THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE JUNE 5, 2018
3 Years of Ambode (ThisDay)
The initial hiccups and poor handling of waste management aside, Lagosians are in agreement that Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has done a great job, writes Tobi Soniyi. When Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode came up with a revolutionary plan to tackle the seemingly intractable waste problem in his state, little did he know that a few factors beyond his control would frustrate his plan. A few people have tried to hang the governor over this and not many have taken the time to digest his comprehensive and scientific approach to waste management. those who did say that had Ambode’s plan succeeded, it would have been another first in the history of the country. Rather than criticism, what the governor deserves is support. His new waste management plan is one that promises to deliver the greatest good to the people. Read more
Ambode mourns passage of first African female chartered accountant, Olakunrin (Vanguard)
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday expressed shock and sadness over the death of the first female chartered accountant in Africa, Chief Olutoyin Olakunrin. Olakunrin slumped and died on Sunday morning at the age of 80. Governor Ambode in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, described Chief Olakunrin as a trail blazer whose intellectual capacity not only stood her out among her contemporaries but earned her national and international recognition. “Chief Olakunrin was a woman of many firsts who paid her dues and rose to the pinnacle of her career in the corporate world. Her outstanding intellectual genius won her several local and international laurels. She was a pace-setter in the accounting world and her dexterity inspired both men and women in the profession. Read more
Rainy Season: Lagos inspects dumpsite Facilities (ThisDay)
In preparation for the coming rains, the Lagos State Government has embarked on an inspection of dumpsite facilities across the state with a view to ensuring that operators comply with standards. The Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti stated this while leading a team from the Ministry to the dump sites on Tuesday. Durosinmi-Etti said that government has directed that additional platforms should be created at the dump sites, while operators of dump sites and Transfer Loading Stations have been asked to urgently apply deodorizer to douse odours emanating from waste. Read more
Don’t inaugurate excos, APC tells Lagos, Rivers, Oyo states’ chairmen (Punch)
The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress has dashed the hopes of some of the party’s leading lights of having a share of the party structures in their respective states. This followed the inauguration of the newly-elected chairmen of the various state chapters of the APC by the outgoing National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, at the party’s National Secretariat, in Abuja, on Monday. Notable party chieftains who did not secure the party’s support for their case include: The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; a former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso; and Senator Shehu Sani in Kaduna. Read more
Sex-for-marks: Stakeholders root for implementation of extant laws (NewTelegraph)
While the dust raised by the sex scandal at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is yet to settle, the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, was also, last week, enmeshed in a fresh similar controversy. Thus, the last Thursday allegation of sexual harassment by a yet-to-be-identified student of the university, against a Professor of English Studies at the institution, Olusegun Awonusi, has once again reopened fresh discussions on how to safeguard the nation’s education institutions from what stakeholders have described as a big mess with damning consequences. Read more
FIRS seals 2 Lagos firms over unpaid taxes (Punch)
The Federal Inland Revenue Service on Monday sealed the premises of two companies for their alleged failure to pay taxes. The FIRS enforcement team, led by the Assistant Manager, Legal, Ruth Mandeun, according to a statement by the agency, sealed Giandan Nigeria Limited, situated at 21 Ladoke Akintola Street, Ikeja GRA, over tax debts totalling N47.779m, and Justeen International Limited over a debt of N24.779m. Speaking after the exercise, Mandeun said the defaulting companies would be reopened only after they had cleared their tax arrears. Read more
Green Economy: Private Companies need Legislative Support (Independent)
