THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE JUNE 7, 2018
Lagos disburses N280m to deceased workers’ families (Guardian)
The Lagos State government yesterday paid a total sum of N280 million to dependants of 110 of its deceased staff, who died in active service in 2017, across the state. Of the total beneficiaries, the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) got the highest number with 57 beneficiaries, while local government workers were 53 beneficiaries. During the presentation of the first phase of the 2018 insurance benefits in Alausa, Ikeja, in conjunction with LASACO Assurance Plc, the Commissioner for Local Government & Community Affairs, Muslim Folami, disclosed that the disbursement is part of the present administration’s commitment towards the well-being of the entire workforce, while serving and also paying necessary dues to their families after their demise. Read more
Ambode seeks job creation through tourism (Punch)
The Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, has said the state will explore tourism to improve job opportunities for residents of the state. The governor spoke on Wednesday while receiving the Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, and a delegation of eight ministers of tourism and representatives of 44 countries across Africa. The visit was part of activities for the just concluded 61st UNWTO/CAF meeting in Abuja. Ambode said investment in infrastructural renewal by his administration was a well-thought-out strategy to position Lagos as a tourism hub. Read more
Intrigues as Tinubu suppresses internal dissent in Lagos APC (Guardian)
Except the Fouad Oki-led faction that organised a parallel state congress decides to take legal redress in the court of law, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu side, whose executive was among those inaugurated by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja on Monday, has won the battle. Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State and National Leader of APC has once again proved his political strength over the opposition ‘within’ in terms of having the firm grip of Lagos politics like he did during the days of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) when he battled the leaders of Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, took over the party’s structure from them and transformed it into Action Congress (AC) in 2003, to sustain himself in power. Read more
We won’t demolish your homes; Lagos assures Igbo Elerin community (SUN)
Lagos State Government has said it has no intention of demolishing houses at Igbo Elerin, a community in Lagos-Badagry axis. After a meeting with officials of the state government, headed by the Deputy Governor, Idiat Adebule, last Thursday, at Alausa, Ikeja, one of the community leaders who was at the meeting, Chief Sikiru Aina, said they are delighted to hear from the state government that the idea of demolition and landlords becoming tenants to the Lagos State University (LASU), has finally been rested. Read more
Olawale seeks N12m to stand on his feet (Guardian)
Mr. Adisa Olawale, aged 59, had a Road Traffic Accident (R.T.A) in 2014, which led to his inability to walk and use his upper limbs. Since then, he has been confined to a wheelchair, while seeking medical intervention to remedy his condition, which has made him endure prolonged stay in the hospital and being attended to by various specialists. The doctor-in-charge of his treatment, Chief Medical Officer at Orile-Agege General Hospital, Agege, Lagos, Dr. Makanjuola Owolabi, has advised that Olawale be referred abroad where human resources and equipment are available on account of his non-flexible elbow joint plus wobbling gait and persistent chronic pelvic pain for further expert review. Read more
Lawmaker urges good projects in constituencies (Punch)
The member representing the Agege, Lagos Constituency in the House of Representatives, Taofeek Adaranijo, has urged public office holders to bring problem-solving and people-oriented programmes to their constituencies. The lawmaker stated this at the presentation of some classrooms to primary schools in the constituency. Adaranijo, a former Chairman of Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area, said the classrooms were part of his 2016 and 2017 constituency projects.The lawmaker inaugurated a block of three classrooms at Moses Orimolade Primary Schools, Orile Agege. He also inaugurated another block of three classrooms at Anwar-ul-Islam Primary School, Dopemu, Agege. Read more
Ambode pledges road networks to link Lagos to neighbouring states (Guardian)
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Wednesday reiterated that his administration was committed to making the state economically viable by connecting roads in Ikorodu and Epe to the neighbouring states. Ambode also said that the present administration would link Mile 2 to Badagry, Seme border in Nigeria and with Nigeria’s neighbouring countries.The governor said this while addressing some citizens of the state after he had inspected the 7.5 kilometre Agric-Owutu -Ishawo Road project in Ikorodu area of the state. Read more
