THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE APRIL 16, 2018
Ambode advised to reduce Land Use Charge (Punch)
The Methodist Church of Nigeria, Metropolitan Diocese of Ikeja, has called on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State to consider a downward review of the new Land Use Charge. According to the church, the state needed to reduce the Land Use Charge because the increase will have negative impact on the citizens. The church made this appeal in a communiqué at the end of its 2nd Annual Synod held between April 12 and 15, 2018, at Elliot Memorial Methodist Church, Iju, Lagos. It said, “Synod appeals to the governor for the downward review of the recently increased Land Use Charge because of its negative economic impact on the people in the state.” Read more
Prominent Lagos officials form support group for Ambode’s re-election (Vanguard)
Prominent political office holders belonging to the All Progressives Congress, APC in Lagos State yesterday coalesced into a pressure group named Ambode Mandate Support Group, AMSG with the explicit determination of ensuring a hitch-free re-election of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. The politicians including council chairmen, federal and state legislators and office holders, however, affirmed that they were not by their action ruling out other aspirants from contesting with Ambode. Read more
‘Why we don’t record strike actions in Lagos’ (Nation)
Lagos State Government at the weekend said it achieved industrial peace within the public service in the state through consistent engagements between its officials and industrial unions operating in the state’s public service. Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pension Dr Akintola Benson Oke said for the first time in the political history of the state, the state government has been able to run smoothly for three years without its employees embarking on strike action. He said the Lagos State Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JNC), which is the initiative of the present government holds statutory meetings between government and unions in the public service twice in a year to address and decide for implementation issues pertaining to the welfare of the staff as well as promote industrial harmony in the service. Read more
Workers welfare, govt’s priority — Lagos Commissioner (Punch)
The Lagos State Government says it remains committed to workers welfare, adding that it has remitted N35.92bn into the Retirement Savings Accounts of 8,731 state retirees. The Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Benson Oke, stated this in Ikeja on Friday at a ministerial press briefing to mark Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s third year in office. Oke explained that the money was paid from August 2015 to date, adding that the state had been consistent in remitting the 7.5 per cent deductions from the salaries of staff, as well as paying the corresponding 7.5 per cent into their RSAs maintained by their appointed Pensions Fund Administrators. Read more
Ashafa inspects intervention projects in Lagos East (Independent)
Senator representing Lagos East senatorial district, Gbenga Ashafa, last Friday embarked on an inspection tour of Intervention Projects sponsored by him in the 2017 budget, within Lagos East Senatorial District. The projects inspected are a fulfillment of some of his campaign promises to the people of the areas visited. The lawmaker who expressed his wish that funding for some of the projects had come earlier seized the opportunity to reiterate his commitment to ensuring that the people of the 98 wards of Lagos East enjoy the benefits of democracy in the tangible form. Read more
Regular Agege council area proposes N2.33 billion for 2018 (Guardian)
Agege Local Council has presented a N2.335 billion 2018 budget estimates before the legislative arm for consideration. According to the document, tagged Budget of Sustainable, Social Economic and Infrastructural Development and tendered by the executive chairman, Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi on Wednesday in Lagos, recurrent expenditure gulped N1,702,331,685.97 while N633,137,063.83 went for capital projects. The leader of the legislative, Muyideen Kola Anigbajumo, pledged expeditious but professional treatment of the appropriation bill. Read more
Lagos pays N35bn into 8,731 retirees’ accounts (NewTelegraph)
Lagos State government said it had paid over N35 billion into the Retirement Savings Accounts of about 8,731 retirees, deceased or withdrawn staff since 2015. Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson- Oke, disclosed this during the 2018 Ministerial Press Briefing to mark the third anniversary of the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. Benson-Oke said that the state had also been consistent in the Pension Reductions and Remittances with the help of automation of the payroll system. According to him, government had paid over N9 billion as terminal entitlements of retirees in the last one year alone. Read more
42 firms to exhibit in Lagos housing fair (Guardian)
The Board of Lagos Housing Fair, the nation’s prime exhibition on the building / construction industry has confirmed that forty two organisations have so far registered to participate at the year’s event. The event, which has as its theme, “Smart Buildings” holds between April 30 and May 4, at the Lagos Airport Hotel. According to the organisers, the participating bodies cut across Federal and State Government agencies, research institutions, as well as private sector organisations. Read more
