THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE MAY 20, 2018
Inside new Oshodi (Vanguard)
Oshodi was not a place anybody would be proud of. Chaotic in terms of human and vehicular population, it was also everything that was wrong with metropolitan Lagos. To explain the chaos, studies show that Oshodi is the busiest transport interchange in West Africa with over 5,600 buses spread over 13 different motor parks loading daily. It has over 200,000 passengers boarding per day, about one million pedestrians and 76 per cent of the area is dedicated to transport and related activities. Although two dual carriageways take you through Oshodi, it could take two hours to drive through a distance of less than five kilometres. Reason: Army of hawkers selling their wares and beggars soliciting for alms battled for right of way with vehicles. Oftentimes the hawkers and beggars would take more occupy two of the three lanes of the expressway, leaving vehicles to crawl in the remaining lane and leaving traffic to stretch several kilometres. It was in the time of molues. The molues drivers would park in the middle of the road to load. Read more
Lagos: Balogun emerges chairman (Nation)
Chairman of Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Election Organising Committee, Senator Uche Ekwunife yesterday linked the massive infrastructural renewal across the state to political stability being enjoyed in the state, saying it was time for such to be replicated nationwide to facilitate growth and development. Speaking at the well-attended congress of the party held at the party’s secretariat, Acme Road, Ikeja, Ekwunife particularly commended the seamless political transition and the peaceful conduct of members of the party throughout the congress, saying such political maturity was rare in the country. Read more
NAESN Endorses Ambode for second term, tasks Lagosians to get their PVCs (ThisDay)
The Lagos State Chairman, National Association of Education Secretaries in Nigeria (NAESN), Asiwaju Majiyagbe, has called on Lagosians to work towards the re-election of the Lagos state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode for a second term in office, stating that the administration has delivered on its electoral promises to the state. Majiyagbe disclosed this saturday in Lagos at the 2018 Interdenominational Prayer Service organised to raise support for the governor for his second term, tagged: ‘Ambode Mandate Support Group.’ He stated that the event is a fulfillment of his post-election speech where NAESN agreed that the endorsement and re-election of Ambode must be top on their priority, while commending members who supported the initiative. Read more
CAN Chairman lauds Ambode on Performance (Independent)
Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), gave kudos to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for his stride in moving the state forward. Bamgbola at the Bi-annual public lecture with the theme: “Matter Arising in Political Landscape of Nigeria: The Church Response,” organised by the Christian Conscience Group, reportedly stated that: “Since Almighty God has endorsed him, so, who am I not to do same. Who is that Christian that wouldn’t endorse Ambode. And if you have a preferred candidate for the seat, please bring him out and see what would happen during election. Read more
Ebola Scare: Airports on high alert, screen passengers to prevent spread (ThisDay)
Airport facilities and medical structures that served Nigeria in the aftermath of the 2014 Ebola virus disease outbreak are being reactivated as the country tries to be on the alert for possible reoccurrence following the confirmation of several EVD cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. ThisDay learnt at the weekend that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria had activated its Ebola preventive programme. The programme had been put in place after the late Liberian-American lawyer, Patrick Sawyer, introduced the Ebola virus into Nigeria in July 2014, when he flew into Lagos en route Calabar for a conference. Read more
Killings: Lagos Catholics protest, draw global attention (NewTelegraph)
The Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos has declared its preparedness to join other men and women of goodwill to get the government of the day to take full responsibility of the safety of lives and properties in the country. On that premise, the Archbishop of Lagos Archdiocese, Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins has called out all Priests, Rev. Sisters and Catholic faithful to a mega “protest against the spate of killings in Nigeria; and in solidarity with the Diocese of Makurdi and every family who has lost a dear one in every unfortunate circumstance, irrespective of creed, tribe, religion or political affiliation.” Speaking at a parley with journalists in Lagos recently, Archbishop Martins added: “We join all Catholics and all men and women of goodwill to express our deepest displeasure with the current state of the nation. Read more
Fundamental managerial principles for LASG public service (Telegraph)
Managerial leadership is that element that helps organisations to maximise efficiency and achieve organisational goals. As a matter of fact, the maximization of efficiency and the achievement of organisational goals is at the top of the priorities of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration for the Lagos State Civil Service. It has also been noted that “human capital resources are viewed as strategic assets, and managers in particular are often identified as a key source of competitive advantage. Given their importance, a critical question arises regarding what individuals need to learn to become more effective managers. Read more
Finance Mobile and Entertainment Summit holds in Lagos (ThisDay)
The report by the intelligence unit of TECH TV headed by ace broadcast journalist, Don Pedro Aganbi indicates that Fidelity Bank, undoubtedly, is rapidly emerging a leader in the online and electronic banking space. The bank continues to make significant investment in digital technology and infrastructure which is a clear demonstration of its understanding of how the emerging digital technology operatesc and is indeed improving the ease and efficiency of providing banking services to meet the needs of its esteemed customers. Fidelity Bank is equally in the vanguard of educating customers and empowering them to take advantage of the easy to use electronic banking products and services Fidelity Bank. The recent ‘Go Digital’ campaign aptly demonstrates this commitment. Read more