Agents accuse Lagos police of interfering with cleared cargoes (Punch)
The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents has accused the Maritime Police, Moloney Division, of interfering with cargoes that have been duly cleared from the ports. Members of the association stated this on a visit to the office of the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Ms. Hadiza Usman. According to a statement issued by the association, the aim of the visit was to bring to the notice of the NPA boss some of the challenges faced by its members in the course of carrying out their businesses at the ports, and seek her support in tackling them. Read more
EKEDC to build substation in Surulere (Punch)
The Eko Electricity Distribution Company has announced plans to build a new distribution injection substation of 2×2.5MVA bulk transformer capacity in Surulere, Lagos. The company’s General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr. Godwin Idemudia, said in a statement that the substation would boost power supply to Surulere and its environs. According to him, the site for the project, at Mechanic Village, off Randle Avenue, was donated to the firm by the Lagos State Government through its Ministry of Transport. Read more
Idris: Stunting rate in Lagos is 11%, Underweight 14.5% (ThisDay)
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, has revealed that stunting rate among children in the state is at 11 per cent, while that of other parts of the country have an average of 10.8 per cent. He said the underweight rate is at 14.5 per cent for the state while the statistics show an average of 31.5 per cent in other parts of Nigeria. Stating this during the commemoration of the 2018 World Milk Day, organised by Dano Milk in Lagos recently, he said more efforts should be invested to improve the poor nutritional indicators of children in Lagos State and other parts of the country. Read more
Digital marketing experts to train professionals in Lagos (Guardian)
The Algorhythm Academy, a digital marketing institution, will hold a 13-week training in Lagos from June 16 to September 15, 20I8 between 10:00 am and to 5:00 pm daily.It targets digital marketing professionals, marketing and sales professionals, business owners, entrepreneurs, graduates and undergraduates, creative and art directors, content creators, graphic artists, IT users, human resources and finance personnel. The sessions will empower participants with modern skills to connect with customers through social media, display advertising and e-commerce.Facilitators are drawn from the biggest agencies and brands in the country including Head, Design, Content & Digital, Heritage Bank Plc, Chubike Agu, Senior Manager, Commercial & Operations, MTN Group, WECA, Franca Ebojoh and Group Director Content, Synergy & Innovation, Verdant Zeal Group, Dipo Adesida. Read more
Unilever Nigeria Celebrates Students in Lagos Community (ThisDay)
In demonstration of its commitment to the bright future of Nigeria’s children, Unilever Nigeria recently organised a special event to celebrate children in Makoko community, Lagos; as part of its activities to commemorate the 2018 Children’s Day celebration. The event held at Ken Ade Private School, Makoko, had children from other schools in the community in attendance. With over 500 children in attendance, it was a good opportunity for Unilever to emphasise the importance of good health and wellbeing through its message of oral hygiene. The children, according to a release, were told that oral health impacts significantly on the entire human body. This makes it important for everyone, especially children to take proper care of their mouth by brushing twice daily. Read more
Council boss plans ‘New Ajegunle’ devoid of drug abuse, crime (SUN)
Chairman of Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area, Fatai Ayeola, has promised a new Ajegunle, a new phase that would bring an end to poor healthcare and illiteracy. He is pledging a rebranded Ajegunle devoid of crime and drug abuse, making it the pride of Lagos. Speaking at the official briefing of the New Ajegunle project at the council secretariat, Ayeola said the “See Something, Say Something” initiative of the police and local government was has helped reduce crime and drug abuse; he called on parents to be proactive in bringing up their children. Ayeola said the fight against drug abuse and crime was top in the New Ajegunle agenda. Read more
Data Science Nigeria opens 1st Artificial Intelligence Hub in Unilag (Guardian)
