THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE JUNE 25, 2018
Lagos seeks improved hygiene (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has said it will legally ensure improved hygiene in the state, especially its markets. The Commissioner for Agriculture, Oluwatoyin Suarau, stated this while reviewing the report of a demolition exercise carried out by officials of the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment, Lagos State Task Force on Environment and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, the Department of State Services and Operation MESA. No fewer than 500 illegal structures within and outside the Oko-Oba Abattoir and Lairage Complex in the Agege area of the state were demolished on Saturday by the government to ensure hygiene and improved operations. Read more
ISIS Threat: FG deploys AIG to Lagos Airport, Beefs up Security (Independent)
The Federal Government has deployed an Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of police to take over command of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, and other major airports across the country. This is the first time an AIG would be deployed to any airport across the country. A source close to the MMIA Police Command confided in our correspondent that the Federal Government took the decisive step following threat issued recently by the Islamic terrorist group, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), that they would attack one of the major airports in the country very soon. Read more
Development Bank of Nigeria opens Lagos Office (ThisDay)
The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has opened its Lagos office. The office is to service teeming Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) domiciled in the commercial city of the country. A statement explained that the office which is located on Idejo Street in Victoria Island, was declared open last Friday June 22, 2018, by the Bank’s Chairman, Dr Shehu Yahaya. The bank was set up as a wholesale development finance institution (DFI) that provides sustainable financing through eligible PFIs, who would in turn, lend to end-borrowers – micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) for the development of that segment. Read more
Lagos NCP demands chairman resign over N7m pay (DailyTrust)
National Conscience Party in Lagos wants its national chairman Yunusa Tanko and general secretary Ayodele Akele to step aside. Chairman of NCP Lagos State Chapter, Bayo Ogunleye addressed a press conference at the weekend following allegations by a member of the party and presidential aspirant, Dr. Thomas -Wilson Ikubese that he was asked to pay N7.04m before he could contest under the party’s platform. Ikubese had since left the party and defected to the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN). But Ogunleye said since the allegation was made by Ikubese, the NCP National Chairman has not come out to debunk it giving the leadership in Lagos a cause for concern that the claim might be true after all. Read more
Lagos, constituent salute Gbajabiamila at 56 (Nation)
The Lagos State Government yesterday described the Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila as a courageous person with many great accomplishments. Governor Akinwunmi Ambode gave the description at a party organised by Surulere Local government and some groups under the platform of Surulere General Assembly to celebrate Gbajabiamila’s 56th birthday. Represented by the Director-General of the State Safety Commission, Hakeem Dickson, Ambode said the government and people of Lagos were proud of Gbajabiamila’s achievements and the values that his life represented. He said his achievements both in the House of Representatives and leader in Surulere were noteworthy. Read more
We’ll not allow unapproved buildings – LASG (Punch)
The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has said the state government will no longer allow the construction of any property without permit. LASBCA General Manager, Lekan Shodeinde, said this on Friday in Ajah during a sensitisation to the need to obtain permits before erecting structures. Shodeinde told residents that the sensitisation was being carried out to check the tide of building collapse in Lagos, especially during the rainy season. The LASBCA GM, who was represented by the Head of Department, Building Administration and Public Enlightenment, Mrs Victoria Taiwo-Ajose, said the government’s zero tolerance for building collapse was still in force. Read more
Lagos selects 337 Schools to Participate in Coding Competition (Independent)
Lagos State Government has nominated over 337 schools across the six educational districts in the state for a four-day Code Week Competition for its CodeLagos initiative, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh, Special Adviser to the Governor has said. Bank-Olemoh in a statement said that participating schools, including government and private across the state, through the competition, put together by the State Ministry of Education through the CodeLagos initiative, would be exposed to the world of computer programming as well as foster the rapid growth and development of coding skills among students. Read more
‘There will be more people-oriented projects’ (Project)
The Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr Abdullateef Abdulhakeem, says Lagosians should expect more people-oriented projects from the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration. The commissioner, who is also a renowned Islamic cleric, said this on Friday in his state of the nation address. The commissioner added that despite the current economic challenges in the country, Lagos would “continue to witness more development projects because the state is in capable and competent hands.” Abdulhakeem pointed out that the ongoing Oshodi Transport Interchange was a reflection of the current administration’s resolve to bring about a turnaround in the state’s transport sector, adding that the governor had addressed the challenges that the administration inherited. Read more
Lagos Waste Mgt: PSP Operators say work conditions unsuitable (Independent)
The Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAM) says conditions of operation in Lagos State have become unsuitable and undermining its members’ jobs. The Chairman of AWAM, Mr Oladipo Egbeyemi, said on Sunday that there was an effort to undermine AWAM members, popularly known as Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators, in waste management in the state. Egbeyemi spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. He alleged that Mr Adebola Shabi, Special Adviser to the state Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode on Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI), instructed the residents not to pay PSP operators for refuse evacuation. Read more
Condolences pour as DBanj’s son drowns in swimming pool (SUN)
