THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE JUNE 14, 2018
Celebrating ‘restless’ Lagos (Tribune)
Prescient Nigerian observers who are watching what’s going on in Lagos State would rightly agree that hard work in the right direction delivers enduring fruits. Hard work doesn’t kill; it yields life that history acknowledges ultimately. That is the enviable story of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State as he marks his 55th birthday today. To Ambode, the ideal celebration would not be to organise an elaborate feast, to bring friends and well-wishers together for a mother of all feasts. Doing so is not in his character. If there would be a get-together at all it would be with the deprived, the vulnerable, children of the poor or the special class of the handicapped as he has done in nearly three years as the governor. Read more
June 12 Crisis: Some weren’t happy i didn’t allow Lagos to Burn – Ojikutu (Independent)
Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu, a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, has said that that some people who wanted to take advantage of the June 12 crisis were not happy with the role she played in not allowing Lagos to burn. Ojikutu said it was her proactive measure in collaboration with security agencies that saved Lagos from being consumed by the backlash of the annulment of June 12, 1993 Presidential election. In an interview with Daily Independent in Lagos, Ojikutu recalled that her principal, the state governor, was on medical trip abroad when the crisis erupted and as a result, she was saddled with the task of bringing the situation under control. Read more
Lagos, SOS Villages Partner on Child Care (ThisDay)
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Youths and Social Development, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, has expressed the desire of the state to partner SOS Children’s Villages, Nigeria in the area of alternative child care. Muri-Okunola, who disclosed this recently in Lagos at the capacity building and stakeholders’ engagement with the theme: ‘No child should grow up alone’, said government and organisations must continue in their efforts to define and identify systems of informal care and recognise its importance in embracing vulnerable children. He said the primary importance of alternative care for children was to keep them in when traumatised and return to the care of their family when they are stabilised or search for another permanent solution. Read more
Lagos Youth Group hails Buhari for honouring Abiola (Independent)
Lagos Youth Initiative (LYI) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for declaring June 12 as the nation’s Democracy Day. The group, through ‘Lanre Olaide, its Public Relations Officer (PRO), said by President Buhari’s action, “the nation’s democracy has been put in proper perspective”. In its statement made available to Daily Independent on Tuesday, the LYI commended the president for honouring the late Moshood Abiola, presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 election 25 years after. The youth group stressed that the June 12, 1993 election was acclaimed to be the best and most peaceful in the nation’s history, but lamented that Abiola was denied the mandate by the General Ibrahim Babangida’s military junta. Read more
Lagos seeks end to discrimination against albinos (Punch)
The Lagos State Government on Wednesday warned guardians and employers to be fair with albinos, adding that it would intensify efforts to stop injustice against people with disabilities. The government also said the campaign against inhuman treatment and stigmatisation of the albinos would be stepped up to tackle challenges confronting people with albinism. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola, stated this at the 2018 International Albinism Day in Alausa, Ikeja, adding that sensitisation was necessary to stop the erroneous belief about people with albinism. Read more
Lagos State, ATC to boost Youth Empowerment with Digital Villages (ThisDay)
ATC Nigeria, in collaboration with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund and Jobberman, is deploying digital villages across Lagos that will serve as Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills acquisition centre, designed for youth empowerment. According to ATC Nigeria, access to the internet is widely seen as a human right in the eyes of millions of people around the world. The internet has evolved to a point where people see internet access as vital for them to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and other fundamental human rights such as education. Read more
US Boosts Health Service in Lagos, donates States-of- the Art Laboratory (ThisDay)
The United States Government through Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in partnership with the Nigerian military has supported health facility in Lagos State with a genomics and molecular diagnostic research laboratory. The project, which was delivered by the Joint West Africa Research Group (JWARG)/ African Center of Excellent for Genomics of Infectious Disease (ACEGID), was commissioned by Ikorodu General Hospital in Lagos and sited at the Redeemer’s University in Ede,Osun State to enhance health education and research, as well as strengthen health services in Lagos State. Read more
