THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE MAY 21, 2018
Half of Olusosun dump covered with sand (Nation)
Lagos State Commissioner for Environment Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti said half of the 47-hectare Olusosun Metropolitan Dump in Ojota has been capped. Capping is the covering of a dump to prevent fire. Speaking with reporters during the supervision of the exercise, Durosinmi-Etti said 50 per cent of the site was capped within three weeks. According to him, there is need to cap the site to prevent a recurrence of fire there. He said: “The capping started over three weeks ago and what has happened is that we have covered a lot of mileage. And we are looking at another three weeks to complete the whole capping, before the rain starts. So, it is quite important that we take advantage of every good weather. Read more
Lagos reactivates Ebola isolation Centre (Nation)
The Lagos State government has intensified its awareness campaign to forestall the outbreak of Ebola disease in the nation’s commercial nerve centre. Commissioner of Health Dr Jide Idris told reporters that though there were no suspected or confirmed cases of the virus in Nigeria, it was important people were informed in order to protect lives. Lagos and Federal Government, he said, were taking measures to prevent the entry and spread of the virus in the country. Read more
Challenges before Lagos APC chairman (Nation)
A new chapter has opened in the life of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC), following the election of Alhaji Tunde Balogun, as chairman. Much is expected of the new helmsman, who succeeded Otunba Oladele Ajomale. Ajomale succeeded Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, a former deputy governor, as chairman of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 2007. Under Ajomale, the political family won the governorship elections of 2007, 2011 and 2015. Party chieftains described the former chairman as a diplomat, a listening leader and a father figure who managed intra-party conflicts and remained loyal to the party leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Read more
Crack as Lagos APC elects new executive members (Guardian)
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Saturday held its state congress where it elected new leaders to pilot its affairs. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new leaders were elected and endorsed by the no fewer than 2, 500 delegates via voice vote at the party Secretariat in Ikeja. A former Commissioner of Home Affairs in the state, Alhaji Tunde Balogun emerged as new chairman, while Mr Sunny Ajose, a former Head of Service in the state emerged as Deputy Chairman. Read more
‘Ambode is a reference point’ (Nation)
How has Afenifere Independent Group, (AIG) impacted on the people?
The Afenifere Independent Group (AIG) which was founded by my late father is an off-shot of the Afenifere. My father was a member of the Afenifere and like the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) too, we are all progressives and prospecting progressive ideas. We are working for the benefit of all Nigerians through the message of love, peace and progress. This is the message my late father preached to us and that is what we do at AIG. This is the message we spread to our people, so that everybody will be comfortable and at the same time enjoy the dividend of democracy. I can say that the people are benefitting in many ways through what we do and how we propagate the messages espoused by Afenifere. Read more
Cleric warns politicians on jostle for 2019 elections (Guardian)
The Archbishop, Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos and Bishop, Diocese of Remo, the Most Rev. Olusina Fape, has called on politicians to be mindful of their promises during electioneering campaigns. Fape, who stated this during the second session of the 12th Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Remo with the theme: “Religion & Work Ethics As Tools For Economic Revival,” which ended yesterday at St. Matthias’ Anglican Church, Isote, Sagamu, Ogun State, described politics as a form of business in Nigeria and lamented that politicians at the moment are more of a curse to this nation than being a blessing. Read more
Monarch Promotions boss plans bigger BoxFest in Lagos (Guardian)
Thrilled by the reception his maiden boxing extravaganza received in April, Monarch Promotions Chief Executive Officer, Prince Stanley Williams, has promised a bigger and better promotion subsequently.Monarch Promotions held its maiden event, tagged BoxFest, a premium-boxing event specially tailored to provide fight fans with live professional boxing contests, on April 7 at Eko Hotels Convention Hall. The event, he said, was part of the renewed vigour to take boxing back to its leading position in Nigerian sports with a view of luring the country’s teeming youths to the sport. Read more
NCAA, LASG to regulate high-rise structures on flight paths (Punch)
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has announced a partnership with the Lagos State Government to curb the danger posed by unauthorised high-rise structures on the path of flights around the Lagos metropolis. According to the NCAA, the collaboration is a resolution from a bilateral meeting between its Director-General, Muhtar Usman, and officials of the Lagos State ministries of Physical Planning and Urban Development; and Works and Infrastructure. The NCAA said on Sunday that the meeting was first held on April 26 and another on May 17 at its head office at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos. Read more
Domestic Abuses: Lagos CP ready to work with OPD (Independent)
Imohimi Edgal, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Lagos State, has assured Mrs. Olayinka Adeyemi, the director, Office of Public Defender (OPD), of his readiness to collaborate with her office to reduce to the barest minimum the issue of domestic, sexual violence and all sorts of abuses in the state. Edgal gave the assurance when the director paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Ikeja. The CP said there was no better way to rid the state of crime than through collaborations. “If you look at the society now very critically, the Office of the Public Defender is perhaps one of the most important offices, because we are not only talking about fighting violence/crimes but building a safe society. When issues that relate to the rights of the citizens are not taken care of, the society cannot thrive. Read more
