THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE JUNE 28, 2018
Lagos, not smart city yet, says Oyebode (Punch)
A professor of International Law, Akin Oyebode, has said Lagos is far from being a smart city, adding that the standards of living in the 21st century must be met first. Oyebode said this on Wednesday at the 2018 Public Lecture and Book Presentation of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos State Information Chapel, Agidingbi, Ikeja. Speaking on the theme, “Communicating Development in an Emerging Smart City,” Oyebode noted that although the state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, had strived to make Lagos a smart city, many factors still had to be put in place to attain the status. He said, “Having lived and studied in Kiev, Boston and Toronto, I believe that I am in a position to evaluate the ongoing efforts toward the realisation of this laudable intention. Read more
Lagos to students: Face your studies, shun vices (Tribune)
The Lagos State government has urged students especially at the primary and secondary school levels across the state to give adequate attention to their studies and also shun all form of vices. The state’s Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule, gave the advice on Wednesday, at the grand finale of the 2018 Lagos Schools Quiz competition, where the Lagos State Senior Model College, Badagry; Idimu Junior High School, Alimosho, and the Military Nursery and Primary School, Yaba, took the first position at the senior, junior secondary, as well as primary school categories, respectively. The deputy governor, who at the event, announced a total cash reward, of N2.4 million to be shared equally among the 24 students who made it to the final and another N1.65 million to be shared among their schools according to their levels with the senior schools took N250, 000 each, saying the money was to encourage more healthy rivalries among the students and schools. Read more
ISIS: Immigration doubles passengers’ screening at Lagos airport (DailyTrust)
Following threat by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) to attack commercial flights which has triggered watertight security at airports, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has strengthened screening of in-bound and out-bound passengers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. This follows the directive of the Comptroller-General of Immigration (CGI) Muhammed Babandede. Babandede, Daily Trust learnt, had given the airport command a marching order to double screening of passengers to ensure there is no breach of security. “Screening of passengers especially those coming in and the ones going out is a veritable counter-terrorism strategy and the Immigration High Command has given the Lagos airport command a marching order to redouble its activities”, said a source. Read more
Court orders forfeiture of Diezani’s N325.4m land (Nation)
A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government a parcel of land in Lekki, Lagos State, linked to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke. Justice Babs Kuewumi made the order following an ex-parte application by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Mr. Anslem Ozioko. Joined as defendants in the ex-parte applications were Diezani, one Mr. Donald Amamgbo and a firm, Mez Group LLC. The land, valued at N325.4 million, is designated as Plot 13, Block II, Oniru Chieftaincy Private Family Estate. Ozioko told the judge that the land was suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of crime. Read more
Lagos stresses importance of school’s debate (Tribune)
Lagos State government has emphasised the importance of schools debate, saying it in no small measure encourages healthy competition, boosts students’ knowledge, spoken ability and vocabulary, among others. The Permanent Secretary of the state’s Ministry of Education, Mrs. Adebunmi Adekanye, made this observation at a debate topic draw among the school representatives for this year’s Lagos Schools Debate, held last week. A total of 60 students made the list for elimination stage of the competition from among numerous others from both private and public primary and secondary schools across the state that entered for the competition at the beginning. Read more
Lagos launches reading initiative, names ambassadors (Nation)
Bayode Treasures-Olawunmi, who read 23 books aloud in 122 hours to challenge the Guinness World Record for the Longest Marathon Reading Aloud (113 hours) and TV presenter, Kunle Kasumu, have been named ambassadors to drive a reading initiative of the Lagos State government tagged, LagosReads. Launching the initiative at the Herbert Macaulay Library, Yaba last Friday, the Special Adviser to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Education, Mr Obafela Bank-Olemoh, said the duo would drive school tours and other initiatives of the programme to encourage Lagosians, both young and old, to read. He said through LagosReads, the government hopes to ignite in residents a passion for reading thereby promoting a knowledgeable society. Read more