World Blood Donor Day 2018: 5 health benefits of donating blood (Guardian)
The phrase ‘every drop counts’ applies not just to water, but to another aspect of human life as well – blood donation. World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) is one of eight official global public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is aimed at raising awareness of the need for regular blood donations to ensure the quality, safety and availability of blood and blood products for patients in need. Every 14 June since 2004, countries around the world celebrate this event on the birth anniversary of Karl Landsteiner – the Austrian-American pathologist and immunologist who distinguished the main blood groups. Read more
Court orders YABATECH to reinstate, pay whistle-blower bursar N20m (Nation)
Justice O. A. Obaseki-Osaghae of the National Industrial Court (NIC) has ordered the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) to recall Mr Olu Ibirogba, its Bursar, who was sacked in July 2015 for exposing alleged corruption in the institution. She also awarded N20 million damages to Ibirogba for his unfair dismissal. This is besides the payment of all his salaries and entitlement since he was removed from his job. The money is to be paid within 21 days, or it will attract 10 per cent interest. The police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) are also to begin investigations into Ibirogba’s allegations against the administration of Dr Kudirat Ladipo, who was the Rector when the bursar was sacked in 2015. Read more
Lagos airport customs connive with agents to extort importers (BusinessDay)
BusinessDay’s checks shows that customs officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) are currently conniving with agents to extort importers by collecting demurrage on already imported goods. A source at one of the ground handling companies told BusinessDay that they are currently being short-changed with illegal activities of customs officers and agents who exploit importers by collecting over one month cost of demurrage on goods that have been imported and cleared. The source alleged that agents now have their own ‘secret’ warehouses and after the goods arrive, they clear with the customs officers and hide the goods, while importers keep paying the agents for demurrage, as the goods still remain ‘not cleared’ in the books of customs. Read more
MSSN feeds 5000 fasting Muslims (Nation)
The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) Lagos State Area Unit has held grand Iftar for 5000 at the Alausa Secretariat Mosque, Ikeja. The event also featured a special prayer for the nation. Its Amir, Dr Saheed Ashafa said the feeding was to inculcate the culture of charity, welfarism and love in the Muslims. He urged Muslims to imbibe the spirit of good neighbourliness in relating with the public. Ashafa said assisting the needy should be of utmost priority to the Muslims at all times, saying such gesture would solve many socio-cultural problems confronting the masses. Read more
Family, friends eulogise Aboderin at service of songs (Punch)
Family, friends and well-wishers came together on Wednesday to relate their experiences with the late Chairman of Punch Nigeria Limited, Mr. Gbadebowale Aboderin, during a service of songs held at his residence in Punch Estate, Ikeja, Lagos. Aboderin’s sister, Mrs Wunmi Tunde-Obe, describing him as a blessing, stated that the deceased had lived a “good quality” life and left an impact on the lives of all he came across. Tunde-Obe said she felt blessed to have had Wale as a brother. She added, “I heard all the great things people that are not close family members had to say, and I must say, they didn’t lie or exaggerate. I am glad they all experienced the wonderfulness of my brother, which I enjoyed and will sorely miss. But I take in the fact that he is in a better place.” Read more
Again, articulated vehicles lock down Apapa, Amuwo, Kirikiri Town (SUN)
A man in his 40s stood perplexed by the driver’s side of his sports utility vehicle (SUV) at about 4pm at Second Rainbow Bus Stop, along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, yesterday. The obviously overwhelmed man had been stuck in a traffic jam for about three hours. The motorist yawned, shook his head and lazily walked into a makeshift provision shop nearby to get something to cool off, abandoning his vehicle in the traffic. His SUV was tucked in-between trucks and other articulated vehicles that had taken over the stretch of the road on that particular Tuesday June 11. The perennial gridlock that usually starts from Second Rainbow inwards Apapa and Kirikiri axes appears to have assumed a frightening dimension since the past week. Read more
Police declare Lagos trader wanted for Murder of Enugu Monarch (Independent)
