THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE MAY 1, 2018
Ambode inaugurates new state executives for Nigerian Legion (Guardian)
Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has inaugurated new executive members for Nigerian Legion (Lagos Chapter) to ensure that the Legionnaires deliver on their mandate. The new executives include Retired Colonel Samuel Fola Akande as the Chairman; Comrade Muibi Mufutau as the Vice-Chairman; and Babatunde Onashokun as the State Council Treasurer. Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Dr. Abdul Hakeem AbdulLateef, said the paramount objective of the Council “is to promote the comfort, happiness and interests of the legionnaires, as well as that of the orphans, widows and other department of departed service-men. Read more
‘Residents’ inputs needed on Fourth Mainland Bridge’ (Punch)
As government prepares to name investors for the Fourth Mainland Bridge, a social group, Project Loud, says the project will require residents’ inputs. The group, which noted that the project would boost Lagos Gross Domestic Product, said its actualisation would reduce travel time within the state. The spokesman for the group, Olukotun Owosheni, told journalists in Ikeja on Monday that the support of citizens would ensure speedy completion of the project. He said, “The bridge is a great infrastructural project which will improve commercial activities and boost the transport sector. “The citizens need to support the government so that the project would move faster than expected. Read more
Lagos to mobilise residents for PVC collection (Nation)
Lagos State government has said it will mobilise residents for the collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), to enable them vote next year. Special Adviser to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Civic Engagement, Adeyemi Olabinjo, who spoke at the briefing to mark the administration’s third anniversary, said residents should use the continuous voter registration to obtain PVCs. He said some recently attained voting age, and others relocated from within or outside the state. Olabinjo said: “On the issue of PVC, we are trying our best to ensure we achieve our aim. For instance, as a result of the development we are bringing to all parts of Lagos State, people are now relocating from one part of the state to the other. There is need to sensitise people in such category to apply for transfer of their PVCs. Read more
NGO, Lagos government partner to keep street kids off crime (Guardian)
Ijongo Life Changing Foundation, a Lagos-based non-governmental organisation, is partnering with the Lagos State government to empower street kids spread across the state. This was announced at a press conference yesterday in Mosafejo Police Station, Oshodi. The foundation aims at fighting crime, rehabilitating crime suspects, impacting positively on the youths and uniting the once-displaced but now repentant youths to their families. President of the group, Mr. Emmanuel Ijongo, advised the street kids to shun criminality and embrace peace and unity in order to be beneficial to the society. Read more
Group urges support for widows, youths (Punch)
A non-governmental organisation, Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson Foundation, has called for support for widows and indigent youths in the society, saying such a gesture could help in nation building. The founder of the group, Ganiyu Johnson, urged the government to also do more to alleviate the suffering of the poor. Johnson, who spoke during a programme of the Foundation in which some widows were given empowerment tools and scholarships awarded to some youths in tertiary institutions, said the efforts were from personal experience. Read more
Lagos, professionals unveil plans to tackle 3m housing deficit (New Telegraph)
Determined to tackle about 3million housing deficit in the state, the Lagos State Government yesterday said that it was partnering with professionals in building sector to address the growing housing challenges. The government which said that the states’ population was over 22million, noted that collaboration with professionals in the building sector was crucial because it was obvious that the government alone would not be able to address the growing housing needs. Speaking when he received members of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Commissioner for Housing, Prince Gbolahan Lawal tasked the professionals in the building sector to be creative enough to effectively tackle the growing housing deficit. Read more
Lagos to demolish 149 distressed buildings, plans to redevelop 100 slums (Guardian)
To avert crisis, especially loss of lives, Lagos State government yesterday revealed that 149 distressed buildings have been penciled down for demolition. The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Rotimi Ogunleye, stated this while providing updates on the activities of his ministry in the last one year at the ongoing Ministerial Press Briefing to mark the third anniversary of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. According to him, in a systematic approach to curtail occurrences of building collapse, 149 distressed buildings were identified at different locations of which 40 have been removed, while the next phase of 38 of the structurally defective structures have been earmarked for removal. Read more
itel, Mopheth task Lagos residents on malaria prevention (Vanguard)
On this year’s World Malaria Day, itel mobile and Mopheth Pharmacy have urged Lagosians living in the slums to take responsibility for their health even as they offered free malaria treatments to over 1,000 residents of Isale-Akoka Bariga area of Lagos. They also distributed over 1,500 Insecticide Treated Nets, ITNs, to residents. Speaking during an enlightenment programme to mark this year’s World Malaria Day, itel’s Marketing Communications Manager, Mr. Oke Umurhohwo who lamented the huge burden of the disease in Nigeria said the day provided opportunity for the company to give support in fighting malaria and contributing its quota to ensuring a relatively healthier society in line with their Corporate Social Responsibility. Read more
Island Club donates to blind school, SOS Village (Guardian)
The Island Club, Onikan, Lagos as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has visited the School for the Blind, Oshodi and SOS Children Village, Isolo, where they donated cheques to the authorities of both institutions. Led by the chairman of the club, Banji Oladapo, the team, which included Chief Sikiru Adeniji, chairman, Welfare Sub-Committee; Prince Kola Abumere, Fatai Ademola and Chief Siji Olowosuko, was received at the School for the Blind by the chairman, Executive Council of Federal Nigeria Society for the Blind, Asiwaju Fola Osibo.
