THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE JUNE 6, 2018
Ambode urges civil servants to sustain change mantra (Nation)
Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday urged civil servants to embrace quality improvement in the public service, to sustain the change mantra of the present administration. Speaking at a two-day training in Ikeja, Ambode said the use of the word change as a political slogan or mantra was extensive, especially during the electioneering campaigns. He stressed the need to ensure that workers were trained and retrained to fit into the act of change mantra and make them part of the civil servants who would form the bedrock upon which change would revolve. Read more
Ambode’s policies crippling our business, bus owners tell Osinbajo (Punch)
Members of the Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria have appealed to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo to intervene in a crisis currently brewing between their union and the Lagos State Government. They alleged that some of the policies of the state government were threatening their business. The group’s President and Chairman of the Ifesinachi Group of Companies, Emeka Mamah, spoke to State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja after leading a delegation to a meeting with Osinbajo on Monday night. Mamah said Osinbajo assured them that he was going to step in so as to resolve the issue as soon as possible. Read more
Oyegun never told us not to inaugurate excos-Lagos APC chairman (Nation)
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC)in Lagos, Alhaji Tunde Balogun on Tuesday night denied any directive from the National Chairman of the party,Chief John Odigie-Oyegun stopping state party chairmen from inaugurating their executive members. Balogun told newsmen in Ikeja that news reports that Oyegun gave the directive at the inauguration of 33 state party chairmen in Abuja on Monday were misleading. He said Oyegun never questioned his position as the Chairman of the party in the state and that of chairmen of Rivers and Oyo, adding the report was a distortion of fact. Read more
More gas resources discovered offshore Lagos – FG (Vanguard)
The Federal Government, Tueday, disclosed that more gas resources are currently being discovered offshore Lagos and also stated that the discoveries, along with the return of peace to the Niger Delta, would boost the country’s gas supply to the West Africa Gas Pipeline Project. Speaking at the West African Gas Pipeline Project’s Committee of Ministers’ Meeting in Abuja, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, said Nigeria, along with the partner countries had nurtured the WAGP project and are looking at further addressing the challenges that had hindered the achievement of their set targets. Read more
Appeal Court sustains Langbasa Family Council’s Right to Lagos Land (Independent)
Having found their case and argument meritorious, a Court of Appeal, Lagos Judicial Division, has upheld an ownership claim by Langbasa Family Council to a large choice Lagos land. The disputed landed property is known and called Langbasa Town situate and being at Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State of Nigeria. It is measuring 75.8 hectares in size. Battle over the disputed land raged between representatives of Langbasa Family Council and accredited representative of Langbasa Community. While the former specifically represented by Alhaji (Chief) Akibu Alarape Adams and Chief Saliu Sanni, were the appellants, the respondents, according to the court process before the appellate court included one Mr. M.A. Fasasi, late Dr. Femi Olomola, Chief Ajiboye Tejumola and Alhaji Gbadebo Adesanya. Read more
Lekki residents to tackle traffic gridlock (Nation)
Stakeholders of the Lekki Peninsula Phase I Residents Association have concluded plans to tackle increasing traffic challenges. The group aims to, among other plans, liaise with the Lagos State Government to remove the Admiralty Way Roundabout and replace it with a traffic light system. They also highlighted transportation and environment as key areas in need of attention. The group spoke at the inauguration of new executive that will pilot the affairs of the community in the next two years. Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN) administered the oath of office on Sir Kayode Otitoju, who was elected as Chairman, Chika Allison – Vice Chairman, Funmi Adeogun – Secretary and Oliver Obi – Treasurer. Read more
Lagos APC Crisis: You’re cheap and weak, faction tells Oyegun (ThisDay)
The crisis rocking the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has not ended as factional Chairman, Mr. Fouad Oki, yesterday accused the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, of not only being weak and cheap but corrupt and inept. He therefore called on “President Muhammadu Buhari, Professor Yemi Osibanjo and other leaders to join other well-meaning members of the party and direct Oyegun and indeed the National Working Committee (NWC) to reverse itself.” Oki insisted that the action of Oyegun was against the decision of NWC and therefore a nullity. Read more
LUTH records high patient turnout after JOHESU strike (Nation)
Activities have started picking up at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in Idi-Araba. This followed the end of the strike by the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU). The union embarked on an indefinite strike on April 17, and the action entered seventh week when the union ended it. Patients have started receiving optimal medical and surgical attentions at various outpatient clinics, accident and emergency unit, as well as the paediatric sections. Read more
Lagos to boost auctioning practice (Nation)
The Lagos State government said it will not relent in efforts in designing and implementing innovative policies that would strengthen auctioning practice in the state. Its Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Olayinka Oladunjoye, said during the presentation of award to 1-Naira Integrated Resources Limited by the Certified Institute of Auctioneers of Nigeria (CIAN) on the basis of industry standard and professionalism in Lagos yesterday. She said the government is at the forefront of creating conducive business environment to make auctioneering practice more operational and attractive. According to her, Lagos has written agencies of government (state and federal), manufacturing, insurance firms as well as financial institutions in the state on the implication of auctioning assets without working with a recognised and licensed auction company in the state. Read more
