THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE, MAY 17, 2018
Ikorodu residents call for modification of traditional festivals (Tribune)
Some traders and residents in Ikorodu area of Lagos State have appealed to the custodians of traditional festivals to modify how they are celebrated. They made the appeal in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ikorodu and called for the abolition of those that were gender biased. They said that restrictions normally placed on women during such celebrations especially during the day-time always had the negative impact on their businesses and movements. Mrs Foluke Agunbiade, a tomato-seller at the Sabo Market in Ikorodu told NAN that there still existed traditional festivals in the town place restrictions of free movement of persons, especially, women. Read more
Olokun, Osaara: The making of Atlantic Ocean, Lagos Lagoon (SUN)
“It is imperative for the sake of posterity that diligent records in black and white are kept henceforth for history to prevail. Everyone needs to know what each festival symbolises in order to pass it to generations unborn. This will help them to have a sense of history and they can continue to propagate our culture.” Those were the words of the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, at this year’s celebration of Osaara festival. Just like every other festival, Osaara would come and go as each year passes by. Osaara festival begins the annual Orisa calendar in Ile-Ife, Osun State. Its celebration often takes five days. Read more
LASG to provide 20,000 housing units by 2020 (Punch)
The Lagos State Government says in its bid to tackle the challenge of shelter in the state, a joint venture partnership has been established to create 20,000 housing units by the year 2020. The state Commissioner for Housing, Gbolahan Lawal, spoke at a ministerial briefing in Ikeja on Wednesday. Lawal said the partnership was under the Lagos Affordable Public Housing initiative of the state government, adding that it was to inject private funds into the provision of houses. He said it was also to enable the state to bridge the gap in housing deficit, which he put at three million. Read more
Ramadan: Ashafa urges prayer for prosperity (Punch)
The Senator representing the Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, has urged all Muslims to pray for continued peace and prosperity in Nigeria, as they observe the month of Ramadan. In a statement on Wednesday, the senator, said he joined all Muslim faithful in welcoming Ramadan, adding that it was an obligation for Muslims “for us to restrain from evil, learn God’s consciousness and learn to be God-fearing.” Ashafa said, “The period of Ramadan teaches us self-control, self-restraint, tolerance for one another irrespective of religion or tribe. It is also a month for extreme prayers, love and generosity.” Read more
In Lagos, the ‘Venice of Africa’ fights for survival (Vanguard)
Its nickname is the “Venice of Africa” but, other than its maze of narrow waterways where wooden boats glide, Makoko offers little similarity with the fabled canal city of Europe. Makoko, to be blunt, is an environmental eyesore. It is a vast slum of wooden shacks built on stilts in the brackish, blackish, thickly-polluted lagoon in the heart of Lagos, Africa’s biggest megapolis. The sprawling community began in the 19th century as a fishing village for immigrants, who settled on the water’s edge. Read more
Tinubu, Ambode condole with Bode George (Nation)
All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode have condoled with former Deputy National Chairman, of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, on the death of his son, Dipo. Dipo, who died last week after a brief illness, will be buried today in Lagos. In his condolence letter to George on behalf of his family, Asiwaju Tinubu urged the bereaved father to accept their condolences and sympathy. “It is for us to keep in remembrance the good person that your son was and to honour him by living up to ideals of charity and love towards all. Read more
Lagos acquires machines to construct roads (Punch)
The Lagos State Government on Wednesday inaugurated 45 road construction equipment, saying the urban regeneration of Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Ikeja G.R.A had commenced. The equipment, including three road printers, five driving rollers and three giant wheel leaders, was inaugurated after a public demonstration to the media and government functionaries to complete the construction of interlocked road in Joseph Hotounu Street, Lekki. The state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, said the new equipment was procured in line with efforts to reposition the Lagos State Public Works Corporation for the urban regeneration programme aimed at addressing environmental and infrastructural challenges in Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Ikeja. Read more
A’court hears appeal in suit against Ikoyi Club (Punch)
The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, has fixed May 21, 2018 to hear the appeal in a N100m fundamental rights enforcement suit filed an ex-Entertainment Chairman of Ikoyi Club 1938, Mr. Gbenga Gbadesire, against the Registered Trustees of the club. Gbadesire is challenging the judgment of Justice K.O. Dawodu of the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere, who in 2015 dismissed his suit against the club. The plaintiff, who served as the Entertainment Chairman of Ikoyi Club 1938 between February 2006 and February 2008, had in his suit contended that his expulsion from the club, via a letter dated October 2, 2008, was unprocedural and amounted to a breach of Rule 9 of the Ikoyi Club 1938 Rules 2007. Read more