Data Science Nigeria (DSN) will unveil the phase 1 of its Data Science Community Centre and Artificial Intelligence Hub for cross-industry and academic research, on the campus of the University of Lagos. The Hub will officially be launched on Friday, the 8th of June, at 11 a.m. on the university campus with the Vice Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe and Dr. Uyi Stewart, Director, Global Development Strategy, Data & Analytics, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, USA, in attendance. This is in furtherance of DSN’s drive for accelerated applications of artificial intelligence to solve social and business problems through a strategic partnership between the academic community, industry, and local and international technology hubs similar to the highly successful Stanford University-Silicon Valley model. Read more
Visionscape sensitises community members on Plastic Pollution (ThisDay)
International environmental utility firm, Visionscape Sanitation Solutions, has reiterated its commitment to the fight against plastic pollution, following a community sensitisation engagement event organised to mark the United Nation’s 2018 World Environment Day, in partnership with a local cement manufacturer. The 2018 theme – Beat Plastic Pollution – led the programme, which was held in Lagos Island West Local Community Development Area (LCDA), Lagos State. Participants consisted of market leaders, representatives of government agencies, key environmental players in the sector. “Curbing plastic pollution is a collective effort. There is something we can all do, and it will be to the benefit of each one of us,” said Shola Taiwo, Operations Manager, Visionscape Sanitation Solutions. Read more
Church liable for injury sustained by invitees at crusade venue —Court (Punch)
Miss Tamara Egbedi on January 22, 2010 attended Lagos-based The Chapel of Liberty’s crusade to seek God’s favour in the new year only to be rushed away from the venue at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos State, after sustaining injuries that would later cost her about N2.4m to treat. She was said to have fallen headlong into an uncovered concrete gutter shortly after arriving at the venue at about some minutes past 9pm on the fateful day. “The vigil was tagged or titled, ‘Begin the year with power at a night of anointing for evidence’,” Justice Samuel Candide-Johnson of the Family and Probate Division of the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja, had noted in his judgment handed down in April this year against the organisers of the religious event. Read more
Policemen attack London returnee for wrong dressing, demand N100,000 (Punch)
A London returnee, Yewande Abiodun, has accused some operatives of the Anti-Robbery Squad attached to the Adekunle Police Station of demanding N100,000 from her for alleged indecent dressing. Punch Metro learnt that Abiodun, who came into the country on Sunday, went out with a friend on Tuesday when the Uber car they were in was flagged down by the policemen at the Akowonjo area of Lagos State. Our correspondent was told that the cops asked the ladies to come down from the car and accused them of indecent dressing. Read more
Why I poured hot water on my husband, woman tells police (Guardian)
A mother of four, Joy Akachi, has been arrested for allegedly pouring hot water on her husband at the Ijesha area of Lagos State. The husband, Ibe Akachi, is battling for survival in a private hospital in Lagos. Joy, who was paraded yesterday by the Lagos Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, told journalists that she did it on self-defence. She said: “Akachi is really not my husband because he has not paid my bride price. Although I have four children for him, but in my tradition he is not yet my husband probably that was why he was beating me at any slightest provocation. He is not a caring husband, as he was not providing food for his family so I over work myself trying to provide for my children. Read more
Ambode’s endorsement of sports academy thrills Yobo (Guardian)
Former Captain of the Super Eagles, Joseph Yobo is excited by the endorsement given to his pet project, The Joseph Yobo Sports Academy by the Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode. Last Wednesday, the former Everton FC defender was guest of the Governor at his Alausa office in Ikeja where they discussed youth and sports development in the state and Nigeria. According to Yobo, Ambode welcomed the idea of the academy and endorsed the project, which the governor described as a meaningful venture that the state is proud to be associated with. “Governor Ambode has shown commitment to empowering the citizens of Lagos and recognises the role of sports beyond its significant ability to boost the economy, but the ability to harness the potential and overall development of the youths,” stressed Yobo.Yobo, who led Nigeria to the gold medal at the AFCON 2013 in South Africa before calling it quit with international duty, said his academy was modeled on the belief that football and academic pursuits are supposed to go hand-in-hand.” Read more