I wasn’t an absentee student at UNILAG –Odunlade Adekola (Punch)
It is no longer news that popular actor, Odunlade Adekola, recently went back to school and had his convocation ceremony at the University of Lagos some weeks ago. Speaking with Sunday Scoop about the highlights of his time in school, the actor stated that he had to humble himself to learn. “Being in school was a really thrilling experience for me. I was humbled in the sense that I had to attend classes, do assignments, sit for exams and carry out other academic activities. I had a good relationship with all the lecturers that taught me and the students too. There was nothing like celebrity status. As long as we were in the classroom together, we were all one in our quest for knowledge. One should never get tired of seeking knowledge because the world is dynamic and ever-changing,” he said. Read more
Glo’s Professor Johnbull condemns fraudulent NGOs (Nation)
Professor Johnbull, popular television series sponsored by telecommunications operator, Globacom, in this week’s episode emphatically condemns the proliferation of fake Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) which are created to extort money from unsuspecting victims. Globacom disclosed in a statement issued in Lagos on Friday that the episode entitled NGO ”is an exposition of the fraud which goes on in society as some dishonest members of the public, taking advantage of the humanitarian successes recorded by some genuine NGOs, establish fake ones with the sole aim of ripping people off”. In the episode, the lead character in the series, Kanayo O. Kanayo who plays Professor Johnbull sees the existence of fake NGOs as tantamount to using reggae to spoil blues. Read more
Lagos prepares to host writers (Nation)
Come October 25th to 27th, the Lagos State chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), will be hosting the writers body in its annual international convention. For a long time, the hosting right eluded the state due to logistics problems. In this interview with Edozie Udeze, the chairman of Lagos ANA, Yemi Adebiyi, explains the genesis of this hosting right, the things already in place for a successful convention, the role of the state government and more. After many years of bidding to host the yearly convention of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) by Lagos State Chapter, the hosting right was finally given to the state last year. So come October 25th to 27th, the 37th International Convention of ANA will be held in Lagos. It was a tough bidding for the state last year when the event took place in Makurdi, Benue State. Read more
Ikorodu due for further development – Group (Nation)
The Eminent Persons of Ikorodu Division (EPID), a body of business and community leaders in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State, has presented to the public, a working document aimed at further enhancing social, economic and political development of the entire division. The document was presented to the public by the liaison group of EPID at the Gbadamosi hall of the Ikorodu Town hall during the week. According to Shoderu R.O, Chairman of the Liaison Group, the document states the new mission and vision of the non-political group, inaugurated in 2014 by the late Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba Salaudeen Oyesfusi, to champion the overall repositioning of the division within the political arrangement of Lagos State. “Our new mission is to be an ‘engine room’ which will harness all resources available for development in line with the global Human Development Index (HDI),” he said. Read more
So far on Prof Abass’ Overseas Duty in Lagos (ThisDay)
During his campaign for governorship of Lagos state in 2015, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode promised to create a government entity that will effectively oversee and vigorously unravel potential foreign investments and opportunities for the state to boost revenue and infrastructural development. So upon his successful election and assumption of office in May 2015, the governor announced the creation of the Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment fondly called “Lagos Global” to undertake the aforementioned functions amongst other lofty foreign-focused goals. And in choosing a good hand to manage the new government organ, Ambode went for a proven and tested expert in international affairs and global partnership in the person of Prof. Ademola Abass. Read more
30 Years of living and working in Lagos (Part 3) (ThisDay)
Fellow Nigerians, thanks for travelling with me these past couple of weeks on my trajectory. The whole essence of my biographical essays is to remind our youths of today that there can be no greatness without pain. As Dr Tai Solarin, the famous social critic and educator once wrote, “may your road be rough…” Mine has been a rollercoaster, full of bumps and turns. No Formula 1, or better still Le Mans, driver could have envisaged, navigated and manoeuvred my life’s journey properly and easily. I shall endeavour to demonstrate the immutable laws and power of time today. Your life can come tumbling down within a twinkle of an eye. Yes, in a matter of seconds, your life can freeze. That was my case on July 22, 1995. Read more
I don’t believe my daughter’s Danish husband is in jail –Late Alizee’s father (Punch)
Last month, Nigerian singer, Zainab Ali-Nielsen, aka Alizee, and her four-year-old daughter, Petra, were allegedly murdered by her Danish husband, Peter Nielsen. Found dead in the kitchen of their residence on Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos, a post-mortem examination was conducted on Alizee and it revealed that she died of trauma resulting from injuries inflicted on her head. Nielsen was later arraigned before a Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Lagos and was reportedly taken to Ikoyi Prison. However, the singer’s father, Ali Madaki, suspects foul play in the way Nielsen is being treated. Read more
Iwobi seals three-year LG deal (Punch)
LG Electronics on Friday signed Super Eagles forward, Alex Iwobi, as their official brand ambassador at an elaborate ceremony in LG showroom, Lekki, Lagos, The Arsenal man sealed a three-year renewable deal with the electronics giants. Speaking at the unveiling, Managing Director, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Taeick Son, “The choice of Alex Iwobi went through a thorough process and in the end we chose him, going by his antecedent in the field of play and most importantly how he is generally perceived as a player around the globe. Read more