THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE APRIL 22, 2018
Lawyers react as Nigeria police classify pepper spray as offensive weapon (PremiumTimes)
Last Tuesday, a Twitter user, Dolapo Pizzu, alerted Abayomi Shogunle, an Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the Police Complaint Rapid Response Unit, that she had been arrested and taken to a police station at Igando, Lagos, for being in possession of a pepper spray. Mr. Shogunle responded: “What are you doing with a pepper spray? Pepper spray is an offensive weapon, Nigeria 🇳🇬 Law prohibits going armed in the public.” With pepper spray used as self-defence weapon by most ladies in Lagos against sexual harassment, Premium Times sought the opinion of lawyers on the illegality of its use. Read more
Lead campaign for PVCs collection, Lagos PDP tells members (Guardian)
The Lagos State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday urged its members to lead the campaigns for residents to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards to be able to cast their votes in 2019. The state chairman of the party, Mr Moshood Salvador, made the call while speaking at a rally of the party in Lagos. He said there was also the need to win more members to the party to achieve the membership target of one million new members. Read more
Projects that will change the face of Lagos (Vanguard)
Last week, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode embarked on inspection tour of major projects across key sectors of Lagos State including education, health, tourism and road infrastructure. The iconic projects, many of which the contractors have assured would be completed before the end of the year, were conceived and implemented to transform the landscape of the state and make life comfortable for residents, as well as improve on the ranking of Lagos as the fifth largest economy in Africa. Read more
N53b Lagos Dubai city berths in Badagry (Nation)
The much talked about Lagos Dream got a major boost on Thursday, April 12, 2018, when the foundation of the Badagry N53billion business city was laid. Debuting with the first phase, an N18billion shopping complex, christened the Oba Akran International Shopping Mall, the managers of the project said the vision, when completed, will translate the lush vegetation along Lagos-Badagry-Seme-Cotonou International Express-road to what they described as ‘Lagos Dubai.’ To be constructed on 93-acres of land, the project, which is expected to be completed in the next 24 months from commencement, is being handled by PALMNTO Nigeria Limited, a consortium of investors and developers in conjunction with the Badagry Royal House and other investors. Read more
Waste managers sue Lagos government, firm over new environmental law (Guardian)
Two members of the Lagos State Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria have sued the state government over the Environmental Management Protection Law 2017. Oladipo Egbeyemi and David Oriyomi filed the suit yesterday at a Lagos High Court, challenging the legality of the law. Also called Private Sector Operators (PSP), they are seeking a declaration that the law is unconstitutional, null and void. The applicants, through their counsel, David Fadile, claimed that they were among the 360 PSP operators appointed through the state Ministry of Environment between 1999 and 2003. Read more
After the Storm…Intrigues as Femi Gbajabiamila and Nnenna Ukeje Bury the Hatchet (ThisDay)
Few months ago, they lunged and tore at each other like heat-crazed feral cats, but as you read, the bitterness and angst that seized their souls and drove them apart have dissipated, without trace. Thus Femi Gbajabiamila and Nnenna Ukeje are wiser now. Having experienced the motions of the action and counteraction that ignites the reciprocal struggle of discordant powers, they have settled their beef and achieved harmony with the universe. Indeed, in politics, there is no permanent friend or enemy – only permanent interests. Read more
With vision of last quarter, 50 years of Osogbo art glows in Lagos (Guardian)
When Osogbo School emerged in the early 1960s, two crucial landmarks in Nigerian art lexicon were recorded: the potency of native content in creative expressions and a coincidence on the eve of the country’s transition from modern to contemporary art. In celebrating 50 years of Osogbo phenomenon, the event would highlight a group of artists, who are modernists by career path, but excelling in contemporary period. That trajectory of building a link between two periods of a nation’s art, which the artists of Osogbo informal school holds, has become a reference point. And 50 years on, it is worth celebrating while also introspecting into its hold on 21st Century contemporary art texture. Read more