Winners emerge in CodeLagos Competition (Independent)
As the Lagos State Code Week Competition enters the third day, winners have emerged at district four centre of the state. The district four, which has schools from Surulere, Apapa and Lagos Mainland competing, saw pupils from Longford International School (LIS) emerging victorious at the senior and junior secondary categories. While the junior pupils won in scratch, the senior pupils defeated their colleagues from other schools in python programming. In the competition, three public schools and five private schools keenly contested the junior category, while seven public schools and four private schools took part in the secondary level. Read more
Cameroon Airlines returns to Lagos-Douala route (Tribune)
Cameroon Airlines Corporation (Camair-Co) has resumed flight between Douala and Lagos after some years of absence from the route. At the welcoming ceremony at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, the Consul General of Cameroon in Lagos, Dr Ekorong A. Dong expressed delight to see Camair-Co back to the economic route of Douala-Lagos saying:“Today we are witnessing together a new benchmark, a new landmark between Nigeria and Cameroon.” The Consul General added that the presence of Camair-Co in Nigeria would further enhance the relationship between the two countries adding: “this will boost the trade, commercial and social-cultural events between our countries.” Read more
Lagos begins Medical Screening for Intending Pilgrims (Independent)
The Lagos State Government (LASG) has commenced medical screening for intending pilgrims for the 2018 Hajj. Mr Abdulrahman Ishola, the Secretary to the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, disclosed this on Wednesday in Lagos. Ishola said that the exercise would provide an opportunity to vaccinate the intending pilgrims against polio and yellow fever. He said the intending pilgrims would also be given accurate prescription after undergoing medical screening at designated hospitals. “This exercise which commenced on June 25 to end on July 2, will cover all the local government areas in the state. Read more
Lagos electricity consumers urge NASS to pass bill on estimated billing (Tribune)
Some electricity consumers in Lagos have urged the National Assembly to pass the bill criminalising estimated billing by Distribution Companies (DISCOs). They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Lagos on Wednesday that the issuance of estimated bills to unmetered customers was criminal. According to them, DISCOs are feeding fat on unmetered customers through estimated billing. Chief Ade-Owas Owabumuwa, the President General, Amuwo Odofin Landlords and Residents Association, Mile 2, Lagos said the NASS should as a matter of urgency pass a bill to curb the excesses of DISCOs. Read more
Residents panic as high tension cables droop on houses (Punch)
Some residents on Hassan Street, Ilasamaja, in the Oshodi Isolo area of Lagos State have raised the alarm over drooping high tension wires on the roofs of their houses. The residents said although only the neutral cable was resting on the roofs at the moment, any of the other cables could trigger off disaster at any time. They claimed that efforts to get officials of Ikeja Electric, the power distribution company in charge of the area, to avert the looming disaster had been abortive. A landlord on the street, Wasiu Bayioku, said the problem started after one of the poles on the street broke at the base. Read more
Ojuelegba Bridge of death: Container truck spreads sorrow on Lagos flyover (SUN)
On Tuesday, June 19, it was yet another tragedy on the popular Ojuelegba Bridge in Lagos. That evening, darkness descended on Lagos and the ever-boisterous Ojuelegba was gripped with its usual chaotic traffic, with people plying their trade amid the confusion. That was when a truck unleashed terror on the area, leaving in its wake death, injuries and agony. The truck, which was heading towards the Fadeyi end of the bridge, reportedly lost control, emptying its heavy contents that included logs and plywood on innocent motorists and pedestrians. Three people were killed instantly, with others sustaining varying degrees of injury. The fatalities would have been higher if not for proactive passersby that made spirited efforts to rescue those trapped under the debris. Incidents of container-laden trucks or other articulated vehicles crushing people to death on or underneath the Ojuelegba Bridge have increased over the years. Read more
LUTH detains baby, mother for four months over unpaid bills (Punch)
The husband of a patient at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba, Surulere, Mutiu Busari, has said his wife, Busayo, and their baby, Fikayo, have spent over four months in the hospital over unpaid medical bills. The 32-year-old lamented that his family owed LUTH about N387,200 after Busayo was delivered of Fikayo through a caesarian section. Mutiu said his wife went into labour on February 27, 2018, after she was referred to LUTH from the Gbagada General Hospital. “When we got to LUTH, we were told to do some tests and buy some drugs, which finished all my money. They did the CS the following day and our baby was safely delivered. My wife and baby were discharged on Saturday, March 17, and we were told to pay N61,000 for the drugs my family used from the pharmacy before they can give us the remaining bills. Read more
