THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE APRIL 17, 2018
Lagos has the potential to become Africa’s tourism hub, says Lai Mohammed (Guardian)
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has reiterated that Lagos State has the potential to become Africa’s tourism hub.According to the minister, the Federal Government will support it in developing the sector. The minister said this on Monday in Lagos, at the Lagos Tourism Summit with the theme; “Destination Lagos: Towards a Sustainable Tourism Drive’’.Mohammed commended Gov. Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos for his interest in the tourism and creative sectors of the economy; both at the state and national level. The minister said the Federal Government had identified the tourism and creative sectors as alternative to oil, adding that his ministry was working toward developing the industry. Read more
Heavy security in Lagos as police take over Ojota Park (SUN)
There is currently great apprehension in Lagos, on Tuesday morning, as heavily-armed police operatives were mobilised and stationed around Ojota motor park in the metropolis. The stern-looking policemen, were conveyed in about 15 Hilux patrol vehicles, parked at the entrance of the part while passersby and motorists either made a U-turn from their point of departure or had to run holding their hands up. Read more
N18bn mall project unveiled in Badagry (Vanguard)
The foundation stone of the multi-billion Naira Oba Akran International Shopping Mall has been laid at the Cemetery Road in Badagry Local Government of Lagos State. The 93 acres proposed site was unveiled by Hon. Setonji David, who represented the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Mudashiru Obasa. Speaking at the occasion, Mr. K.O. Okorafor, the Chief Executive Officer of Palmnto Nigeria Limited, managers of the shopping mall, informed that it was expected upon completion to attract marketers and traders from West Africa who before this time have had to go as far as Aba, Onitsha and other distant places to make their purchases. He noted that the mall would open up Badagry and neighbouring hinterland, and in the process creates new opportunities for indigenes. Read more
Tourism contributed N800bn to Lagos GDP in 2017 – Ambode (SUN)
Lagos Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has disclosed that the state’s tourism sector contributed about $2.2 billion (N800 billion) to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2017. With the infrastructure and resources, the state is currently deploying in the sector, the governor projected that the figure would double or triple in the next five years. He spoke during the Lagos Tourism Summit with the theme: ‘Destination Lagos; Towards a sustainable tourism driven economy,’ at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island. Read more
Lagos building infrastructure to promote tourism, says Ambode (Nation)
Lagos State is investing huge resources to build an enduring infrastructure to ensure its tourism potential is harnessed for economic growth, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said yesterday. The governor spoke at the Lagos Tourism Summit with the theme: ‘Destination Lagos: Towards a sustainable tourism-driven economy’, at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. He said the plans, concepts and executions of his administration were deliberate and well-thought out to make the state culturally attractive and artistically functional. “As a government, we are conscious of the fact that infrastructure, security, stability and partnership with all stakeholders are fundamental ingredients for tourism development. We have channeled a lot of resources into creating an enduring infrastructural architecture for the business of tourism to thrive,” he said. Read more
AfDB to fund private health care in Lagos with $20m (Punch)
The African Development Bank says its board has approved the support of private health care system in Lagos, Nigeria with a loan of $20m. A statement issued by the bank in Abuja on Monday said the fund would help Santa Clara Medical Limited to finance the development of a hospital and referral clinics in Lagos. Explaining the reason for the funding, the bank said Nigeria’s largest health care market, Lagos, lacked an adequate supply of quality secondary and tertiary facilities, with only about 700 to 1,000 quality beds for a population of over 21 million people. Read more
Arco Group Plc inducted into the Nigerian Academy of Engineering (Vanguard)
Group Managing Director of Arco Group Plc, an indigenous oil and gas company, Mr. Alfred Okoigun has been honoured with the Fellowship of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering. The event held in Lagos, last weekend, was preceded by a lecture titled Engineering innovation and last mile development; towards a synergy between investors and research, delivered by a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe. Speaking at the event, the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru stated that the honour bestowed on Okoigun was well deserved. He said, “How else do we honour this Nigerian who has migrated his company from that run by himself to a group of companies run by competent and tested professionals and who has on his payroll over 400 indigenous employees who deliver outstanding service operating from different offices in Lagos, Warri, Port Harcourt and London. Read more
Customs rakes in N1.6 billion in Lagos, Ogun operations (Guardian)
The Federal Operations Unit (FoU) of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted contrabands with duty paid value of about N1.6 billion in just one month through its anti-smuggling enforcements in Lagos and Ogun states. The seized contrabands include 64 exotic vehicles, 6003 bags of foreign parboiled rice (equivalent to 10 trailers), 963 cartons of frozen poultry products, 431 jerrycans of vegetable oil, 163 bales of used clothing, 569 pieces of used tyres, 69 bags of sugar and four containers, among others. Some of the detained vehicles are: One Toyota Landcruiser (2018); one Escalade Cardilac (2017); one Range Rover (2014); three Toyota Camry (2009, 2010 and 2017 models); one Toyota Rav4; one Toyota Highlander (2014); one Honda CRV and Accord; one BMW Salon; one Toyota Sienna; and one Hyundai, among others. Read more
