THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE JUNE 11, 2018
June 12: LASG to re-examine restructuring (Punch)
The Lagos State Government on Sunday said it would use the 2018 celebration of June 12 to examine the issues raised by the 1993 presidential election which Chief Moshood Kasimawo Olawale Abiola was adjudged the winner. A statement on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Civic Engagement, Benjamin Adeyemi Olabinjo, said the Tuesday’s gathering in Agidingbi, Ikeja, would examine the topic, ‘Restructuring: An Antidote for Effective and Efficient Polity.’ Olabinjo said although it had organised the event for 24 years, the 25th edition was unique because of President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration on June 12. Read more
APC members seek sanction against Banire (Nation)
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to enforce the suspension of its National Legal Adviser, Dr. Muiz Banire, for indiscipline. Addressing reporters yesterday at the Lagos APC secretariat during a protest by members of his local government to enforce disciplinary action against the party chieftain, APC’s Mushin Local Government Area Legal Adviser Femi Martin said Banire’s activities had become uncontrollable. Martin said the NWC must sanction him to prevent other erring party members from towing his line. The party chieftain said the APC must summon the courage to sanction members who violate the party’s rules and regulations. Read more
Aregbesola’s Plot against Ambode Unsettles Lagos APC (ThisDay)
The All Progressives Congress (APC), Lagos State Chapter, has been thrown into another crisis, which allegedly emanated from the plan by Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola to stop Governor Akinwunmi Ambode from seeking re-election. Some party leaders, who spoke with select journalists in confidence at the weekend, alleged that Aregbesola had started lobbying the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu not to support Ambode’s re-election. They alleged that the Osun governor, currently planning to contest senatorial election in Lagos West, had been working with the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa and Chairman of the House Committee on Lands, Hon. Bayo Oshinowo to prevent Ambode from seeking re-election. Read more
The Epetedo declaration by MKO Abiola (Nation)
People of Nigeria, exactly one year ago, you turned out in your millions to vote for me, Chief MKO Abiola, as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But politicians in uniform, who call themselves soldiers but are more devious than any civilian would want to be, deprived you of your God-given right to be ruled by the President you had yourselves elected. These soldier-politicians introduced into our body politic, a concept hitherto unknown to our political lexicography, something strangely called the ‘annulment’ of an election perceived by all to have been the fairest, cleanest and most peaceful-ever held in our nation. Read more
Under-Utilisation of Pedestrian Bridges by Lagosians (Independent)
In a nation of pedestrians, with statistics showing that only 31 people out of 1000 own cars of their own, it is very important to take cognizance of this large number of people when drawing up policies on traffic management in a cosmopolitan city like Lagos. The first pedestrian bridge in Nigeria was a steel structure erected near the Idumota Cenotaph on Lagos Island in the colonial era. However, the first two concrete of such bridges were constructed in Iddo Railway Terminus to connect the bustling market across the road and the other was from Oyingbo to Otto near the old Leventis Mainland Hotel. Read more
Lagos plans 24-hour resolution of complaints (Nation)
The Lagos State government has revealed plans to resolve all complaints among residents within 24 hours. The Director of Public Advice Centre (PAC), an agency under the state’s Ministry of Justice, Mrs Omololu Adesina, broke the news in her office at Alausa in Ikeja, the state capital. Mrs Adesina, who resumed two weeks ago as PAC’s Director, said she planned to fast-track the process whereby Lagosians would have their complaints resolved within 24 hours. She added: “PAC is the first point of call for citizens to lodge complaints. My plan is to ensure that reports that come to us can get to the required authority to attend to them via email. They will receive them, act on them immediately and give us feedback so that in less than 24 hours, all complaints that come to PAC will be attended to and the desired result of the complainer will be achieved. Read more
Lagos clamps down on banks, others over illegal building conversion (Guardian)
The Lagos authorities have begun clampdown on property owners that converted their residential buildings into commercial purposes. About five banks and over 80 buildings at Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos are being penalized for illegal conversion by the State’s Building Control Agency (LASBCA). The agency warned building owners against unauthorized conversion of property for commercial purpose. Under the physical planning law, a residential property owner must obtain due permit before it could convert such building to commercial use. General Manager, LASBCA, Lekan Shodeinde said the affected buildings had been issued notices over one month ago to come forward to regularise their documents and get commercial approval, but only few property owners whose buildings had been converted to commercial purposes showed up. Read more
Tinubu should intervene in Bariga APC crisis, say chieftains (Nation)
All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains have urged the party leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to intervene in the crisis triggered by the ward and local government congresses in Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State. The chieftains complained about an alleged move to substitute the name of the elected local government chairman of the party by the former LCDA chairman, Hakeem Sulaiman. But, Sulaiman denied the allegation, saying he was not engaged in any illegal substitution. In a petition to Tinubu and the state chairman, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, the aggrieved chieftains said the wrong substitution may lead to fresh crisis in the council, urging the leader to avert it. Read more
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the Presidency for appropriating the achievements of the National Assembly (Independent)
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the Presidency for appropriating the achievements of the National Assembly and listing them as those of President Muhammadu Buhari. Kola Ologbondiyan, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, said the recent attempt by the Buhari’s Presidency to ascribe credit to Mr. President for the recent amendments to the constitution, particularly the granting of financial autonomy to state assemblies and judiciaries, was despicable. The party notes that neither the Presidency nor the President himself, made any input in support of these amendments. Read more
