THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE APRIL 5, 2018
Lagos seeks solutions to security challenges (Punch)
The Lagos State Government on Wednesday said it would develop comprehensive strategy and home-grown solutions to security challenges in the state. The government added that plans had been concluded for a security summit where solutions would be developed by stakeholders to challenges such as cultism, drug abuse and arms proliferation, among others. The Executive Secretary, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, Dr Abdurrazaq Balogun, who stated this at a press briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, added that the summit had been scheduled for April 9 on Victoria Island. Read more
Pipeline Vandalism: residents panic over oil spill in Isheri-Ikotun road (Vanguard)
Residents of Fagbile Estate, Isheri Ijegun Road, a suburb of Lagos, have fled their homes as a result of a broken petroleum pipe which spilled its content in the area. One of the residents told Newsmen on condition of anonymity, on Thursday in Lagos that she was woken up by the smell of fuel from the broken pipeline. According to her, she saw some people carrying fuel in different kegs at about 6.00 am when she woke up to prepare food in her shop. “At about 6.00 a.m, when I came out to prepare food, I saw the movement of people from the direction of the broken pipeline carrying kegs and buckets of fuel. Read more
LASG seals firm over emissions (Punch)
Residents of Jerico Police Barracks and Oto community in the Ijora Badia area of Lagos State have expressed happiness over the sealing up of an asphalt producing company in the neighbourhood, Righteous Construction Company Nigeria Limited. The firm was shut down on Wednesday by the state government after Punch Metro’s report on the health problems faced by the residents as a result of the fumes they inhaled from the company’s plant. The dwellers urged the state government to relocate the company or ensure that the emissions were properly channelled to avoid putting their health at risk. Read more
LASG to train more residents in coding (Punch)
Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has approved the implementation of the next phase of the CodeLagos initiative, to expand the scope of the project to cater for more Lagos residents. CodeLagos, which is aimed at teaching one million residents basic coding skills, was initiated in 2016. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh in a statement on Wednesday said over 15,000 individuals had been trained, adding that the programme would be extended to all the 5,000 public primary and secondary schools, as well as 50 out-of-school centres by December 2018. Read more
LASU: Fagbohun warns Students, Lecturers against Cultism (Independent)
The Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun has warned students and lecturers at the institution that the alleged regrouping of cultists on the campus will be met with stiffer punishment and resistance. He cautioned that the management’s zero tolerance for activities outside academics and other gainful ventures at the campus subsists, saying that there is no hiding place for cult members in the institution. Fagbohun spoke during a sensitisation tour against cultism, which took him to all the faculties in the University’s Ojo campus. Read more
Port Congestion Looms Ahead Closure of Wharf Road, Marine Bridge in Apapa (Independent)
The planned closure of the Marine Bridge and Wharf Road in Apapa, Lagos concurrently from next week will spell doom for the nation’s seaports. It would be recalled that Dangote A.S. recently announced plans to close both sides of the Wharf Road inward and outward Apapa, while the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing also announced plans to shut the Marine Bridge in Apapa for permanent repairs. Adedamola Kuti, the Federal Controller of Works, Lagos while speaking in Lagos on Sunday, disclosed that Julius Berger Plc., the contractor handling the bridge repair was ready to move to site. Read more
NCAA Intensifies Surveillance of Airlines over Recurring Incidents (Independent)
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has intensified surveillance on the operating airlines in the country following recent minor and major incidents that occurred in the industry in recent months. The regulatory agency said that its inspectors now monitor the activities of the airlines more especially at the ramp areas, stressing that it would continue to sustain and improve on the current safety level in the industry. Capt. Muhtar Usman, the Director-General of NCAA disclosed this yesterday in an interview with aviation journalists at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos. Read more
Koko Pee shuts down Warri fiesta, confesses crush for BBNaija’s CeeC (Vanguard)