The CEO, Visionscape Sanitation Solutions (VSS), John Irvine has said that private companies require legislative support if the transition to a green economy is to be successful. Irvine stated this while speaking on the topic; “An inspiring conversation: Accelerating the Transition to the Green Economy: A Collaborative Approach” at the FT Nigeria Summit held at the Eko Hotels, Lagos. The FT Nigeria Summit 2018 which was the inaugural edition, featured several interview sessions and panels across diverse industries discussing under the theme “Dispelling Uncertainty and Building Resilience.” Read more
Apapa-Oshodi Expressway: MWUN gives FG till June to fix road (SUN)
Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), at the weekend, gave the Federal Government till the end of the second quarter of this year to fix Tin-Can Island end of the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway or it will ground activities in the ports. President General of the union, Adewale Adeyanju, who spoke to newsmen, said the government agreed with the union early in the year to fix the Ijora-Apapa and Oshodi-Apapa Expressway before the end of second quarter. Read more
Developer introduces County Apartments to Lagos property market (Vanguard)
Riding on the successful delivery of Lekki County Homes Estate, Lagos-based real estate development firm, Megamound Investment Limited, developers of Lekky County Homes, Lekki, and Carlton Gate Estate, Chevron Drive, Lekki, Lagos, has introduced yet another scheme known as County Apartments within Lekky County Homes, Ikota, along Lekki-Epe Expressway for prospective home owners or property investors. Designed exclusively for those who desire a uniquely social living space, County Apartments sits within 16,000 square metres in Lekky County Homes Phase2, and comprises facilities such as uninterrupted power, sewage system, boreholes, drainage channels, recreational parks, club house, fast food outlets, shopping mall, schools, pharmacy and others. Read more
Civil servant seeks N5m for hip surgery (Nation)
An auditor with the Lagos State Treasury Office, Salawu Biliaminu requires N5 million for a hip surgery. Biliaminu, 37, who hails from Oyo State, said he began work about seven months ago, and cannot pay for the surgery at Apollo Spectrum Hospital in India. He said he has had a sore on his left hip since he was 12. He said he had been to several hospitals and traditional homes and spent over N1 million since the problem began. Biliaminu is on admission at the Igando General Hospital. He is on pain relieving drugs and injections. He said doctors told him that the only solution was the surgery while he continues with the drugs and injections till he gets money for the operation. Read more
Blind school holds annual ball, seeks public support (Guardian)
Abimbola Fashola, wife of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, has called for mutual respect among Nigerians for physically-challenged persons in the country. She made the call at the 2018 May Ball event of the Federal Nigeria Society for the Blind (FNSB), held in Lagos. FNSB is a non-governmental organisation established in 1955 by some philanthropists to cater for the welfare of visually impaired persons. Fashola said: “There is nothing wrong with visually impaired persons, they are special people that should be treated the same way we treat ourselves. They are the people we should show more love to, people we should be concerned about their welfare and ensure that they get the best in the country.” Read more
Olomola Foundation introduces Annual Award for Graphic Students at GTC, Lagos (ThisDay)
The Amos Oluwafemi Olomola Memorial Foundation, in commemoration of two years of the passing of Dr. Femi Olomola, has inducted an annual award at the Government Technical College Lagos, Agidingbi-Ikeja, Lagos, for the best Tech 3 student in Graphic Design.Also, the Foundation is in the process of establishing a skills acquisition centre in Ilesha, Osun State (Femi Olomola’s hometown), aimed at alleviating poverty particularly among vulnerable groups, such as women, widows and youth. The centre will focus on the acquisition of skills such as fashion design, confectionery and sugar craft, event decorations, and design appreciation. Read more
Davido’s “Assurance,” Falz’s “This Is Nigeria” Lead Nigerian Songs Released in May 2018 (Leadership)
Davido’s song, ‘Assurance’ emerged as the hottest Nigerian song released last month, May 2018. Following the Afrobeat song is the controversial song, ‘This is Nigeria’ by Falz. These songs and eight others was obtained from statistics from online downloads and streaming devices like iTunes, Spotify, Youtube, radio airplay and other download devices. The list which was published in a magazine gave Assurance, the song which caught a buzz after the song owner Davido bought a Porsche for his girlfriend, Chioma on her birthday last month. Read more
