THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE AUGUST 15, 2018
Lagos ranked world’s third worst city to live in (ThisDay)
Lagos State has been ranked the third worst city for humans to live in the world. according to the latest 2018 Global Liveability Index released by The Economist Intelligence Unit and World Bank. Lagos ranked 138 out of the 140 cities considered for the ranking. This, however, was a slight improvement from the 2017 ranking, where the country was ranked 139th out of 140 cities on the index. According to the latest ranking, Lagos only outperformed Dhaka in Bangladesh and Damascus in war-torn Syria. Out of an overall score of 100, Lagos was rated 38.5 points. Read more
Presidency: Buhari returns weekend (ThisDay)
The presidency Wednesday said President Muhammadu Buhari would return to the country at the weekend from his current 10-day working vacation in London. Making this disclosure while appearing on The Morning Show on ARISE TV, the president’s spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, emphasised that Buhari would unfailingly be back in the country “this weekend.” Adesina who said he freely communicates with the president despite being away, added that he could sometimes speak with him up to two or three times a day. The president embarked on vacation on August 3 after transmitting power to his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. Read more
Lagos All Progressives Congress opts for direct primary for 2019 elections (Guardian)
The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has affirmed the decision of the party to use direct primary for next year’s elections in the state. He said members would use their membership card or slip based on the party register to vote in the direct primary. Tinubu, who spoke at a special stakeholders’ meeting at the party’s secretariat in Agidingbi yesterday, said the party would soon commence registration of new members throughout the state. The party’s national leader, who commended the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, for his prompt intervention on national issues, berated former President Olusegun Obasanjo for unnecessarily criticising President Muhammadu Buhari. Read more
As Lagos Govt tackles Teachers’ Shortage (Independent)
Recently, it was reported that Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has approved the recruitment of additional 1200 teachers for the Junior and Senior Secondary Schools in the State. According to the Deputy Governor of the State, Mrs. Idiat Adebule who confirmed the development, the 1200 teachers were addition to the 1000 teachers which the Governor had approved for recruitment into Primary Schools in the State. We commend the Lagos state government for this development as it will further aid teaching in the state’s public schools. Only in 2016 the state reportedly recruited about 1,300 teachers into its public schools. Read more
Saraki calls for Independent Enquiry into DSS Siege (ThisDay)
Meanwhile, Saraki has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to institute an independent judicial panel of inquiry into last Tuesday’s invasion of the National Assembly by masked gunmen. In a tweet this morning on his personal @bukolasaraki handle, Saraki said, “The very serious questions about last Tuesday’s siege on the National Assembly can only be answered through a thorough and neutral investigation. “I call on Mr. President to immediately institute an independent judicial panel of inquiry to look into that assault on our democracy.” Read more
Inordinate Ambition responsible for Lagos PDP Crisis – Bode George (Independent)
The PDP recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with 38 other political parties. What will it gain from the coalition?
This nation must survive, I don’t want to be partisan now, I want to be factual. We want to have a government that will harness the resources of the country and can manage the resources of the country for the betterment of our people. So, if you look back even from 1960, have you ever heard of political parties with different ideologies? The parties’ ideologies are simply to the right, left, centre right and centre left. But, that is not our problem in Africa. Do you know where our problems lay? Read more
Only president can enlist more persons in amnesty programme, says Dokubo (Vanguard)
Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator, Amnesty Programme, Prof. Charles Dokubo, yesterday, said additional Niger Delta youths could only be enlisted into the programme by a presidential proclamation. He made the clarification in Abuja at a meeting with Agboola Ajayi, Deputy Governor of Ondo State. Ajayi, who was at the Amnesty Office to seek the inclusion of about 2,000 youths of Ondo State into the programme, explained that the youths who had been involved in various criminal acts including kidnapping, were peacefully disarmed over a year ago, following the intervention of Ag. President Yemi Osinbajo. Read more
3 Corps Members win NYSC Honours Awards in Lagos (Independent)