Lyrical Engineer, Koko Pee who recently turned down the stage he shared with music heavyweights like Wizkid, Davido, Tekno and Tiwa at the just completed WARRI MEGA FIESTA, has confessed his love for controversial big brother reality show housemate, CeeC. This was gathered in a brief interview with the music act, afterward he spoke on his future and other trending topics. According to him, he would love to have been in the Big Brother house and fit into the shoes of Tobi, who has been criticised for not leaving or lashing out at Ceec for her complains , lies and misbehavior in the on going Big Brother contest . Read more
3 die, as billboard falls on commercial bus in Lagos (Vanguard)
Three persons, yesterday, died when a billboard fell on a commercial bus at Ilasamaja Bus Stop, along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos. It was gathered that seven other people, who sustained various degrees of injuries, were rescued from the scene. The General Manager of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Mr. Adesina Tiamiyu, who confirmed the incident, said those injured were quickly rushed to a hospital. Sympathisers and passers-by, who raced to the scene of the crash, burst into tears at the sight of lifeless bodies lying on the road. Read more
Keyboard player remanded for allegedly defiling 10-year-old church member (Vanguard)
An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday remanded a church keyboard player, Essien Bassey, 25, in Kirikiri Prisons for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old girl, who attends his church. The Magistrate, Mrs B.O Osunsanmi, who refused to grant the accused bail, ordered that the case file should be sent to the office of the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice. She said the accused should remain in prison pending advice from the DPP. The accused, who resides at Ojodu area of Lagos, is facing a charge of defilement. Read more
Carpenter arraigned for allegedly defiling neighbour’s daughter (Nation)
A 40-year-old carpenter, James Kola, who allegedly defiled his neighbour’s 10-year-old daughter, yesterday appeared at an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos. Kola, who lives in Ilupeju, Lagos, is facing a charge of unlawful sexual intercourse. He pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor, Christopher John, told the court that the accused committed the offence between 2017 and 2018 at his home. He alleged that the accused was caught by his neighbours while having carnal knowledge of the girl in his room. John alleged that the accused had been sleeping with the minor since 2017. Read more
Cultism: Lagos Police Arrest 6 Suspects (Independent)
Three suspects out of the six arrested and paraded by the police in Lagos on allegation that they belong to cult groups that disturb the peace of the residence of the Railway Line, Odi-Olowo area of Mushin have opened up and confessed that they belonged to the Aiye confraternity. However, three others have sworn that they were innocent and erroneously arrested and paraded saying they had nothing to do with cult groups neither do they engage in public disturbances.The suspects, 28-year-old Quam Owolabi, 38 year-old Michael Esho, 28-year-old Adegbola Idris, 34-year-old Muftau Abogunde, Rasaki Shittu,34, and Oluwasina Lawal,18, were arrested and paraded on Tuesday by the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Edgal Imohimi. Read more
Driver arraigned for robbing passengers (Nation)
A 49-year-old driver, Musiliu Tijani, who allegedly robbed passengers at gunpoint, has been remanded at Kirikiri Prisons, Lagos, by an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court. The Magistrate, Mrs. A.K. Dosunmu, refused the accused bail and ordered that he be remanded in prison pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Tijani, who lives in Agbado, Lagos, is being tried for conspiracy, robbery and stealing. The prosecutor, Dada Wasiu, alleged that the accused committed the offences on February 22 at CMS, Lagos Island. Read more
Survey shows Nigerians want Enyeama in goal for Super Eagles (Guardian)
Since the news that Carl Ikeme was diagnosed with acute leukemia filtered in July last year, Super Eagles’ coaches have been thrust into an unending search for a solid replacement for the Wolves’ goalkeeper. Ikechukwu Ezenwa was handed the glove during the Super Eagles World Cup qualifiers. The Enyimba goalkeeper posted good numbers, not conceding any goal from open play, but he was also unconvincing in certain games, misjudging crosses while displaying questionable decision-making sometimes. Read more
Games: Gold Coast organisers apologise for transport failure (Vanguard)