LASG kicks against changes in CBDs’ designs (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has said it will no longer tolerate distortion of its designs in its Central Business Districts, adding that violators will be prosecuted. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Central Business Districts, Mr. Anofiu Elegushi, stated this on Friday at a briefing on the activities of his office, adding that the government had resolved to ensure the best global standards of business transactions in the CBDs. He pointed out that the face of the Lagos Island CBD was changing for good with the coming of the blue rail from Okokomaiko to CMS, the opening of the Lagos DNA Centre, as well as the handing over of the formal Presidential Lodge in Marina to the state. Read more
Firm unveils luxury development at Lekki FTZ (Punch)
Buildcon Global Services Limited, a property development firm, has unveiled a luxury and fully serviced estate, the Pracht Smart City, at the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos. The firm stated that it was positioned to help reduce housing problem at the LFTZ as there would be influx of foreign and local workers in the next two to five years in the area. The Chief Executive Officer, Buildcon Global Services Limited, Mrs. Bukunola Gadzama, said the company was positioning its project to attract expatriates, senior executives and senior managers, hence the birth of the Pracht Smart City. Read more
Residents tackle estate management over N1m project levy (Punch)
Residents of Williams Onoh Street in Chevy View Estate, Lekki, Lagos State, have protested against the N1m “compulsory levy” imposed on each house for a drainage and canal channeling project. It was gathered that the management of the estate imposed the levy for the project being done on Williams Onoh Street, saying it would tackle environmental challenges in the area. But the residents said the N1m per house was high, adding that they could not afford it. Punch Metro gathered that matter came to a head after the management of Chevy View Estate sent letters to residents instructing them to pay the levy or be disconnected from power supply. Read more
Tinubu hails Lagos APC congress (Nation)
All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has hailed the congress conducted in Lagos State at the weekend. Congress, he said, was conducted in line with the guiding laws of the party. “The people who own the party have spoken and chosen their leaders. The success of the congress held confirms the tradition of robust democracy and consensus-building that has brought progressive development to our state,” Tinubu said. He hailed Senator Uche Ekwunife, who led the state Congress Organising Committee, and her team for conducting a free, fair and transparent exercise and for demonstrating commitment to the progress and success of the party. Read more
‘Pay attention to your health’ (Punch)
The Sarah Adebisi Sosan Foundation (SASF), has urged Nigerians to pay more attention to their health by having regular checkups and following medical advice. The Foundation’s Assistant National Coordinator, Funmilayo Sosan, according to a statement on Sunday, said this in the Ojo area of Lagos State, where the foundation gave free medical services to the less privileged in the area. The assistant national coordinator said SASF, an initiative of a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Sarah Sosan, had medically helped over 500 people. Funmilayo, who said the Ojo outreach was the sixth in the foundation’s free medical support, added that the initiative was aimed at giving the less privileged access to free medical services. Read more
Passengers sue Med-View Airline for cancelled flight (Punch)
Passengers on Med-View Airline flight VL2120 and VL2118 scheduled to travel from Lagos to Kaduna and Abuja on Sunday, August 13, 2017, have dragged the airline before the Federal High Court in Lagos over the alleged cancellation of their flight. The suit was filed by Maj. Gen. Obidah Ethan (retd.) and Kayode Babalola on behalf of themselves and 29 other passengers who bought the airline’s flight tickets. The claimants are each seeking N1m as general and aggravated damages and another N1m as exemplary and punitive damages against the airline for what they termed negligence on the part of the airline. Read more
Residents seek removal of abandoned bulldozer from street (Nation)
Residents of Ajuwon in Ifako Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos State have appealed to the government for the removal of a bulldozer abandoned in the entrance of Shoyebi close, since 2013. The Nation gathered that the bulldozer was abandoned, after a construction company completed the road project in the area since 2013. A resident, Pastor Babatunde Egbeyemi, said a letter had been written to the Community Development Association (CDA), which claimed that it was working on the issue. He lamented that residents and others could not access the close with their vehicles. Read more
Residents seek help as gangs over-run Mushin, Itire, Surulere areas (Guardian)
Residents of Ajose, Alfa Nda, Akanro, Dosunmu and Lawanson streets of Mushin, Idi-Araba and some areas in Surulere, living under the terror of street gangs and robbers, have sent a Save Our Soul (SOS) plea to the Lagos State police command and the state government over the dreadful activities of the rampaging armed gangs in the area. It’s like nothing they can describe in real life; yet it is happening before their eyes, as youths in their numbers invade streets in broad-daylight, breaking shops, smashing doors, shattering show-glasses and looting wares with aplomb. The mob destroys everything in sight, including car screens, without any form of provocation. Read more
Makoko demolition was legal, says family representative (Punch)
The family of Abolade Coker, the alleged owners of a landed property in Ori Oke community, Makoko, Lagos State, has said the demolition of the property was based on a court judgment. The family explained that the action of the Lagos State Task Force on Land Grabbers was based on the judgment given by a Lagos State High Court in Suit No. LD/ 945/2003. Punch Metro had reported that the task force officials, accompanied by policemen, had stormed the community on May 10 to evict people, whose buildings were constructed on the disputed parcels of land. PUNCH Metro had reported that the task force officials, accompanied by policemen, had stormed the community on May 10 to evict people, whose buildings were constructed on the disputed parcels of land. Read more