Lagos doctors set up committee to provide services (Vanguard)
As the strike by health sector workers on the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU, drags on doctors under the Lagos State employ, yesterday set up a committee to ensure that all hospitals and health facilities across the state remained opened and functioning. The doctors under the aegis of Medical Guild in a communiqué it issued at the end of its Ordinary General Meeting in Lagos, said the move became necessary following the decision of state health workers to join in the ongoing national strike. The communiqué jointly signed by the Chairman of the Guild, Dr Babajide Saheed and Secretary, Dr Opeyemi Aiyegbo, lamented the plight of Nigeria patients saying, “The committee will liaise with Medical Directors to ensure that all areas of operations are open. Read more
Quintuplets’ parents get N500,000 monthly allowance (Punch)
The parents of quintuplets, Mr. and Mrs. Augustine Obiefuna of Orile Iganmu, have been promised N500,000 for the next 12 months for the care of the quintuplets. The wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, made the promise when she visited the five babies – three boys and two girls – at the Lagos Island Maternity on Tuesday. Other welfare arrangements by the governor’s wife for the newborns included a supply of diapers for one year and a supply of baby milk and other essentials for one year. Read more
Despite going to parties, I made First Class, says UNILAG’s valedictorian (Nation)
Partying and going to clubs limit academic performance, students are usually told. But the notion was proved wrong by Ginika Okoroafor’s academic feat. He was one of the best-graduating students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) at its 2018 convocation. Ginika was the cynosure of all eyes as she stepped out to receive top academic honours and awards. She was among the four who finished with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.97 – the highest score in the graduating set. Others were Oludare Babawale of Chemistry Department, Bosun Roy-Layinde, Chemical Engineering Department and Jeffery Matthew, Biochemistry Department. Read more
Lagos praises private sector on school calendar (Nation)
Private schools have received praise from the Lagos State Office of Education Quality Assurance for complying with the unified academic calendar for schools in the state. Speaking at the yearly stakeholders meeting on the Lagos State Unified School Academic Calendar for the 2018/2019 academic session held at the Lagos State secretariat, Alausa, the Director-General, Lagos State Office of Education Quality Assurance, Mrs Ronke Soyombo, praised participants from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Abuja, National Examinations Council (NECO), Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB); All Nigerian Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT); representatives of state education districts and MDAs, private school proprietors, school associations and others, for their relentless cooperation and adherence to the 2017/2018 academic calendar. Mrs Soyombo urged them to ensure total compliance to the 2018/2019 calendar. Read more
Lagos State courts in a state of emergency — CJ (Vanguard)
The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Opeyemi Oke yesterday said delayed cases in court had led to public ridicule of the judiciary, following the recent evaluation of 2,886 old case files including a 70 year old case, under the new initiative Lagos Backlog Elimination Programme BEP. This came as Justice Oke declared that the court system in the state was in a state of emergency. Justice Oke who spoke at the inauguration of BEP she initiated in dealing with such cases, lamented that the delay was almost eroding the confidence the common man had in the court, stressing that the delay, coupled with the continuous filing of new cases had led to congestion of the court with a ridiculous number of backlog of cases. Read more
Anglican diocese of Lagos West Synod begins today (Guardian)
The four-day annual synod of the Anglican Diocese of Lagos West begins today. At the annual meeting of dignitaries, the clergy, laity and delegates from all the churches in the 18-year-old diocese, the synod is expected to take far-reaching decisions on spiritual and temporal matters concerning the church in Nigeria and the precarious situation of the country. The Diocesan Bishop, Right Revd. James Olusola Odedeji, will use the synod to further shape his episcopacy built around the three-point agenda – spiritual development, aggressive evangelism and youth empowerment. Read more
Ramsey Noah, Gukas plan big for new Living in Bondage (Punch)
A Nollywood Classic, Living in Bondage, is expected to return to the consciousness of movie lovers as seasoned producer and director, Steve Gukas, is set to reproduce it. He is on the project with ace actor, Ramsey Noah, who was reported to have secured the right for the reproduction since as far back as 2015. Originally written by Kenneth Nnebue and Okechukwu Ogunjiofor (also the producer), the film shot the likes of Kenneth Okonkwo and Nnenna Nwabueze to limelight. It was directed by Chris Obi Rapu, while it also featured Francis Agu and Rita Nzelu. Read more
