THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE JULY 31, 2018
Experts: Lagos not yet strong aviation hub despite N800bn investments (NewTelegraph)
Despite about N800 billion spent to bring Nigeria’s airports, especially the Murtala Muhammed Airport, to international standards through remodelling seven years ago, stakeholders have registered their displeasure over inability of the aerodrome to attain a hub status. Ranked as the fifth busiest airport in Africa, with an average of 10, 383, 452 passenger traffic achieved in 2017, not a experts believe that the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), strategically located in Lagos, has all it takes to create an air transportation hub for Nigeria. Nigeria is said to be losing billions of dollars annually for not being able to tap into the potential in its aviation sector. Read more
AMCON chair: Lagos APC faction urges Buhari to stop plot against Banire (SUN)
The Fouad Oki faction of the Lagos State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to quash a plot to stop the party’s former national legal adviser, Dr. Muiz Banire, from being confirmed by the Senate as the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) chairman. The three senators from Lagos State are opposed to Banire’s confirmation by the upper chamber of the National Assembly. However, Oki’s faction, in a statement, accused APC National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, of being behind the plot to stop Banire’s confirmation by the Senate. Read more
‘Lagos not paying religious scholars salaries’ (Nation)
Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef has debunked news in some media that the state government is trying to pay religious scholars monthly salaries. In an interview with The Nation, AbdulLateef described the report as “untrue.” “Lagos,” he said, “is not paying religious scholars monthly salaries (laughs). Lagos is encouraging religious adherents to pay their scholars so that they can create more time to develop them spiritually and engage in more research to educate their members. Many people observe prayers in the mosque, they want their Imam to be with them always for sermons, teach them Quran, counselling and attend to their other issues. Meanwhile, the imam must also fend for himself and take care of his wife and children at home. Read more
New agenda for water transportation (Nation)
Of the three modes of transportation – land, air and water, the latter has remained the least developed in Lagos State. Since the Second Republic when former Governor Lateef Jakande invested in the sector, charting and dredging water routes and buying seven ferries to ply the waterways, the sector has gone comatose. The establishment of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) did not change anything, as it was almost always up in arms against the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), the federal regulator, over who controls the waterways. Read more
Lagos-based lawyer donates borehole to Ogun community(Vanguard)
A Lagos-based lawyer and philanthropist, Mr Kayode Adegbola, has donated a borehole to Igan-Okoto, Ilupeju community, headquarters of Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State Presenting the borehole to the people, the Ogun State House of Assembly aspirant for Yewa North constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, said that the provision of potable water was necessary for healthy living in Nigeria. According to him, “Water is an essential nutrient to human cell. The borehole is capable of producing 5,000 litters of water per hour and will work for six hours daily to produce 30,000 litters. I am sure that the 30,000 liters of water from this borehole would conveniently serve a minimum of 1,000 people daily.” Read more
Lagos J-League won’t condone age cheats — Disu (Vanguard)
The Technical Director of Lagos Junior League (J-League), Tunde Disu, on Monday said that the league would ensure a zero tolerance for age cheats when the competition gets under way. Disu made the assertion in an interview while speaking on the activities lined up for the commencement of the league. He said that the J-League would kick off soon after all the teams would have finished their registration as the teams were having pre-season friendlies. “For us to achieve the vision of the league, we need to ensure that its integrity is protected. When we say junior league, we mean it’s for youths within certain age range. Read more
How we contained cultism, by LASU Registrar (Nation)
The Lagos State University (LASU) has contained the activities of cult groups on its campuses, its Registrar, Mr Olayinka Aminu, said yesterday. Amuni told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that such groups’ activities were no longer traceable. Amuni said the university was lucky to have recently admitted sets of students who were not attracted to vices. “We have been very lucky recently to have students who are not attracted to vices, and have been able to contain the activities of cultists within our campuses. “I can’t remember us having cases of students sanctioned for cultism. There may be cases of other negative engagements but not in terms of cultism,” he said. Read more
Total gets commendation from Akoka community (Guardian)
A Total filling station located at Akoka community in Lagos State, have received commendation from its host community for its swift response in addressing and fixing a fuel leakage from its underground tank, that polluted some residents water sources last year. It was reported few months ago of the incident of an accidental fuel leakage at the station, which resulted in contamination of the water sources of some houses in the community. The residents said the firm have since carried out a thorough remediation and have brought the environment to a better state. Read more
Unilag alumni branches reject National Exco members (Vanguard)
Chairmen and chairperson of branches of the University of Lagos Alumni Association have distanced themselves from publications in electronic, print and social media announcing the emergence of National Executive members for the Association. An advertorial, by Chairman, Warri Circle, Chief Amos Okoro; Chairperson, Oyo State Branch, Dr. Bisi Akin-Alabi; Chairman, Ogun State Branch, Professor A. A Agboola; Chairman, FCT Branch, Alhaji Tijani Mohammed; and Chairman, Akwa Ibom Branch, Senator Bob Effiong, noted that the public statement was for the benefit of Akokites worldwide and undiscerning members of the general public. Read more