House appraises activities of Neighbourhood Corps (Nation)
The Lagos State House of Assembly has invited the management of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) to brief it on its activities. The corps was established on March 27, last year after the law which was passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly was signed into law by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. The bill which became law was sponsored by the Speaker of the State Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa. The Corps, which Obasa said was a step towards state police, clocked one year recently and the lawmakers, at plenary on April 3 did an evaluation of the activities and operations of the agency. The debate was prompted by the Speaker. Read more
Visionscape sensitises residents on pollution (Nation)
International environmental utility firm, Visionscape Sanitation Solutions has reiterated its commitment to the fight against plastic pollution, following a community sensitisation organised to mark the United Nations 2018 World Environment Day, in partnership with a local cement manufacturer. The sensitisation, themed “Beat Plastic Pollution”, was held in Lagos Island West Local Community Development Area (LCDA), Lagos State. Participants consisted of market leaders, representatives of government agencies, key environmental players in the sector. The Operations Manager, Shola Taiwo, said: “Curbing plastic pollution is a collective effort. There is something we can all do, and it will be to the benefit of everyone.” Visionscape urged residents to reduce their use of plastic and rubber materials to fight plastic pollution. Read more
$565,000 visa scam: Lawyer’s absence stalls American’s trial (NewTelegraph)
Trial of Marco Ramirez, an American, who allegedly defrauded three Nigerians of $565,000 in an American Green Card scam, was stalled yesterday as a result of the absence of the defence lawyer. On June 22, 2017, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had slammed a 16-count charge bordering on obtaining under false presences at an Ikeja High Court. Ramirez had pleaded not guilty to the charges and Justice Josephine Oyefeso had granted him $250,000 bail with two sureties in like sum on July 10, 2017. At the resumed court proceedings, Ramirez, who has fulfilled his bail conditions, informed the court that he had no legal representation. He said: “I have no legal representation this morning my Lord, I have been unable to reach my lawyer. Read more
Police arrest two graduates who pose as bank officials to defraud account holders (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Police Command has smashed a syndicate that masquerades as bank officials, to defraud account holders. Arrested, were two suspected members of the syndicate: Enohomfoh Osagie, a 2015 graduate of Parasitology and Entonoly from the Nnamdi Azikiwe university, Awka, Anambra state and Ebong Christopher, a 2016 Computer Science graduate of, Oba, Anambra state The syndicate’s modus oparandi, included contacting accounts owners on phone, informing that the bank was upgrading its system and needed the customer’s account details. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects are contract staff of Bright Star Limited, a company that deals with the verification of biometric detail of the Lagos State Government Neighborhood Safety Corps, LSNC. Read more
Police Officers caught gambling on duty to face dismissal – Lagos CP (Independent)
Two officers of the Lagos State Police Command caught engaging in gambling while on duty are currently facing disciplinary action that could lead to reduction in rank or dismissal, the Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal said on Tuesday. SP Chike Oti, Police Public Relations Officer, in a statement, said the attention of the command was drawn to a video on social media, where the two officers were captured counting coupons which the eyewitness mistook for bribe collected from motorists. He said the Commissioner of Police immediately ordered their arrest, detention and trail, while preliminary investigation revealed that the officers were not counting money but gambling coupons popularly known as Baba Ijebu.“The attention of the Lagos State Police Command has been drawn to the news making the rounds on a social media platform called Instablog9ja that “policemen stationed near Zenith Bank, Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos, were counting bribes received and smoking. Read more
Lagos shuts 5 Banks, 80 Buildings over Illegal Conversion (ThisDay)
Officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) yesterday shut down five commercial banks and over 80 buildings on Allen Avenue, Ikeja over illegal conversion. The officials, who were accompanied by the Lagos State Environment and Special Offences Enforcement Unit, also shut Adebowale Electronics, Panasonic and several other buildings used for commercial purposes. The commercial banks, whose branches were shut down, are Zenith Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc, Unity Bank Plc, and UBA Bank Plc. Read more
D’Tigers set to begin camping for World Cup (Punch)
D’Tigers will begin camping for their Group B FIBA World Cup qualifiers on June 19 in Lagos under the supervision of head coach, Alex Nwora, the Nigeria Basketball Federation has announced. The Secretary General of the NBBF, Chimezie Asiegbu, stated this on Tuesday as the federation intensifies efforts to ensure that the team maintain its 100 per cent winning record in the qualification series. The NBBF added that invited players had been contacted and their availability confirmed for the June window, which would be hosted by Nigeria. The official list is expected to be released next week. Read more