Lagos, SOS partners on child care (Nation)
The Lagos State Ministry of Youths and Social Development and SOS Children’s Village, Nigeria has partnered on alternative child care in Lagos State. Speaking at the capacity building and stakeholders engagement, with the theme, ‘No child should grow up alone’, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Youths and Social Development, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, 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. According to him, the primary importance of alternative care for children is to keep them in when traumatised, and return to the care of their family when they are stabilised or find another appropriate care and permanent solution, that is a family. Read more
NSIA to unveil new funding plans, project structures for 2nd Niger Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, East-West Road (ThisDay)
The Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), operators of the Sovereign Wealth Fund (NSIA) is set to deploy more investments into infrastructure, expressing a move towards unveiling appropriate funding plans and project structures being redeveloped for the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Second Niger Bridge, Abuja-Kano Expressway and East-West road projects. The NSIA, which is playing a deeper investment role in infrastructure projects under its Infrastructure Fund window, said while the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Second Niger Bridge, Abuja-Kano Expressway and East-West road projects fall within investible transactions for the Authority, its involvement was principally to ensure an increased inland road stock while creating cross-country arterial roads to catalyse the flow of economic activities. Read more
There is danger in capping of Olusosun Landfill, Lagos warned (Independent)
A pollution expert, Dr Tunde Odesanya, has raised the alarm over the danger inherent in the capping of the Olusosun landfill as contemplated by the Lagos State Government. Odesanya, who is the Ag. Dean, College of Pure and Applied Sciences, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, gave the insight on Sunday. According to him, capping the site is not the best solution for preventing a potential gas explosion in the area. He said the landfill generates a lot of methane gas which is dangerous and must be trapped before capping the area. Read more
Radio Lagos, LTV men honoured (Nation)
The duo of Alhaji Yahya Abdulsalam of Radio Lagos and Alhaji Jibril Abiola Folami Lagos Television (LTV) has been honoured by the Council of Imams and Alfas of Eti-Osa Muslim Community in Lagos. They were joined by the former state Home Affairs Commissioner Oyinlomo Danmole, Sheikh Muhyideen Ajani Bello, Sheikh Dauda Abdulmajeed (Alfa nla), Chief Mufasir of Lagos Sheikh Tijani Gbajabiamila, Alhaja Sekinat Yusuf, Hajia Sherifat Badmus, Alhaji Nasirudeen Laguda and Alhaji Bashiru Lasisi. Others are Sheikh Umar A. Erubu (Ilorin), Shaykh Yunus Temitope, Shaykh Giwa Junaid Bawahala, Sheikh Abdulwahab Eriokan, Shaykh Isa Olowo, Shaykh Mubashiru Suleiman, Sheikh Fatiu Adamson and Shaykh Ibrahim Okunmoyinbo. Read more
Atlantic Hall graduates 100, to build N2.5bn sports complex (Punch)
Atlantic Hall Secondary School, Poka, Epe, Lagos, on Friday, graduated 100 pupils at its 26th valedictory and graduation ceremony. The school also unveiled the plan to build an ultra-modern sports complex during the event. Various experts, who gathered for the inspiring event, advised the graduating students to make a worthwhile mark in their future endeavours. The school’s principal, Mr Andrew Jedras, said, “I hope you reflect on your time here and the impact the school has had on you. Let this guide how you handle successes and little failures because how you react to failure defines how your character is shaped. We have made you all well-rounded, and from now till the end of your lives, you have to make choices but the secret to success is making the right choice. Read more
Man arrested for impersonating Lagos govt official (Punch)
The officials of the Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement Unit) have arrested 35-year-old Omoakin Friday for allegedly parading himself as an official of the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps and allegedly extorting money from residents with a fake identity card. The Togolese national was said to have confessed that he had for long been extorting money from pedestrians who preferred not to be prosecuted in court, adding that he made an average sum of N10,000 daily. The Chairman of the task force, Olayinka Egbeyemi, said Friday was arrested after a complaint about illegal activities of the suspect was lodged by LAGESC. Read more
Lagos commissioner urges youth to shun thuggery (Nation)
Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs Dr AbdulHakeem Lateef has urged Nigerian youth not allow themselves to be used as political weapons in the 2019 general elections. Speaking at a lecture organised by a non-governmental organisation, Humanitarian Voluntary Association for Community Development (HUVACOD) at the weekend, he urged youth to be agent of good change and support constituted authority. Delivering his talk on the theme ‘Politics and Islam’ to commemorate the Ramadam period, Dr Lateef noted that youth have a role to play towards establishing good governance and leadership. “I want to enjoin all to support the leadership of the day because leaders are made only by God and come 2019, come out and participate fully in the electioneering process not as thugs but as a peaceful change agent.” Read more
Woman plunges into Lagos lagoon (Vanguard)
A woman with an unknown identity Sunday, plunged into the lagoon on 3rd Mainland, in Lagos. As at 8.45pm, efforts were still on to recover her body, without luck. There were however, conflicting accounts as to how the incident happened. A version of the account said that the woman was a passenger in an UBER car, driving inward Lagos Island, when she told the driver to stop. Thereafter, she reportedly alighted from the vehicle, crossed the road and plunged into the lagoon. Another version had that the deceased was a man, who parked his Ford Explorer car on top of the 3rd Mainland bridge and plunged into the lagoon. Picture of the vehicle with plate number APP 190 CE went viral on social media yesterday. Read more
Bank worker hacks into customers’ accounts, transfers N3m (Punch)
A worker with a bank in Lagos State, identified only as Bunmi, has been declared wanted for allegedly defrauding some customers of the bank. Punch Metro learnt that Bunmi hacked into customers’ bank accounts and diverted over N3m into some private accounts. Our correspondent gathered that the fraud was uncovered after owners of the accounts complained about their disappearing funds, which made the bank to institute a probe. The bank management reportedly blocked the accounts into which the funds were transferred. Read more