THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE MAY 13, 2018
Lagos vulnerable but we are on top of the situation – Ambode (Vanguard)
Lagos is experiencing population explosion as people from different parts of the nation in search of greener pasture troop to the state daily. With estimated 24million people now living in the state, this obviously has security implications. This among others was the reason the first edition of Lagos State Security Summit took place recently. The summit was attended by security experts and conflict resolution experts, including the Vice Principal, King’s College, London, Professor Funmi Olonishakin, and Deputy Inspector General of Police, Marvel Akpoyibo, ret., who proffered solution to security challenges in Lagos. They noted that the authorities had stemmed the tide of kidnapping and crippled the cult group, Badoo, which terrorised residents of Ikorodu. Read more
Why Lagos is prioritising religious tourism – Commissioner (DailyTrust)
The Lagos State Government through its Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture has said it is prioritizing religious tourism because, spiritual healing comes along with exhibition and tourism and invariably rubs off on the state’s economy. The State Commissioner for Tourism, Art and Culture, Steve Ayorinde made the disclosure in Lagos while speaking on the State’s Tourism Master Plan. He said the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode realized the potentials in religious tourism and has adequately captured it in the Master Plan. He noted that the government’s primary concern is to ensure that the infrastructure and enabling environment is created to drive tourism development in the state. Read more
Lagos creates 11,268 jobs in 12 months (Guardian)
Lagos State government said about 11,268 jobs were created in the last 12 months through its employability and loans programme. The Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Pharmacist Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, who disclosed this during the ongoing 2018 Ministerial Press Briefing to mark Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s third anniversary, said that as a result, 8797 new taxpayers were added to the state’s tax register. Akinbile-Yussuf further said the jobs were besides the thousands of graduates and artisans trained and retrained by her ministry. According to her, through the Lagos State Employability Support Project, Ambode hopes to create 10,000 skilled persons in key sectors, and place 6,000 trained persons in jobs. Read more
Elders council tasks Lagosians on PVC (Guardian)
The Secretary-General, Lagos Elders Council, Chief Adesunbo Onitiri, has urged residents to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), to effect change in the state’s political space. He said the PVCs are necessary to stopping suffering and starvation in the land. In a statement, yesterday, in Lagos, he said: “Enough of propaganda and lies by politicians. Nigerians need to vote out all the looters holding political office and vote in credible and honest people.” He noted that Lagosians must express their desire for change by ensuring their votes count. He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to co-operate with the people by issuing PVCs with less stress. Read more
God is in charge of UNILAG, says VC (Nation)
Vice-chancellor (VC) of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, has said God, not him, is in charge of the institution. The VC spoke on Sunday while delivering a sermon at the university’s chapter of the Redeemed Christian Fellowship held at Tolulope Odugbemi Hall. The theme of Ogundipe’s sermon was: You shall not be wasted. The VC said God had been the one administering the institution since he took over from his predecessor last year. Read more
Cinema in Lagos: Film enthusiasts storm Lagos pavilion in Cannes (Nation)
There are a plethora of activities at the ongoing Cannes International Film Festival in France, but Nigeria is not lost in the crowd, as Lagos State hoists the nation’s flag at Pavilion 210 in the water front Pantiero. The first major activities of the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture took place, Friday, with the official unveiling of the second edition of the Cinema in Lagos Magazine, a publication that provides deep insights into the tourism character of Lagos State with cinema business as a peg. With celebrity politician, Hon. Desmond Elliot and rave filmmaker Kunle Afolayan among the Lagos State delegation at the festival, the attraction to pavilion 210 was exceptional, going by the star power in front of the camera – Both actors; Elliot is Chairman, Lagos House Committee on Tourism, Arts and Culture, while Afolayan is on the Board of the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture. Read more
Musicians honour Hugh Masekela at Lagos International Jazz Festival (ThisDay)
For a musical event organised on a Monday evening in the bustling Lagos metropolis, the turnout was very impressive. A few factors accounted for this. There had been massive hype for the event from several radio stations a few days before the event. The entry fee was very affordable. The occasion itself was tied to a global music fiesta and the following day was a public holiday. The 10th anniversary of The Lagos International Jazz Festival – Nigeria’s Premier Jazz Festival held on International Jazz Day Monday, April 30 and dedicated to the international Jazz icon, Hugh Masekela, was a resounding success and an event to be remembered for a long time. Read more