‘How Lagos is ensuring safe environment’ (Nation)
For the Lagos State Commissioner for the environment, Mr. Babatunde Durosimi-Etti, getting the state residents to adjust to the new waste management system has remained daunting. Since the commencement of the new waste management reforms, concerted efforts have been on to reassure the populace cleaner environment. The commissioner, who reeled out his ministry’s efforts at maintain cleaner environment in the last one year, assured Lagosians of government’s commitment to clean, healthy and liveable environment. Read more
Dangote set to employ over 350 Lagos graduate trainees (Vanguard)
Dangote Group of Company and its partners’ vendors have disclosed plans to employ over 350 Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, LSETF, graduate trainees, following their completion of an eight weeks intensive training exercise. The Employability Support Project, is an initiative of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and it is designed to provide unemployed and underemployed youths in Lagos State with vocational skills training by well-certified and credible training partner Executive Secretary, LSETF, Akintunde Oyebode, who disclosed the company’s plan in an interview with newsmen yesterday, urged other corporate organizations to also emulate the line and reduce unemployment statistics. Read more
Give prompt treatment to gunshot Victims, Police warns (Leadership)
The Lagos State Police Command, on Wednesday, warned hospital authorities against the rejection of gunshot victims or the attitude of asking for police report before treatment. A press statement signed by the command’s spokesman, SP Chike Oti, said the command had to repeat the warning, following a report that one hospital in Ikeja rejected a gunshot victim. “A senior engineer, Mr Adebayo Akinwunmi, with one information and communications technology company, was shot and wounded by armed robbers in his house at Ofada-Mokoloki, Ogun. Read more
Gbeleyi community laments hardship caused by abandoned road project (Punch)
Residents and business owners in Gbeleyi community, in the Idimu area of Lagos State, have lamented that the abandonment of a major road project has crippled the social and economic activities in the community. They said the road, which had fallen into disrepair, had made life difficult for them, adding that many residents had sustained life-threatening injuries on the highway. Punch Metro learnt that Gbeleyi Road was awarded to a construction company, Akas Engineering and Construction Company Limited, for upgrade in 2016. Read more
Family of killed Ericsson engineer blames hospital, seeks justice (Punch)
The family of a slain engineer with Ericsson Nigeria, Adebayo Akinwunmi, who was shot dead by armed robbers, have asked the police to hunt down his killers. The family also faulted a Lagos hospital, Reddington Hospital, Ikeja, for allegedly rejecting the victim due to lack of a police report. Adebayo was killed on Sunday in Orimerunmu, Ofada-Mokoloki, in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State. Punch Metro had reported that the 41-year-old was attacked in his house around 1am. The four-man gang was said to have scaled the fence into the house and broken the door. Read more
Developer bags 2,670 years for duping 133 tenants of N25m (Nation)
An Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, has sentenced a property developer, Alhaji Ayobami Oseni, to 2,670 years imprisonment for duping 133 accommodation seekers of N25 million. Chief Magistrate O. O. Olatunji convicted Oseni following his plea of guilty to 267 counts of conspiracy, obtaining under false pretenses and stealing. He sentenced Oseni to 10 years imprisonment with no option of fine on each of the 267 counts. The sentences, which are to run concurrently, take effect from April 26, 2017 when Oseni was remanded in prison custody following the revocation of his bail. Read more
Ambode redeems N20m pledge to Eagles (Punch)
The Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, has approved N20m for the Super Eagles, runners-up at the 2018 African Nations Championships in Morocco, Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, Kweku Tandoh, has said. The governor was in Morocco for the final game against the hosts and pledged to reward the team for braving the odds to reach the final. Tandoh stated that the official presentation of the cheque to the Eagles would take place soon. Tandoh said it was part of Ambode’s efforts towards sports development not only in Lagos State but in Nigeria as a whole. Read more
LASU’s 22nd Convocation Games in full swing (Nation)
The yearly Lagos State University Convocation Staff Games has begun to mark the institution’s 22nd convocation that would see 26,637 fresh graduates bid farewell to their alma mater. The sports meet introduced by the management led by its Vice Chancellor Prof Lanre Adigun Fagbohun, has been zoned into four: Ojo (main campus); Ikeja (College of Medicine); Badagry staff quarters/Joint University Preliminary Examination Board); as well as Epe (School of Agriculture/College of Engineering). Games, such as soccer (male only), athletics, badminton, table tennis, drought are part of the sport event. Read more