Lagos Int’l Trade Fair Board meet to revive Complex (Leadership)
Lagos International Trade Fair complex management board have come together to find ways to revive the complex and put it in good shape. In an interview with journalists, the Board Chairman, Mela Audu Nunghe described the complex as a monument of wealth lying fallow which needs urgent attention. According to him, we came for inaugural meeting and tour to see things for ourselves and to understand the challenges ahead us. “For those who knew International Trade fair complex in the past years and see the state now will weep. The challenges are major now and you can refer to it as a mad house or abandoned project. It is really a sad story. Read more
Lagos urges finance managers to adhere to internal control processes (Nation)
The Lagos State Government has called on Finance and Account officers in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs of the State Government to adhere strictly to internal control processes. The State Accountant-General and Permanent Secretary, State Treasury Office, Mrs. Abimbola Umar, said that strict adherence to the control processes would assist in checkmating sharp practices in financial management and complement the transparency culture already entrenched within the accounting system of the State. Umar spoke in Alausa during a Technical Meeting with Directors/Heads of Accounts Departments across all the MDAs. Read more
Seized property rotting away at Lagos court premises (Guardian)
Valuable property and assets, which commercial values are put at over billions of naira are currently lying waste at the premises of Ikeja and Igbosere divisions of the Lagos High Court. Apart from constituting eyesores, these courts are breeding rodents in the court premises, against the wishes of their owners. The property, which are on hold, especially at the two divisions of the court, range from luxury cars, generating sets, household and office appliances, computers, generators and transformers. Read more
Retooling Lagos state security architecture (Guardian)
As Lagos aspires to grow its economy to be the third largest on the continent, one sector that would play a critical role in the dynamism is the security sector. It would be key in attracting appropriate investment and harnessing adequately the opportunities the new status would confer on the state is the security sector. This is more so that the state hopes to grow its GDP through provision of services, particularly hospitality and entertainment. Read more
Firm to create awareness on facility management (Punch)
Facility management firm, Eliezer Workplace Management, has unveiled a concept to improve maintenance culture in the country. The initiative tagged: ‘My Lagos, Our Lagos’, is derived from finding a balance between government policies and how residents embrace them in their attitude towards infrastructure and the environment. This, according to the firm, can be achieved through ‘ownership culture’, which involves accepting responsibility and being accountable, creative and innovative in infrastructure maintenance. Read more
LASUTH gets modern emergency beds from TOS Funerals (Guardian)
In memory of the late Abiodun Olalekan Ogunshola, the family led by its doyen, Mrs. Taiwo Ogunshola, has donated 18 modern emergency beds to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of LASUTH, Prof. Adewale Oke, emphasized that the partnership between LASUTH and TOS has been yielding lots of benefits to both parties with tremendous accomplishment. The Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Dr. Jide Idris, in the same vein appreciated the family for their kind gesture to LASUTH as “it assists the effort of the state government towards achieving the goals of providing quality healthcare to Lagosians.” Read more
Lagos wades into alleged asphalt plant pollution (Guardian)
Sequel to reports and subsequent sealing of an asphalt producing company, righteous Construction Company Nigeria Limited, the Lagos State Government has mediated between the company and the host community to foster understanding and guide the abatement process. This intervention was at the instance of the Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti who met with the representative of the asphalt producing company and Otto community of Ijora Badia in his office in Alausa. Read more
Ikorodu residents protest flooded road, accuse Ambode of concentrating activities at Epe Area (Independent)
Residents of Agura/Gberigbe area of Ikorodu in Lagos have called on the State Government to fix the only road that links the community with other major areas in the state and Ogun. Some of the protesting residents numbering hundred lined up recently in a flooded portion of the road to press home their demands. The residents also accused Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos of concentrating developments in the Epe area of the state alone despite the meagre contribution of Epe to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the state. Read more
Tears as councillor is buried (Nation)