Three 2017 Batch A members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in Lagos State were announced as winners of the State Honours Awards for the batch. The recipients are Fatimah Bawa-Allah, a graduate of International Relations from the North American University, Houdegbe, Republic of Benin; Amadioh Chukwuka from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland and Dr. Ann Agbakoba from the University of Jos, Nigeria. Bawa-Allah was rewarded for providing classroom furniture worth several thousands of naira and renovation of classrooms at the Igbaja Girls High School, Surulere where she had her primary assignment. Read more
NAF conducts simulation exercise in Lagos (Vanguard)
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Tuesday in Lagos conducted a simulation exercise aimed at building capacity and enhancing professionalism in the service. Newsmen report that the exercise, code named: Ex-Omo Oloja, was flagged off by Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin. Speaking during the exercise, Olonisakin said the present administration made re-equipping and continuous training of the Armed Forces top priority to better cope with the country’s current security challenges. Read more
Awolowo: How we are implementing Zero Oil Policy (ThisDay)
The Director-General of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Segun Awolowo, has declared that the ambitious decision to achieve a zero oil policy economy is possible with support from stakeholders and states governments. Speaking yesterday on Arise Television Morning Show Programme, a sister broadcast arm of Thisday Newspapers, Awolowo said after addressing the National Economic Council (NEC) which is the highest economic advisory council in the country chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the federal government set up an export promotion committee called the National Export Promotion Committee to activate and work out the zero oil plan under the chairmanship of the Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar. Read more
Lagos urges compliance with physical planning laws (Independent)
Citing Land Use Act of 1978 and the physical planning law 2010, the Lagos State Government has called on all property owners and developers to ensure compliance with the physical planning laws in the state. Mr. Funmi Osifunmi, General Manager, Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), who lamented the attitude of some stakeholders to physical planning and development in the state, said the state would no longer fold its arms and watch residents and investors hurting the state’s physical development master’s plan. Read more
120 monarchs, Obasanjo to attend Olubadan’s birthday (Nation)
At least 120 traditional rulers from different parts of the country have reportedly signified interest to attend the 90th birthday of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji. The monarch will clock 90 on August 26 but a week of activities preceding the date has been drawn up. Prominent individuals, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), government functionaries and well-meaning individuals are also expected to honour the first-class monarch. The Chairman of the Planning Committee, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, spoke yesterday at a media briefing to announce activities for the celebration. Read more
What God will do in Lagos in Sept – Nonnie (Vanguard)
Nigerian fearless female pastor, Prophetess Nonnie Roberson has announced that on the 28-29 of Sept., 2018, Lagos will witness the largest gathering of women from all over the world in order to share in God’s glory. Announcing the 2018 edition of the Sisterhood Global event, the pastor of the New Wine Ministry and founder of Sisterhood Global said, God chose Lagos to touch women of this generation. Speaking on what God revealed to her on what will happen at the gathering, Nonnie said, ” I see breakthrough, I see women being set free from captivity. I see women being showered with the fruit of the womb. I see financial breakthrough, I see triumph. Read more
Lagos hit-and-run driver nabbed in Ghana (Nation)
A driver with King Solomon Chariots Transportation, Abuchi Okpara, who fled to Ghana after allegedly hitting Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) official, Obafemi Ogunmeru, has been arrested. The driver, who absconded after the August 7 accident at Igando in Lagos, was brought back from Ghana, by his boss, Johnson Ogbonnaya and handed over to the police last Friday and charged to court on Monday. Okpara knocked down Ogunmeru in Igando area of Alimosho while attempting to evade arrest after violating traffic rule. Read more
Murder: Court releases Lagos PDP chairman from Kirikiri prison (Vanguard)
A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, yesterday, released the embattled Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos State, Mr. Moshood Salvador, accused of murder, from prison custody. The PDP Chairman was set free after being incarcerated alongside 10 others over the alleged murder of the party’s local government Chairman in Apapa Local Government Area of the state, Adeniyi Aborishade. Other suspects include Kehinde Fasasi, Rotimi Kujore, Fatai Adele, Ismaila Abiola, Amos Fawole, Victoria Falowo, Mukaila Odukoya, Oropo Isaac, Mohammed Babangida and Ugochukwu Nwoke. Read more