EFCC re-arraigns Fred Ajudua over alleged $1m fraud (Guardian)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned Fred Ajudua before a Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos for allegedly defrauding one Ziad Abu Zalaf of Technical International Limited, a German-based firm of $1 million. Ajudua, who pleaded not guilty to the 12 count charges bordering on conspiracy and fraud, was re-arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada. His arraignment had suffered series of set back last year before Justice Josephine Oyefeso but the Chief Judge, Justice Opeyemi Oke, reassigned it to the Special Court for accelerated hearing. The EFCC alleged that Ajudua and his accomplice, Joseph Ochunor, had sometime in 1993 defrauded Zalaf of $1 million. https://gu-1m-fraud/
Eko Disco accuses hotel of energy theft (Nation)
A hotel in Surulere, Lagos Mainland, has been caught using light without its consumption reflecting in the meter. The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) Plc yesterday said Samwolly Guest House on Idita Street, Surulere, was caught engaging in the practice known as meter bypass during an inspection of electricity consumers. Its General Manager, Corporate Communications, Godwin Idemudia told reporters that the hotel owner tried to prevent EKEDC officials from entering when they first went there. Idemudia said the action triggered suspicion that something unwholesome might be happening in the hotel. This, he said, led to the decision to make another surprise visit to the place. Read more
Bouncer, wife killed in Lagos fire (Punch)
A bouncer in a Lagos club, Sunday Braimoh, and his wife, Morenikeji, have been burnt to death in a fire incident on Idewu Street, Olodi Apapa, Lagos State. Punch Metro learnt that the couple were in their room when the fire started on the passageway of the eight-room bungalow. A tenant was reportedly cooking when petrol spilled on the floor, which started the fire. Our correspondent learnt that the couple became trapped in their room when the iron door to the room jammed. The windows of their room were also said to have burglar-proof bars. Read more
Pastor loses her 11-year-old year marriage to domestic violence (Vanguard)
The 11-year-old marriage of a pastor at Rhema Pentecostal Church International in Sango-Ota area of Ogun has hit the rocks as an Agege Customary Court, Lagos, severed the union. The marriage between the pastor, Ijeoma Okoli, and her husband, Ifeanyi Okoli, was dissolved over domestic violence. The President of the court, Mrs Ibironke Elabor said she observed that the estranged couple was tired of the marriage as all efforts at reconciling them had failed. “Since both parties consented to the dissolution of the marriage; this court has no choice but to dissolve the marriage. Read more
Commercial driver kills bride-to-be (Punch)
The family of a bride-to-be, Destiny Yahya, was thrown into mourning after a 52-year-old driver, Atake Benjamin, allegedly killed her. Benjamin was alleged to have recklessly reversed his commercial bus, with the number place, KTU 823 XW, hitting Yahya in the process. The incident was said to have happened on May 24, around 8.30pm on Kunle Akinosho Street, Oshodi, Lagos. The deceased was said to have sustained injuries on the head and was rushed to a hospital where she was pronounced dead. Read more
Grand Master Nigel Short storms Lagos for Chess Clinic (Nation)
Seven years after his maiden visit to Nigeria, top Britain chess Grand Master and former World Champion Challenger, Nigel Short is set to arrive in Nigeria for a chess related programme today. According to the President of Nigeria Chess Federation (NCF), Mr Lekan Adeyemi, the visit to Nigeria is coming under the auspices of Kasparov Chess Foundation Africa whom over the years, have had chess developmental projects on the continent of Africa. During the four-day visit to Lagos, from 4th-8th of June, the grand master will have training, exhibition programmes with chess players and stakeholders and general promotion of the game in the country. Grand Master Short, at the peak of his career, was ranked third-rated player in the world and is currently the only active chess player over the age of 50. As a global ambassador of the game, he has visited more than 100 countries, both playing and promoting the game. Read more
China 2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers: D’ Tigers to open camp in Lagos June 19 (SUN)
Nigeria is to open Camp in Lagos on June 19 for this month’s FIBA World Cup African Qualifiers according to fillers from the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF. Though, it is not yet clear the number of players that would be invited for camping doe the third window of the FIBA Qualifiers calendar, Daily Sunsport gathered that head coach Alex Nwora and his technical crew are leaving nothing to chance as they look ahead to the match up against Mali, Rwanda and Uganda. However, team captain Ike Diogu is expected to lead a star studded squad as many players have already indicated interest in playing for Nigeria on home soil with some being their first time home to play at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere. Read more