The Police on Wednesday declared Chijioke Okenwa, a Lagos-based businessman, wanted in connection with the murder of Igwe Stephen Nwatu, the traditional ruler of Ogbovine community, Nkanu West Local government Area of Enugu State. Ebere Amaraizu, the spokesman of Enugu State Police Command, declared Okenwa wanted in a statement. According to Amaraizu, the state’s police command has intensified manhunt for one Chijioke Nnona Okenwa over his alleged role with other cohorts in the dastardly act. Amaraizu, a Superintendent of Police, said a warrant of arrest had been issued against the principal suspect and his cohorts. Read more
24 Passengers saved from falling into Lagos Lagoon (Independent)
Swift responses from Rapid Response Squad and LASEMA Response Unit to a LT Volkswagen commercial bus involved in an accident around 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday saved many passengers heading to Island. The bus conveying about 22 passengers towards Lagos Island somersaulted on the Third Mainland Bridge and was prevented from plunging into the Lagos Lagoon by the crash barrier on the side of the road. Most of the passengers sustained varied degrees of injuries. Some of the ambulances that got to the scene were filled and arrangements had to be made to accommodate passengers with lesser degrees of injuries. Read more
Lagos Police arrests man for Kidnapping, Brutally Defiling 13 Years Old (ThisDay)
The Lagos State police has arrested 26-year-old Chibuzor Emealo, for kidnapping and then brutally defiling a 13 year-old-girl (name withheld) from 12 am till dawn at the Orile Iganmu area. Emealo, also known as Alomo, was arrested after the little girl came home the next morning bleeding profusely from her bruised privates. The perpetrator was immediately arrested at his residence at 3 Omoniyi Street Orile-Iganmu and is currently in police custody but will appear in court on Thursday. According to police report, the perpetrator went to the survivor’s house at 12am after the mother left for her shift job. Read more
Police arrest Robbery Suspect with Pistol in Lagos (Independent)
Operatives of Iju Police Division (Red House Police Station) have arrested an armed robbery suspect with a gun. The suspect, 25-year-old Popoola Tobi, investigation revealed was arrested at about 11.40 am on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 while he and four other suspected gang member were heading for a robbery operation. It was gathered that the suspect said to reside at 4 Ogun Street, Station Bus stop, Iju-Ishaga was arrested within a play ground close to a Catholic Church in Fagba area of Iju. Further investigation revealed that four other suspected members of the gang took to their heels and escaped when they sighted the police. Read more
Man jailed for life after beheading friend (Guardian)
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of a Special Offences Court in Ikeja, yesterday, sentenced a 42-year-old man, Ifeanyi Nnamoko, to life imprisonment, for the death of his friend over a fight. Nnamoko, who works as a scanvenger at a dumpsite in Ojota, was arraigned on March 24, 2011 on a one count of murder contrary to Section 319 (1), cap 17 Vol. 2 Laws of Lagos State, 2003. He had pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder brought against him by Lagos State government for killing his best friend. In her judgment, Justice Taiwo held that the convict was guilty of the murder charge brought against him. She said: “The prosecution has proved the case of death of a human being beyond reasonable doubt. I hereby find the defendant guilty of the murder of Ifeanyi Anyanwu. Read more
PUNCH holds staff table tennis tourney to honour Aboderin (Punch)
In honour of the late Chairman of Punch Nigeria Limited, Mr. Gbadebowale Aboderin, a table tennis tournament was held for the staff of the company, on Wednesday, at the Punch Place, Magboro, Ogun State. Aboderin, who founded the Dolphins Female Basketball Team, has been celebrated as an icon of media excellence and a sports aficionado. The tournament, which held from 4pm to 6.30pm, saw 32 contestants from 16 departments/units compete for the top prize. After 32 exhilarating matches, Mr. Olayinka Popoola of the Copy Sales Department emerged the champion, defeating Mr. Deji Lambo of the Punch (Editorial Department) in the final with a narrow score of 2-1. Read more
Glo promo winners fly to Russia (Nation)
Seven lucky winners of the ongoing World Cup romo sponsored by telecom giants Globacom, yesterday flew to Russia to watch the matches. They are the first batch from a total number of 22 expected winners in the subsscuibers consumer-reward offer, tagged ‘GO Russia.’ The lucky subscribers, who were accompanied by a Globacom official on the trip, are: Agbede Temidayo Bayodele (Ekiti state), Adeoye Adefisoye Simon (Oyo State) Olugbokiki Mukail Omolola (Ogun State), Orewa Edwin Ehi (Rivers State), Aghaegbunem Marvel Chukwufumnaya (FCT) Oladunjoye Joseph Babatunde (Ogun State) and Kome Sunny Ikpeba (Delta State). Read more