Gold Coast organisers apologised on Thursday after the public transport network failed its first major test of the Commonwealth Games, causing long delays for ticket-holders travelling to and from the opening ceremony. Hundreds of people had to wait up to two hours at an over-flowing bus station before Wednesday’s ceremony due to a shortage of shuttles, and hundreds more were held up from leaving Carrara Stadium after a bus broke down and jammed up the transport flow. “We did experience, of course, as it has been reported, some issues there at Broadbeach South where some people had to wait longer than we would have preferred,’’ Queensland state transport minister Mark Bailey said at a media briefing. Read more
Luis Enrique still waiting on right offer amid Chelsea and Arsenal talk (Goal)
The former Barcelona boss has been out of work for almost an entire season, but he is prepared to delay a return until an exciting opportunity arises Luis Enqriue has been mooted as a managerial contender for Chelsea and Arsenal, but the former Barcelona boss is waiting on an offer which “really excites” him. Having returned to Camp Nou in a coaching capacity back in 2014, a former fan favourite delivered three seasons of success in Catalunya. Two Liga titles, the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and World Club Cup were captured as Luis Enrique enhanced his reputation as a serious operator in the dugout. Read more
Manchester City coach posts video of Anfield arrival from inside team bus and brands Liverpool fans “unacceptable” (Mirror)
Manchester City coach Manel Estiarte posted footage of the hostile reception the club received on their arrival at Anfield for Wednesday night’s Champions League quarter-final, as he branded Liverpool fans “unacceptable”. The sound of objects striking the bus can be heard in the video as the vehicle drove slowly towards the stadium, where City lost 3-0 in the first leg. Estiarte posted the comment “No words. Unacceptable” along with the video posted on his Instagram account, while Merseyside Police have revealed that they are conducting enquiries to find those responsible for the damage to the bus, which included a window being broken. Read more
HSBC leaks: Spain holds Swiss bank whistleblower Falciani (BBC)
Spanish police have arrested a whistleblower convicted in Switzerland for sending thousands of HSBC clients’ secret bank details to tax authorities. In 2015, a Swiss court sentenced the French national, Hervé Falciani, to five years in jail for industrial espionage. He had fled to France from Geneva in 2009. He had worked in the IT department at HSBC’s Swiss private banking unit. Mr. Falciani said he wanted to expose massive tax evasion via Swiss accounts. Last November, HSBC agreed to pay €300m ($368m; £262m) to French authorities to settle a long-running investigation into tax evasion by French clients via Switzerland. Read more
Art collection shows hidden side of North Korea (Usatoday)
Untouched landscapes without the scars of pollution or other human damage and the most delicious seafood she has ever tasted. That’s what Teresa Song of London says she experienced on her travels to the north east of North Korea. The reclusive nation consistently makes headlines across the world. In late March leader Kim Jong Un traveled to the Chinese capital on his first trip since coming to power in 2011. Chinese state media reported that Kim told China’s President Xi Jinping that he is committed to denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula. The historic trip comes ahead of planned meetings between Kim and President Trump as well as leaders in South Korea in the coming weeks. Read more
Women barred from Sumo Ring, even to Save a Man’s Life (Nytimes)
Sumo wrestling, one of Japan’s oldest and most hallowed sports, has all kinds of inviolable rituals. The wrestlers must wear their hair in carefully coifed topknots. Before every match, they scatter grains of purifying salt. And women are never, ever, allowed in the ring.
Even when a man’s life is at stake.
Sumo’s discriminatory practices came under new scrutiny after a referee shooed women out of a ring at an exhibition match in Kyoto on Wednesday when they rushed to offer lifesaving measures to a politician who had collapsed while delivering a speech. Read more
Bollywood star Salman Khan has been convicted of Poaching Protected Antelopes (Time)
Indian actor Salman Khan was found guilty of wildlife poaching and sentenced to five years in prison on Thursday in a decades-long case that has seen the Bollywood superstar dodge multiple prior charges. An Indian court in Jodhpur convicted Khan of killing two blackbucks, a protected species also called Indian antelopes, while shooting a film in India’s western Rajasthan state in 1998, the BBC reports. Khan, who was taken into custody Thursday, was also fined 10,000 Indian rupees ($154). Four other actors who starred in the film with Khan and were also charged in the incident have been acquitted. Read more