Police arrest 2 suspected robbers in Lagos (Punch)
Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday said it had arrested two suspected criminals who terrorised and robbed motorists and pedestrans along Maza Maza/Mile 2 area. The command’s spokesman, Chief Superintendent of Police Chike Oti, said police undercover operatives deployed to the route arrested the suspects on Saturday. He said the two suspects had been on the command’s watch list for a long time. “They were arrested while robbing a lady identified simply as Oluwatosin around Mile 2. ”They had succeeded in dispossessing the victim of her phone and other valuables before they were arrested. Read more
Lagos secures 5 slots for National Youth Games (Guardian)
Team Lagos at the weekend picked five tickets for this year’s National Youth Games holding next month in Ilorin, Kwara State. At the Southwest zonal elimination competition held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the state acquired five team sports tickets that include handball (boys and girls), basketball (girls), football (boys) and beach volleyball (girls). The state was also adjudged to have the best youthful teams in hockey (boys), handball (boys and girls) and football (boys). Read more
Governor’s Tennis Cup Rebrands to Lagos Open (ThisDay)
After an interrupted 17 years of staging Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis tournament, the organisers, yesterday decided to transform the annual event into Lagos Open in order to give the event an elevated global status. The Chairman of Central Working Committee (CWC) of the tournament, Chief Pius Olu Akinyelure stated this at a press conference to herald this year’s edition of the competition which will hold from 29th September to 13th of October. He explained that the intention of the organisers was to move the tournament from Futures status to Challenger circuit which will enable higher profiled international players like Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, the Williams sisters (Serena and Venus) and Angela Keber to grace the annual tournament. Read more
FCMB, First Bank, Friesland, Leadway make Remita Cup semifinals in Lagos (Guardian)
The highly anticipated Remita Corporate Champions Cup 2018 (Remita Cup) kicked off at the weekend with FCMB, Friesland Campina, Leadway Assurance and First Bank making it through to the semifinals. The Remita Cup is an annual football tourney for career professionals across various industries, sponsored by leading fintech firm and owners of Remita, SystemSpecs, to promote healthy living, work-life balance and networking among corporate organisations. Setting the ball rolling at the Sports Pavilion in YabaTech, Lagos, were Friesland Campina, the producers of Peak Milk and 9Mobile, a leading telecoms service provider. Read more
Don’t allow Spain’s pedigree frighten you, Etim Esin tells Falconets (Guardian)
Former Nigerian international, Etim Esin has urged the national U-20 women team, Falconets to see their quarterfinal opponents, Spain as equals, saying the team should approach tomorrow’s match at the ongoing FIFA Women U-20 World Cup as wounded lionesses. Arguing that every team at this stage of the championship has equal opportunity of getting to the final, Esin applauded the Falconets for overcoming all odds to draw level with China at the last minute of their last group game on Monday. He, however, cautioned that the hype about the Spanish team’s exploits in the group games should not in any way overwhelm the Nigerian girls resilience and determination to excel at the championship. Read more
Death toll hits 39 in Italy bridge collapse; blame begins (Washingtonpost)
Italian emergency experts pulled two more bodies out of tons of broken concrete and twisted steel Wednesday after a highway bridge collapsed in Genoa, raising the death toll in the disaster to at least 39 people. The collapse of the Morandi Bridge sent dozens of cars and three trucks plunging as much as 45 meters (150 feet) to the ground Tuesday as many Italian families were on the road ahead of Wednesday’s major summer holiday. Civil protection authorities confirmed Wednesday that 39 people had died and 15 were injured. Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said three children were among the dead. Working with heavy equipment, rescuers climbed over concrete slabs with sniffer dogs all through the night and into the day, searching for survivors or bodies. Read more
Japan toddler missing for 3 days found alive (Channelnewsasia)
A two-year-old boy who went missing in woods in western Japan has been found unharmed after three days alone, apparently surviving on river water as volunteers hunted desperately for him. Yoshiki Fujimoto disappeared on Sunday morning in the Yamaguchi region while out walking with his brother and grandfather, and the search for him made headlines nationwide. Police and locals combed the woods looking for him, but it was a 78-year-old volunteer from a neighbouring region who stumbled upon the toddler on Wednesday morning. “I shouted ‘Yo-chan’,” Haruo Obata told local television, a red towel wrapped around his head against the summer heat. Read more