THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE APRIL 12, 2018
Lagos assembly moves to amend state pension law (Punch)
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Wednesday said it had the intention of adding value to pension administration in the state. The Speaker, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa, disclosed this at a Public Hearing on a Bill for a Law to Amend the Lagos State Pension Reform Law 2007 in Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the proposed amendments affect is targeted at 22 sections of the 77-section law. The speaker, who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, said that the assembly was determined to make the state pension scheme better. “We will ensure that enough funds are included in the budget to ensure that we have enough funds to cater for pensioners,’’ Obasa said. Read more
Lagos targets 2m Facebook followers on policies (Nation)
Lagos State Government said it is working out strategies for robust engagement with the media for better understanding of the state’s programmes and policies. The state intends to reach out to at least two million followers on Facebook before end of the year on its policies. The policies, it said, aimed at growing the economy and fast-tracking development across the state. Commissioner for Information and Strategy Kehinde Bamigbetan stated this at a briefing to mark the third anniversary of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration. Read more
Lagos monarch rallies support for culture (Nation)
The Oba of Ikateland, Oba Saheed Demola Elegushi has urged Nigerians not to jettison their tradition and culture for their religious beliefs. He spoke at the celebration of Elegba Day in Ikate-Elegushi in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos. Oba Elegushi said tradition and religion should not be mixed saying “the fact that I am a Muslim does not mean I should not perform my tradition” adding that there is no conflict between the two. He said the Jews and the Brazilians have their traditions which they cherish without hindering their biblical faith. Read more
LASG urges good attitude in heath sector (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has urged health workers in its employ to shun poor attitude to work. The government, who also decried the spate of complaints by patients in government’s hospitals, warned that it would no longer be business as usual. The Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, stated this on Wednesday in Ikeja at the inauguration of service charter in three additional health facilities in the state. Idris said, “Quality health delivery must be at the forefront of all processes and services. With this inauguration, we have a huge responsibility that cannot be taken lightly.” Read more
‘Why Land Use Decree must be expunged’ (Nation)
Forty years after the promulgation of the Land Use Decree – Decree 6 of 1978 by the retired General Olusegun Obasanjo’s military regime, a stakeholder in building construction has urged the National Assembly to, as a matter of urgency, expunge the law from the Constitution. The decree, which was promulgated on March 29, 1978, was to become part of the Constitution barely a year later, when the military handed over to the civilian government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari. It then became an Act. A Principal Partner in a firm of estate surveyors and valuers, Kola Akomolede and Co, Chief Kola Akomolede, in a position paper on the need for the law to be expunged, contended that a law made 40 years ago, vesting all land in a state in the “Military Governor” needed to be amended to read “Governor” since the country is no longer under military rule. Read more
Shodex Gardens’ chief holds colloquium, street cleaning (Nation)
An evironmentalist and Chairman of Shodex Gardens Mr. Olusola Adekoya, has led his workers and family members to a three-day-cleaning exercise of some Lagos streets. He also hosted children from various schools in Lagos, landscapers, environmentalists and climate change experts to a botanical talk at a colloquium on greenery, climate change, arts and life. The colloquim and the street cleaning were part of activities to mark his 56th birthday. The colloquium, themed: “Greening: A major solution to climate change”, was attended by pupils from secondary and tertiary institutions in Lagos and Ogun states; the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) officials, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation and Nigeria Society for Environmental Conservation members. Read more
Lagos, Foundation partner on childhood cancer (Guardian)
The Lagos State Ministry of Health (LSMH) is set to partner with The Dorcas Cancer Foundation (TDCF) in its fight against childhood cancer. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), globally, there are 160,000 new cases of cancer every year and 90,000 deaths recorded yearly for children under the age of 15, as Nigeria records an estimate of about 30,000 children diagnosed with cancer yearly. The Founder, TDCF, Dr. Adedayo Joseph, told journalists that with the increase in childhood cancer and the lack of functional health systems in the country, as well as lack of finances to afford treatment, the foundation is partnering with the state government to help reduce the scourge of cancer by providing the necessary assistance to cancer patients. Read more
