba culture, as having aficionados drawn from corporate and social Nigeria. Read more
When Nigeria lost the TV groove (Guardian)
This signature tune of The Village Headmaster heralded what many consider as the golden era of Nigerian television. The tune was like summon to come and watch, as well as share in a story about a village that was a mirror of Nigeria. The drama ran on Nigeria Television (NTV) on Sundays at 8.00pm. It was a prime time programme, which came before the news at 9pm. Then, television stations resumed at 4 pm in the evenings and closed at 12 midnight. The first series of The Village Headmaster ran from 1968-1984 before it was rested, while the second was from 1985-1991. Read more
Chisom Nelson, 3, kidnapped in Lagos, recovered by police in Enugu (Vanguard)
A combined team of policemen from Panti, Lagos and Enugu State have arrested three persons who allegedly kidnapped a three-year old boy, Chisom Nelson, from Onyimgbo area of Lagos State and demanded N2 million ransom. The police in Enugu confirmed the arrest of the three suspects, saying that Master Nelson was rescued unhurt from his kidnappers. According to reliable sources, Chisom was rescued at the Over -Rail area of Agbani in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, following the arrest of some “soft targets,” who led police operatives to Lekwensi village in Isuochi Local Government Area of Abia State, where some of the suspects were arrested at about 2.50 pm on June 15, 2018. Read more
Honour Super Eagles with Lagos National Stadium (Guardian)
Resurgence of our Super Eagles with two Ahmed Musa’s goals in the second half to beat Iceland 2-0, which moved Nigeria from bottom to second place in Group D at the current Russia 2018 on Friday elicited wild jubilations across the world among Nigerians and supporters of the team. Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, congratulated the team on their unexpected victory over Iceland. In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, the President expressed delight at the confidence, discipline, team-work and indomitable spirit displayed by the Nigerian players. He urged the team to sustain the current winning momentum by going all out against their last group opponent, Argentina on Tuesday. Read more