Adefarasin hosts African Praise Experience in Lagos (Guardian)
Pastor Paul Adefarasin, the Senior Pastor at the House on The Rock at the weekend, hosted another successful edition of African Praise Experience. The massive turnout of many worshippers at the concert is a testament to the huge followership Adefarasin commands with his annual concert in Nigeria, irrespective of the different Christian denominations. Friday was a day many in the city of Lagos will not forget in a hurry as the highly anticipated T.A.P.E (The African Praise Experience) concert serenaded many with sounds and ethnic rhythms. The African Praise Experience is an annual music concert headlined by a joyful assemblage of people through music, dance and praises, with the combination of word, worship and wonders as indigenous gospel acts lit up the African Praise Experience. Read more
New Lagos Anglican Bishop urges Nigerians to return to God (Vanguard)
Rt. Rev. Humphrey Olumakaiye on Monday formerly assumed office as the Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos (Anglican Communion) with a call on Nigerians to return to God. Newsmen report that Olumakaiye took over from Most Rev. Adebola Ademowo who was in 2000 elected Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos and Archbishop of Lagos Province. In his inauguration and enthronement sermon at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina Lagos, Olumakaiye urged Nigerians to return to God for the country to overcome its challenges. “We should go back to the ancient path of obedience, dignity of labour, honesty, fear of God, love and also being faithful to the things of God. Read more
VIS to truck owners: partner Lagos govt to reduce carnage (Nation)
The Director of Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), Afiz Toriola, has appealed to stakeholders in the transport sector to partner the Lagos State government to reduce carnage on the roads. Toriola spoke at a forum organised by the Lagos State Computerised Vehicle Inspection Service (LACVIS) for stakeholders in the logistics and haulage industry. He said with the establishment of LACVIS, the state have stopped the manual inspection of vehicles and replaced them with computerised inspection, which is at par with international standards. Read more
Ladipo market leaders urged to sustain peace, develop infrastructure (Guardian)
The President General of Ladipo auto spare-parts market, Jude Nwankwo, has urged the newly elected executives of Aguiyi Ironsi International Market (AIIM) to sustain the peace and security achieved by the past executive led by Chief Cyril Onyemaechi. Nwankwo made the appeal at the weekend during the election of new executives of the Aguiyi Ironsi International market in Ladipo by the traders. Over 3,000 accredited traders took part in the election, which was supervised by operatives of the market’s electoral committee, the police, Department of State Services (DSS), and officials from Mushin Local Government Area. Read more
Manager accused of stealing employer’s N1m (Nation)
A 52-year-old Sales Manager, Ayoola Okunola, was yesterday arraigned at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing his employer’s N1.1 million, four months after employment. Okunola, a resident of Ikorodu, Lagos, is being tried for alleged stealing. The accused committed the offence on May 28 at Fatal Atere Way, Matori, Mushin, Lagos, prosecutor Emmanuel Ajayi told the court. He alleged the accused stole N1.1million belonging to New Home Distribution African Ltd. Ajayi alleged the accused obtained goods to deliver to the company’s customers, but diverted them to other customers. Read more
Thief attacks man in front of bank (NewTelegraph)
Policemen attached to Area G, Ogba, Lagos have arrested three men for snatching a phone from a man in front of a bank, located on ACME Road. According to witnesses, the man was heading to the church on Sunday morning with his family when he decided to make a quick withdrawal from the nearest Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) point, which was on the premises of the bank. He had already made his withdrawal and was checking his mobile phone in front of the bank, when one of the thieves, riding a motorcycle, drew closer to him and snatched the phone. Read more
30-yr-old man rapes, sodomises 10-yr-old girl in Lagos (Vanguard)
The Police, yesterday, arraigned a 30-year-old man, Goddy Inyama, who allegedly defiled a 10-year-old girl by raping her through the anus and vagina, before an Ajegunle Magistrate’s Court in Lagos. The defendant, who pleaded not guilty to the offence, is facing a three-count charge of unlawful sexual intercourse, unlawful touching of breast and penetrating the anus. Iyama, who resides on Sogbesan Street, Ajegunle, in Apapa area of Lagos was docked before Magistrate O. M. Ajayi. The prosecutor, Inspector Augustine Ejembi, told the court that the defendant unlawfully and sexually touched a 10-year-old girl in her vagina. Read more
Rival ‘slashes village head’s stomach with motor saw’ (Nation)
A machine operator, Samson Tueei, was yesterday arraigned at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court for allegedly slashing the stomach of a Baale with a motor saw. Tueei, 60, of Sore Community in Takwa Bay, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of assault and infliction of bodily harm. Prosecuting Sergeant Godspower Ehizoba alleged that the defendant committed the offence at about 7:45pm on July 19 at Sore Community. He said the incident occurred during a dispute between Tueei and Gani Thomas, over who should be Baale. The stool was given to Thomas. “The defendant assaulted the Baale by cutting his stomach with a motor saw,” the prosecutor said. Read more
Unilag Marines host Uniben Royals as maiden HIFL League kicks off tomorrow (Guardian)
Unilag will enter the history books tomorrow when it hosts the first match of the maiden Higher Institutions Football League (HIFL) at its sports centre located inside the school’s premises. The match, featuring Unilag Marines against Uniben Royals, will kick off by 4.00 p.m. Dubbed the star match of the opening week of the competition, the clash promises great excitement as top officials of NUGA, NUC and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), alongside renowned retired internationals and top football administrators prepare to grace the exciting duel. Read more