Many could not control their emotions last Friday when the remains of Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA) ex-councillor, the late Solomon Adewale Awokoya, were interred at his Pakuro, Mowe, Ogun State home. Those who gathered to pay their last respect to the departed councillor were in tears. The late Awokoya, represented Ward ‘C’ in the Bariga LCDA Legislative House, died on Saturday 7. He was survived by his mother, wife, Ibukun, 50, and two children Ayomide, 22, a student of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ogun State and Olajide, 20, Kwara State University student. Read more
Suspected robber arrested while attempting to rape victim (Guardian)
A suspected armed robber was arrested by neighbours of the victim while attempting to rape her in Badagry area of Lagos State. The suspect, Idris Yusuf, a truck driver was the lone robber who jumped the fence to gain access to his victim’s apartment. Report says Yusuf scaled the fence into a building at about 1:00a.m., after which he entered one of the apartments, where he dispossessed a woman of her valuables. He also went to another apartment, where he met a woman identified as Mrs. Akanbi and allegedly attempted to rape her. “I woke up around 1:00a.m. to find an unknown person in my kitchen with a knife. Unknown to me, he had been to my bedroom where he stole my phone and the only N100 I had at home. Read more
Nigeria beats Gambia for second victory at Lagos 2018 ICC T20 (Guardian)
The Nigerian national cricket team‘s quest to win the ICC World T20 Africa Qualifier ‘A’ continued yesterday when the side recorded a convincing 55 runs victory over The Gambian at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval in Lagos. Captain Chimezie Onwuzulike’s decision to bat first after winning the toss paid off as Nigeria posted 176 runs for loss of five wickets in 20 overs. Basiru Jaye was the best bowler for the fielding side with two wickets, 16 runs in three overs. Vice Captain, Ademola Onikoyi, top scored with 74 runs not out off 39 balls with nine fours and two sixes. Chimezie Onwuzulike added 34 runs, Isaac Okpe put in 21 runs not out with lovely three sixes and Opening batsman, Sulaimon Runsewe dropped 18 runs Read more
11-year-old teenager wins’ scholarship at Greensprings Kanu Football Camp (Guardian)
Parents, guardians and invited guests waited with bated breath at the weekend for the announcement of this year’s most outstanding talent and scholarship recipient at the Seventh Greensprings Kanu Football Camp. At the end of the long wait, 11-year-old Abbey Fawaz, a student of Jubilee Model School, Surulere, was named the recipient of the scholarship. According to the Deputy Head of School, Dolapo Fatoki, Fawaz was selected based on his skills, conduct and discipline during the four-day camping. Read more
Nwosu, Ajunwa for Athletics Masters’ wellness talk, medical checkup (Guardian)
Former Super Eagles captain, Henry Nwosu, ex Falcons goalkeeper, Ann Chiejiene and Olympic gold medalist, Chioma Ajunwa are among retired stars confirmed for a one-day symposium and free medical check-up for former internationals and sports stakeholders at the Media Centre of the Teslim Balogun Stadium tomorrow. The programme, which is put together by Nigeria Athletic Masters (NAM) and the Lagos State Sports Commission, is themed, ‘Health and Wellness for 50 years and above.’ President of the NAM, Gloria Obajimi disclosed that the theme of the event is a response to the deaths recorded in the sector in recent times, adding that most retired athletes need guidance on how to live healthy after their active years. Read more
Syria air strikes: Russia ‘not tampering’ with chemical attack site (BBC)
Russia has denied interfering with evidence at the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria which led to Saturday’s military intervention by the US, the UK and France. In an interview for BBC’s Hardtalk, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said: “I can guarantee that Russia has not tampered with the site.” He spoke as the OPCW chemical weapons watchdog held an urgent meeting. Inspectors in Syria have still not gained access to Douma, it is reported. The UK ambassador to the OPCW, Peter Wilson, quoted the organisation’s director-general as saying they were still waiting. Read more
Bradford woman admits killing her 18-month-old son (Guardian)
A 23-year-old woman has admitted killing her 18-month-old son, who died after he fell from the sixth floor of a block of flats. Elliot Procter was found with fatal injuries at the bottom of the Newcastle House flats in the Barkerend area of Bradford, West Yorkshire, in October last year. His mother, Gemma Procter, was due to go on trial at Bradford crown court on Monday accused of Elliot’s murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility when the charge was put to her again. Kama Melly QC, prosecuting, said the plea was acceptable and that two psychiatrists who had assessed her agreed on their conclusions, which were not shared with the court. Read more
Afghanistan returns captured Pakistani soldier, 5 bodies (Reuters)
Afghan tribesmen on Monday returned a Pakistani soldier they captured in a deadly skirmish along the countries’ border, as well as the bodies of five soldiers, the governor of Afghanistan’s Khost province said. The soldier and the bodies were handed to Pakistani troops, said Khost governor Hukum Khan Habibi. The dispute arose over Pakistan’s work on a fence intended to span nearly all of the disputed 2,500-km (1,550-mile) border, much of it mountainous and porous. Afghan officials have alleged that Pakistani troops crossed onto Afghanistan soil, prompting firing on Sunday by border forces and the local tribal force. Read more