Adekunle Gold thrills at Trace Live (ThisDay)
Lagos recently witnessed the third edition of Trace Live featuring the Urban Highlife maestro at the Terra Kulture Arena. The event was made possible by Trace, Cabal Entertainment and Bolane Austen-Peters Production. The event tagged ‘Trace Live Presents Adekunle Gold: About 30’ started with Gold’s band 79th Element serenading the crowd before he performed hits like ‘Money’ and ended with a choir backed emotional rendition of his current hit song ‘Ire’ off his sophomore album ‘About 30’ to be released later this month. The red carpet kicked off at 6pm with guests enjoying cocktails provided by Hennessy and Pepsi. The show started just after 8pm and was over by 9:30pm and the sound and lighting set up was second to none. Read more
Brymo, Ara thrill at Café One opening (Guardian)
Award-winning soul singer, Olawale Ashimi, also known as Brymo, thrilled the crowd to hits from his various albums, including Olanrewaju, Oso, Alajo Somolu. The other star was Ara, who also had guests cheering to the electrifying performances at the opening of Café One, Nigeria’s first digital and lifestyle experience centre. The all day open house event had as theme ‘5 Minutes of Madness.’ The ultra-modern work and leisure space is located at Lennox mall, Lekki, Lagos. At the turn of each hour starting from noon, there were riveting dance performances and drum battle sessions for five minutes in line with the theme. Guests were also allowed to record their moments of madness and share on social media for a chance to win N100,000 cash reward from Café One. Read more
Day Ariya Repete came to Lagos (ThisDay)
Lagos music fans were recently treated to beautiful performances of Fuji and Juju music by frontline musicians including Sir Shina Peters, Adekunle Gold and Ibadan based Fuji Sensation Taye Currency during the Lagos leg of the Ariya Repete concert. To the delight of the excited fans at the National Stadium in Surulere, Adekunle Gold opened his performance with ‘Orente’ before singing ‘Ariwo Ko’, following up with ‘Friend Zone’ and ending his set with the widely popular ‘Pick Up’. There was a rare display of artistry and music rendition amidst heavy percussion known with Yoruba music, as 32 contestants took turn to perform and show their music talent and stagecraft within five minutes allocated to each contestants. Read more
Lagos APC: Ifako-Ijaiye, Agege congresses end in brouhaha (Punch)
The All Progressives Congress congress in Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos State on Saturday ended abruptly as delegates rowdily disagreed on the election of some candidates. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the congress, which started around 1pm, had been peaceful until commotion erupted over the choice of candidates. Trouble started when the electoral officers announced some names as elected executive members after a voice vote by the delegates. Read more
Rain storm damage UNILAG hostels (Nation)
Residents of Moremi, Makama, and Fagunwa Halls, University of Lagos ( UNILAG ), were severely affected by the recent rainstorm that hit the school after roofs and walls of the hostel buildings came off. The storm which began in the early hours of Tuesday morning had roofing sheets flying off after a deafening wind briefly swept through the school. The wall that separates Fagunwa hall from the marshes outside it also collapsed. Narrating her experience, a resident of Moremi, Aniebietabasi Ufia, said it was very scary. “It was scary. Initially I didn’t think it was something serious until people in my hostel started screaming. “I ran out and saw zinc sheets in the air like nylon bags, the wind carried fire about, basins and buckets were tossed about like feathers. It was a frightful experience”, she said. Read more
Manslaughter: Synagogue church, engineers open defense (Punch)
The Registered Trustees of the Synagogue Church of All Nations on Friday opened their defence before the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere where they are facing trial for allegedly building without the state’s approval. The case stemmed from the collapse of the church’s six-storey building in the Ikotun area of Lagos State in September 2014 which claimed no fewer than 116 lives, mostly South African nationals on religious pilgrimage to SCOAN. Standing trial alongside the Registered Trustees of SCOAN are the two engineers who built the ill-fated building – Messrs Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun. Read more
Special sports athletes, others walk for Gov Ambode (Nation)
Special sport athletes have teamed up with other people living with disability to stage a walk for Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode today. According to the convener, Amuda Azeez Adesoji, a former powerlifter, the walk will commence at Costain and end at the Teslim Balogun Stadium. He stated that about 3000 participants expected at the walk would converge at the starting point early in the morning, while the walk is expected to commence by 9am. Adesoji stated that all the security agencies including the Nigeria Police and Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) have been contacted to ensure that the walk is hitch-free. He said the security agencies would also ensure that motorists use other routes during the walk. Read more