Lagos Police rescue kidnapped Toddler in Ogun, arrest suspect (ThisDay)
Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested Jumoke Adesida, 35, for allegedly kidnapping two years old Rokibat Raji in Jerry Farm area of Ikorodu, Lagos and took her to Ogun State. Police report revealed that on June 22, 2018, Adesida allegedly kidnapped the toddler after the mother, Mrs. Aminat Abidoye, left her in the care of her neighbours in her shop located at 12 Kazeem Adeboye street, Odogunyan at Ikorodu to buy some eggs. But upon her return, she realised that her daughter had disappeared. Abidoye narrated that: “I rushed to buy some eggs from the market to sell. So I left my daughter in the shop with my neighbours. When I returned, I noticed she was not around. My neighbours and I searched everywhere but all our efforts were futile. So, I reported to the police station at Shagamu road, Ikorodu.” Read more
Makeup Artist Steals Beauty Products from Supermarket in Lagos (Independent)
An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Wednesday sentenced a Make-up artist, Tunde Ebikeme, to community service, for stealing some beauty products worth N15, 000 from a supermarket. The convict, 24-year-old Ebikeme, was arraigned on a count charge of stealing, to which he pleaded guilty. The Magistrate, Mrs M. O. Ope-Agbe, who handed down the verdict, warned the convict never to involve himself in crime because next time, he would be sent to prison. She said that Ebikeme should sweep the court’s premises from the fourth floor to the ground floor. The magistrate added that the convict got only community service as punishment because he had a job which he should try to get better at. Read more
Command arrests labourer for defiling 5-year-old girl (Punch)
A labourer, Achibong Koko, has been arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly defiling a five-year-old girl. It was gathered that detectives arrested the suspect on Sunday, June 24, 2018, at his residence on Dansa Street, Abule-Oshun. During a press briefing on Wednesday, the state Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, said a medical test that was conducted on the victim showed her hymen was broken. He said, “Information was received by the Divisional Police Officer, Onireke division, that a five-year-old girl had been defiled. A team of detectives was mobilised to the area, where the suspect, Achibong Koko, was arrested. Read more
Lagos Police rescues 7 girls from Sex Trafficker, Hunts for Suspect (ThisDay)
The Lagos State Police has rescued seven girls at the Agofure park at Mile2 Lagos from a woman trafficker, who was possibly taking them across the border for prostitution and drug trafficking among other related crimes. According to the police during the parade of suspects at the Command Headquarters Ikeja, officers of Layeni Station Ojo-Road rescued the girls on arrival at the Agofure park on Friday June 22 this year. The State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, disclosed that a member of public had called to inform the police that some girls were seen at Agofure motor park, Mile 2 Lagos. Read more
3 motorcyclists shot dead in Oshodi clash (Guardian)
Three Okada riders were reportedly shot dead in a clash between officers of Lagos State Taskforce and Oju-Irin boys in Oshodi. But a task force spokesman Taofeek Adebayo told The Guardian said he was aware of the incident. He, however, claimed that men of the task force were not involved in the clash. Eyewitnesses insisted that the three unidentified victims were hit by stray bullets fired by the security agents who intended scaring off the area boys. It was gathered that a member of the Oju-Irin boys had a bet on Nigeria’s final Group D match against Argentina with a member of the task force. Nigeria, against the wish of the task force officer, lost the match and missed qualification to the round of 16 knockout stage of the competition. Read more
I enjoy Watching Football Matches at Viewing Centres — Lagos Sports Director (Independent)
In recognition of football as a binding force between class and creed, Babatunde Bank-Anthony, Director-General, Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), says he enjoys watching the World Cup matches at viewing centres to mix with fans. Bank-Anthony, who made the disclosure in an interview, said that he had yet to watch any of the ongoing FIFA World Cup matches at home. The sports-loving Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode originally ordered for the provision of six public viewing centres across Lagos States, but he has since made provisions for others after some calls. The centres are located at Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos Island; Abesan playground, Alimosho, Naval Yard playground, Ajegunle, Bishop Aggrey Youth Centre, Mushin and Epe Recreation Centre. Read more