A torrent of condolences has been pouring for Nigerian singer DBanj and his wife Didi, over the loss of their one-year-old son, Didi. The toddler drowned in a pool, on Sunday, at the couple’s Ikoyi residence in Lagos. He was one-year-old in May. Dbanj who was in the US when the accident happened wrote: Trying Times 💔🖤. But my God is Always and Forever Faithful. Davido who bagged BETaward Best International Artist paid his condolence in his acceptance speech. Dbanj taking care of Daniel: What a tragedy! Cool DJ Jimmy Jatt wrote : Stay strong dbanj, using a black square image to drive home his sympathy. Peter Okoye (PSquare) said: Heartfelt condolences to Dbanj and his family. Words can never be enough. Stay strong. Read more
EFInA hosts Fintech Forum in Lagos (Independent)
Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFInA) has organised a Financial Technology (FinTech) breakfast meeting in Lagos. The group is targeting the economically-deprived population by focusing on agent networks, electronic payment, financial inclusive products and services, especially across Northern Nigeria, women and financial literacy projects. Segun Akerele, EFInA’s Board Chairman, said the “essence of the forum is to request information from FinTechs on how EFInA can stimulate innovation targeted at the financially excluded through its grants, advocacy, research and capacity building”. He addressed over 40 different FinTech companies, regulators and digital financial service consultants that attended the forum. Read more
Agents accuse Apapa Customs of lateness to examination bays (Punch)
Clearing agents operating at the Apapa Port have accused the Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service of reporting late for the examination of cargoes. The Chairman, National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, Apapa Chapter, Emeka Enwelu, said the examination of cargoes at Apapa Port had dropped from 300 to 200 containers per day due to the officers’ poor attitude to work. He stated, “Customs officers come for examination around noon or 1pm daily; and we have discussed so much on the need for them to come early for examination to know what to be done, and for us to get our cargoes out in good time. Read more
Police place N1m bounty on masked lady (Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command has offered a N1m reward to anybody with useful information that will lead to the arrest of a masked lady who alleged that a policeman, Inspector Christopher Nabugwu, was living in opulence. The masked woman had, in a video that went viral on social media, alleged that Nabugwu was worth over N2bn in cash and assets, adding that he owned a building on 27 Remi Fani-Kayode Street, GRA, Ikeja, worth N250m, and used exotic cars. According to a statement on Sunday by the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti, the allegations caught the attention of the Inspector-General of Police, who ordered an investigation into the allegation. Read more
Lagos demolishes 500 shanties, recovers weapons (Vanguard)
Over 500 shanties and illegal structures were demolished, weekend, within and outside the Oko-Oba Abattoir and Lairage Complex, Agege area of Lagos State by officials of the state’s Joint Special Taskforce. The illegal structures believed to be occupied by criminals and miscreants were demolished by the state government as part of efforts to ensure adequate upgrading and transformation of the complex for improved operations. It was gathered that dangerous weapons were recovered from the shanties by the joint task force comprising Lagos Task Force on Environment and Special Offences, Read more
Family disrupts Lagos funeral, wants son buried in Edo (Punch)
Pandemonium broke out at an event centre at Mayfair Gardens Estate, Lekki, Lagos, venue of the service of song for the late Assistant Manager, Corporate Affairs, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, Patrick Imongiere, after his relatives from Edo State allegedly disrupted the ceremony and chase away mourners. Punch Metro learnt that policemen from the Elemoro division were invited to the scene and the alleged intruders were eventually taken away. A video of the incident, obtained by our correspondent, showed the moment some of the church members of the deceased’s widow formed a chain as they fired prayers in the deserted auditorium. Read more
The many troubles of Commercial Bus Owners in Lagos (Independent)
Cosmopolitan Lagos is un-arguably the largest city in Nigeria, and equally so in the west coast of Africa. It is presently adjudged by demographers to be the most populous in the continent with a population of over 20 million people. As a city with a huge population it is certainly imbued with its own challenges and advantages. It is a transporters natural habitat and haven. It is therefore, not a ruse feeling to find the city infested with passengers daily trying to outdo each other in the quest to embark on commercial vehicles for journeys to and fro different destinations and commercial vehicle drivers also making frantic efforts to out run their contemporaries in a bid to get to the passengers first. Read more
Police arrest 21 persons over killing in Lagos (Vanguard)
The police in Lagos have arrested 21 persons over the killing of a man at Alapere-Ketu, following a clash by two cult groups. The Alapere Police Division had raided some cultists’ hideouts and made arrests on Kazeem, Aminu and Akampson Streets in Alapere. The spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, CSP Chike Oti, confirmed the arrest to NAN on Sunday. He said that the suspects were being interrogated. “Those linked to the crime will be prosecuted after conclusion of investigation,” Oti said. NAN reports that two rival cult groups clashed on June 16 in Alapere, resulting in the death of a man. Read more
Man killed as caterpillar swoops on Lagos Abattoir (NewTelegraph)
One of the residents of Oko Oba Abattoir, Agege, Lagos State, identified simply as Usman, was buried yesterday amidst tears. Usman, said to be a scavenger, was allegedly killed when Lagos State Task Force officials, with their caterpillar, went to the Abattoir community to carry out a demolition exercise on Saturday. A friend of the deceased, who gave his name as Muritala, said: “We’re not troublemakers! We don’t have anywhere to go; that was why we couldn’t leave the railway line since they asked us. Now, one of us has been killed. The deceased was planning to send some baby clothes and other things he bought for his wife, when he was killed. His wife was just delivered of a baby. Read more
Lagos discovers 25 athletes at U-15 Deaf Sports School Games (SUN)
As part of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode government’s all-inclusive policy in sports development, a four – day multi sports games was organised for deaf students in the state at the Agege Stadium, the ‘Soccer Temple’. At the end of the tournament tagged Lagos U-15 Deaf Sports School Games, a total number of 25 athletes were discovered in Badminton, Table Tennis and Athletics. These set of athletes, though they were physically impaired, they proved that there is ability in disabilities as they did their various schools proud. Eight athletes were discovered in Badminton, eight in Table Tennis and nine in Athletics. Read more