Osibo, who said the school was established in 1955, disclosed that more than 3,000 students of different vocations and professions had been trained and churned out. Read more
I prefer Buhari to Obasanjo, says Oba of Lagos (Punch)
The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has asked Nigerians to give President Muhammadu Buhari another four years as the country’s leader. Akiolu, who spoke at the opening ceremony of the 17th Lagos Housing Fair, on Monday, stated that a second chance would enable the President to improve the country’s economy. The traditional ruler stated that he preferred Buhari’s administration to that of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, adding that President Goodluck Jonathan would also have been a better leader if he was not a victim of circumstances, who allowed some people to use him. Read more
CJ tasks judiciary reporters on professional ethics (Guardian)
The Chief Jude of Lagos State, Justice Opeyemi Olufunmilayo Oke has charged judiciary correspondents across the state to uphold the ethics of journalism. She tasked them to be highly professional in carrying out their duties. The CJ made the charge during a courtesy visit to her office by judiciary correspondents. According to her, truth and fact must be the watchwords for every journalist as media practitioners who habitually turn in fake stories, were always labeled enemies of progress.She said that the public usually believe the reports of media professionals, and urged them to always have investigative minds in order to write good stories. The chief judge said: “I encourage you all to practice investigative journalism, get facts in order not to send out false information to the public.” Read more
SMEs to benefit from UNILAG research conference (Punch)
The Director of Academic and Planning, University of Lagos, Mr. Wale Okunuga, has described the forthcoming University of Lagos Research Conference and Fair as an initiative that will benefit small and medium scale industries. He said this at a briefing held recently at the Senate Building of the institution in Akoka, Lagos. Okunuga said, “Our drive is to reach out to industries and the SME groups in order to make them see how they could improve what they are currently doing. As a result of the vision of the vice-chancellor, we want to take our research outside the walls of the institute and sell what we have to the public. Read more
Concessionaires to invest over N300bn in TBS’ redevelopment (Guardian)
The concessionaires of Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) complex in Lagos said that it would spend no less than N300billion between 2019 and 2029 to redevelop the complex.Mrs Josephine Abraham, the Head of Corporate Affairs department of the organisation told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. “The group has earmarked 10 years for the redevelopment of the historical site because of the proposed huge transformation that will take place. “We have carefully mapped out a timetable for the renovation which we will strictly adhere to,” she said. Read more
Police arrest suspected shop burglars in Trade Fair complex (Guardian)
The Lagos State police command has arrested two notorious shop looters at the Trade Fair international complex, Ojo, Lagos. Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, told newsmen that the burglars had been robbing shop owners in Balogun axis of millions of naira. According to Edgal, “we don’t want to bore you with a story of burglary, however, what makes this one unique is that the culprits were caught in the act carting away goods worth millions of naira at the Trade Fair Complex, on Lagos-Badagry Expressway. “On April 26, at about 2:00a.m., the DPO Trade-Fair Division, Sunny Akaeze, got a tip-off that a syndicate specialising in breaking and looting shops at Trade Fair Complex are about to operate in BBA arm of the complex. Read more
Man disappears after leaving home for work (Punch)
The family and neighbours of a fish farm worker, Ibrahim Sulyman, are in confusion about his whereabouts after he left home for work and did not return. The 24-year-old had been missing since April 10, 2018, when he reprotedly left his residence on Shodipo Avenue, LASPOTECH Second Gate, Ikorodu. He was said to have told his flatmate and neighbours that he was heading for his workplace located in the neighborhood, but did not return home. Sulyman’s elder sister, Mrs. Adejoke Maku, told our correspondent that his boss had sent him to deposit N80,000 in a bank the previous day. She said, “He works in a fish farm in the neighbourhood. His boss gave him N80,000 on Monday, April 9, and asked him to deposit the money in a bank. The boss later called him on Tuesday morning that he should not bother to deposit it again. Read more
Electrician allegedly rapes primary two pupil at knifepoint (Punch)
An electrician on Baale Street, in the Ijora Badia area of Lagos State, has been arrested by the police for allegedly molesting his neighbour’s daughter. The suspect, Emeka Okoroafor, reportedly lured the primary two pupil into his apartment twice and raped her at knifepoint. Punch Metro learnt that Okoroafor sexually assaulted the 13-year-old for the first time on Thursday, April 19, after he allegedly asked her to bring a bucket into his room. The following day, when the victim was playing with her friends, 36-year-old Okoroafor reportedly took her into his apartment and raped her again. Read more
Stallions, Niger Republic to meet in friendly, Nigeria set to host Africa Sevens qualifiers (Guardian)
Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) has lined up a friendly game with Niger Republic to get the Black Stallions ready for the Africa Sevens Rugby qualifiers, which it will host from September 15 to 16. According to Black Stallions captain, Azeez Ladipo, the African qualifiers, which will feature six teams, including Algeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivoire and Togo, will be a platform for the country to return to international championships after its recent suspension. Ladipo also disclosed that that the Nigerian side would play the warm up tie against Niger in Niamey to prepare well for the qualifiers. Read more