Oshodi-Apapa road gridlock to dominate Lagos town hall talks (Vanguard)
The intractable gridlock on Oshodi Apapa Expressway and Apapa-Ijora road will dominate the second quarter 2018 Town Hall Meeting, today in Apapa Amusement Park, Lagos State between Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos and residents as well as other stakeholders. The gridlock which has continued to cause untold hardship on residents, business owners, workers, motorists and other stakeholders has so far defiled all solutions as truck drivers continue to lock down Apapa and its environs crippling commercial and other activities. Read more
Court restrains Lagos, Ogun, security agencies from obstructing lottery operations (Guardian)
A Federal High Court, Lagos has restrained Lagos and Ogun state governments from disrupting the business of lottery companies for allegedly operating without the states’ licences. Justice Mohammed Idris held that it would be illegal to shut down lottery businesses on the basis that they have not obtained additional licenses having been earlier licenced by the Federal Government. He restrained the Inspector General of Police, commissioners of Police in Lagos and Ogun, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) from arresting lottery operators or sealing up their offices on that basis. Read more
Policeman beaten comatose for shooting man in Lagos (Vanguard)
A police officer was weekend beaten to a state of coma by a mob , after he shot a man in the head, during an altercation at Alapere, Mile 12 area of Lagos. As at yesterday, Vanguard reliably gathered that the cop, Opawoye Adetunji, a Superintendent of Police and the Divisional Crime Officer at the Shagamu Road Police division in Lagos, was yet to be out of coma. His victim, whose identity was yet to be ascertained as at time of writing this report, was also unconscious at an undisclosed hospital where doctors are said to be battling to save his life. Read more
Autopsy reveals how Nigerian singer allegedly killed by Danish husband died (PremiumTimes)
The Police Command in Lagos State on Monday said that the autopsy report on a Nigerian artiste, Zainab Nielsen, revealed that she died from trauma suffered as a result of the impact on her head. Premium Times reported how Zainab and her four-year-old daughter, Petral, were found dead on April 5 at their Banana Island resident, Ikoyi, where she resided with her husband, Peter Nielsen. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Edgal Imohimi, said the forensic report revealed that there were blood stains from the couples’ bedroom to the kitchen. Read more
84 die, N12.8bn properties destroyed in Lagos fire disasters (Vanguard)
Lagos State Government has said that no fewer than 84 persons were burnt to death and property worth N12.8 billion destroyed in the state in the last one year. Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr. Oluseye Oladejo, Monday, gave the statistics while briefing newsmen on the achievements recorded by the ministry between May, 2017 and April 2018. According to him, a total of 333 victims were rescued while the agency recorded 202 rescue calls and 83 false calls. He said: “84 were also recovered dead. Despite the sizeable number of incidents recorded the state government was able to respond promptly to emergencies thereby saving lots of lives and properties. Read more
Police arrest fake Doctor, 2 Kidnap Suspects in Lagos (Independent)
Two suspects who belonged to a six-man kidnap gang have been arrested for allegedly masterminding the kidnap of one Alvin Onuoha in Ajah, Lagos and demanding $30,000 as ransom for the release of the victim. The suspects, Eze Douglas and Vincent Uchenna who had confessed to be involved in cybercrimes (also known as Yahoo Boys) were paraded at the Lagos State Police Command in Ikeja on Monday by the Commissioner of Police, CP Edgal Imohimi. The command also arrested one Abdulrahman Mohammed on allegation that he impersonates as a medical doctor. Read more
Aiteo takes over Nembe City FC sponsorship (DailyTrust)
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), oil exploration company and the lead sponsor of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Aiteo has undertake to sponsor Nembe City FC playing in the Nigeria Nationwide 1 league.
It was gathered that part of the special concession the company reached with the Nembe community in Bayelsa State include renaming of the team Aiteo-Nembe City FC and purchasing a coaster bus for the team. Other agreement reached with the community is to give the team a lump-sum determined amount to register the team for the Nationwide League and also to pay the players and coaching crew as well as to provide Aiteo branded jersey (two sets for both home and away) and other accessories. Read more
Green House wins Eagles flight inter-house sport (Guardian)
Green House has won the 2018 inter-house sports competition organised by Eaglesflight Nursery and Primary School located at Diamond Estate, Isheri-Olofin, Lagos State. During the competition, which featured march past, toddlers, nursery, lower nursery, upper nursery and parents’ events, Green House came first in overall, Yellow House took the second position, while Blue House placed third. Speaking at the competition, Director of the school, Dr. (Mrs.) Mojisola Olutimilehin said the role of sports activities in developing the wholesome child should not be underestimated, stating that sports, apart from developing a competitive spirit in children, releases energy and joy into the school environment, which fosters friendship among children of diverse natures, characters and backgrounds. Read more
GOtv boxing winner targets world title (Punch)
Waidi ‘Skoro’ Usman, the new African Boxing Union featherweight champion, says he will be glad to take a shot at the world title if the opportunity comes, the News Agency of Nigeria reports. Skoro outpunched Michael ‘Shaka’ Nyawade of Kenya through a technical knockout in the 11th round of their 12-round title fight to become the ABU featherweight champion. Skoro achieved this feat at the GOtv Boxing Night 14 at the National Stadium, Lagos, on Saturday. He said, “To be a champion is not an easy task because it comes with so much responsibility, and I have learnt a lot from this victory, especially in the areas of preparations. Read more