We shall not dignify ASUU with response, says LASU management (Nation)
The management of Lagos State University (LASU) has said it will not join issues with the university chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over a matter that is already in court. It denied a rumour that it was trying to frustrate a case brought against it to favour Dr. Tajudeen Abanikanda, a lecturer in the Department of Fishery. The lecturer was demoted from professor to senior lecturer by the university governing council, on the grounds that his (Abanikanda’s) appointment did not follow due process. The Vice Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Lanre Adigun Faghohun, addressed reporters yesterday during a stakeholders’ meeting held on the university premises. Read more
Students hail Ambode on education, infrastructure (Punch)
Some indigenous students of Lagos State in tertiary institutions across the country on Wednesday staged a solidarity walk to the Lagos House, Ikeja, in support of a second term bid for Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. The students, under the auspices of the National Union of Lagos State Students (NULASS), said their support was based on the laudable initiatives of the governor in education sector, as well as massive infrastructural projects across the state. Read more
Akiolu condemns power equipment vandalism, theft (Nation)
The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu has condemned vandalism and theft of power equipment by those he described as criminal elements within the society. Speaking during a visit to his palace by the management of Eko Electricity Distribution Company, led by the company’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Adeoye Fadeyibi, Oba Akiolu said perpetrators of vandalism and theft of power equipment are enemies of the society and all well-meaning people should join hands to stop them. Read more
Bosch Power opens experience centre in Lagos (Punch)
Bosch Power Tools Nigeria has announced the launch of the first Power Tools experience centre in sub-Saharan Africa, located in Lagos. In partnership with Amicable Concerns Limited, the experience centre focuses on delivering the latest Bosch Power Tool innovations to professionals and tradesmen, according to a statement from the company. It said the centre would meet the needs of professional users in the construction space as well as tradesmen, artisans and craftsmen assisting these users to meet the demands of the growing Nigerian economy, especially in the area of infrastructural development. Read more
Lagos council names legislative building after speaker (Nation)
The Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State has named its Legislative Building after House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa. Its chairman Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi dropped the hint yesterday while presenting of council’s budget in the building. Egunjobi explained that the gesture was in appreciation of the speaker’s remarkable representation of the Agege community in the Assembly. He said: “There’s no doubt that Obasa has contributed immensely to the development and growth of this great community. He has proven to be a role model for youths who want to achieve greater things in life. Read more
FG Approves N47 for Reconsrtuction of Aba-Port Harcourt, Laos-Ota Roads, Others (ThisDay)
The federal government Wednesday in Abuja approved contracts for three road projects at the total rate of N47 billion including the redesign and reconstruction of Aba-Port Harcourt road. Briefing journalists at the end of seven-hour Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in the State House presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, said the contract for Aba-Port Harcourt road portion of the Enugu – Port Harcourt road would cost N6.3 billion. Read more
Abia delegation to understudy Lagos housing policy (Nation)
A delegation of the Abia State Ministry of Housing, has visited the Lagos State Ministry of Housing to understudy its housing policy. The delegation was led by the Abia State Commissioner for Housing, Mr. James Okpara. Addressing his Lagos counterpart, Okpara, who put the housing deficit figure of the state at about 1.5 million units, said upon his assumption of office last year, he found that the state had no policy on housing. This, he said, necessitated the visit to Lagos to enable them understudy the system of the “Centre of Excellence” with a view to replicating the various housing projects of the Lagos State government and policy in Abia State. Read more
Don’t obstruct Lottery Operations in Lagos, Ogun, Court Restrains Police, DSS, EFCC (ThisDay)
Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos has restrained Lagos and Ogun State governments from disrupting the business of lottery companies for allegedly operating without the states’ licences. The judge gave the order following a suit filed by Western Lotto Nigeria Ltd and Wesco Pools & Lottery Ltd, praying the court to determine whether in view of subsisting and binding judgments of the Federal High Court, the defendants can close down their businesses for not obtaining licenses from the states despite having been granted nationwide permits/licences by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission. Read more
‘Lagos Bridal Fashion Week’ Accreditation Is Now Open (Guardian)
Lagos Bridal Fashion Week (LBFW) announces the opening of the online accreditation process for the coverage of Nigeria’s first Bridal Fashion Week, scheduled to hold from 4th – 6th May 2018 at Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos from 10 am – 10 pm daily. We would like to invite members of the Press, Bloggers and Photographers, to join us during Lagos Bridal Fashion Week. Access to the show will be free of charge, and press attendees will be entitled to a number of exclusive benefits. Read more
Truck drivers dare Navy, LASG: Lock down Oshodi/Apapa Expressway (Vanguard)
In an apparent defiance to the ultimatum given by the Nigerian Navy to truck drivers to vacate Lagos roads and bridges, following the perennial gridlock , particularly along the Apapa/Oshodi expressway, truck drivers locked down the ever-busy expressway throughout yesterday. The traffic situation which worsened last week, has taken an alarming dimension since Monday, as truck drivers virtually took over both the major expressway and service lanes on both sides. Read more
Police uncover Illegal Malt, Alcohol Distillery in Lagos, Arrest 5 (ThisDay)
The Lagos State Police Command wednesday uncovered an illegal distillery where fake malt drinks, alcoholic stout drinks and ethanol are produced in large quantities at Igba Afa, Igbogbo Bayeku area of Ikorodu. At the illegal factory were barrels of malt, ethanol and stout produced in unhygienic conditions and bottled as the real deal to be sold to unsuspecting consumers. Although five suspects have been arrested, the police said they are on the look out for other members of the syndicate. The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, who stormed the factory with armed personnel, attributed the success of the raid to effective community policing. Read more
Fire wreaks havoc in Amuwo Odofin (SUN)
An early morning fire has consumed a three-storey building located at the Monkey Village area of Amuwo Odofin, Lagos State. No life was lost in the inferno which witnesses say started from a warehouse at the building fully stocked with chemicals. Daily Sun learnt that some residents of the area noticed smoke emitting from the warehouse which was locked in the early hours of Wednesday, but nobody thought it was something serious until the fire started. Read more
Danish remanded for ‘murder of Nigerian singer wife, daughter’ (Nation)
A Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos yesterday remanded a Danish citizen, Peter Nielsen, suspected of killing his wife, Zainab Nielsen, and their three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Petra. Chief Magistrate Kikelomo Ayeye remanded Nielsen, 53, in Ikoyi Prison, following an application by the police. Nielsen was docked on a two-count charge of unlawful killing. The charge, marked B/87/2018, was read to the defendant in English. It reads: “That you Peter Nielsen, male, on April 5 at Block 4, Flat 17, Bella Vista Tower, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos, did unlawfully kill your wife, one Zainab Nielsen, 37. That you Peter Nielsen on April 5 did unlawfully kill your daughter, Petra Nielsen, aged three- and-a-half years” Read more
Bolanle Ambode Women Championship debut (Vanguard)
All is set for the inaugural Bolanle Ambode female amateur football competition organised in honour of the wife of the governor of Lagos state. The grassroots tournament put together by the office of the senior special assistant to the governor on sports was conceived to give talented girls opportunity to showcase their skills and be discovered. Senior special assistant to the governor on sports, Adeyinka Adeboye said the grassroots competition will leverage on the achievements of sports development in Lagos state. Read more
150 children arrive in Lagos for Sunfit Ex-Pros National Squash Championship (Guardian)
Over 150 children from across the country are expected in Lagos yesterday to take part in the maiden Sunfit-sponsored Ex-Pros National Squash Championship for boys and girls within the age range of 13 and 16. According the organisers of the tournament slated to begin today and end on Saturday at Sunfit Hotel, Amuwo Odofin Lagos, participants would be rewarded with certificate and squash kits. Speaking ahead of the event yesterday, the tournament director, who is also the chairman of Bayelsa Sports Council, Wilson Egberipou said the championship would help to discover young talents spread across the country. Read more