Lagos socialite, Vivienne Chiologi, gives birth to first baby at 52 (ThisDay)
As veteran socialite, Vivienne Chiologi, gave birth to a baby girl, last Thursday, in London, at the age of 52, she clings to the gift of life and a second chance, like dependable friars on the Alp. Having attained that curve in her life when words can no longer varnish her deeds to make up for her misdeeds, she hangs on to acquiescence to guide her across the moors and uncertain expanse of her twilight. As you read, gaiety and joy have taken root in the household of the Chiologis. Predictably, the arrival of the baby, has thrown her best friends, notably, Mo Abudu, Ruth Osime, Marian Omatsone, Pat Faniran , Debbie Oghene, Grace Osime and many others, into a frenzy of celebration. It will be recalled that Vivienne, 52, got married to John Shittu, a player agent, at the 5-star Dorchester Hotel on Park Lane, London, in 2016. Read more
Around Naija TV reality show concludes auditions (Guardian)
Around Naija, a TV reality show designed to showcase and promote the depth of Nigeria’s culture and tourist destinations, has concluded its auditions across the country. The audition, which started in Kaduna, saw many young Nigerians who are eager to showcase their culture taking part in the event. The audition train later moved to Abuja for the North Central zone, then to Enugu for the South East zone and Calabar for the South South zone with the grand finale in Lagos for the South West zone. Read more
Lagos agog as Beejay Sax live concert berths (Vanguard)
All roads lead to the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, for the second edition of ‘Beejay Sax Live’ by Bolaji Sax, one of Nigeria’s finest and trending gospel saxophonists, on May 13. The event, a concert, is coming one year after his astounding but highly successful first effort, also in Lagos. The event will equally feature top Christian musicians such as Frank Edwards, Nathaniel Bassey, Tim Godfrey, Big Bolaji, Ifeoluwa Odogiyan, Olaolu Gbenjo, Onos, Bukola Bekes, MOZ, Tosin Bee, Femi Okunuga and Odunayo Abodunrin. The roll call of comedians includes the likes of Saco, Woli Agba, and Kenny Black. Read more
Lagos International Jazz Festival Honours Hugh Masekela (ThisDay)
On its 10th anniversary, Nigeria’s premier jazz festival –Lagos International Jazz Festival (LIJF) scheduled to hold on Monday, April 30 which is globally recognized as International Jazz Day will honour the memory of South African trumpeter, Hugh Masekela. The one-day multistage event takes place at the Freedom Park, Lagos. LIJF founder and festival director, Ayoola Sadare said “it’s with great pleasure that on our 10th anniversary, we are able to honor the memory of the late legendary international icon, cultural statesman and father of South African Jazz, Hugh Masekela on the LIJF platform. Bra Hugh was an inspiration to the Jazz community locally and globally, though he never performed on the LIJF stage, we believe we owe him a duty to be celebrated for his long and positively impactful life through his music. Hugh Masekela’s spirit lives on through his music which will be with us for a long time.” Read more
FELABRATION 2018: ‘Overtake don overtake overtake’ (ThisDay)
Organisers of Felabration, the annual festival to honour the legacy of Afrobeat creator, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti have announced activities that will begin on October 15-his posthumous, 80th birthday. This year’s event holds between October 15 and 21, 2018. And the theme song is Fela’s hit tune, ‘Overtake Don Overtake Overtake’. The event kicks-off on that Monday 15, with its traditional symposium- ‘The FELA Debates’. This is a segment of the annual festival which provokes intellectual discourse around topical contemporary African issues. The debates seek to engage people in espousing ideas and ideals towards solving the myriad of problems confronting the African continent. Read more
15 VGC residents on trial for alleged energy theft (Punch)
No fewer than 15 residents of Victoria Garden City, Ajah, on Lekki-Epe Expressway are to be prosecuted for their alleged involvement in energy theft, Eko Electricity Distribution Company said on Friday. EKEDC alleged that the customers stole energy by bypassing its meters. The Managing Director, Mr Adeoye Fadeyibi, who disclosed this at a media briefing, said no effort would be spared in dealing with energy theft. Read more
Suspected cultist dies during initiation in Lagos (Vanguard)
An unidentified youth has lost his life shortly after being initiated into Eiye confraternity in Eginrin Depression area of Ikorodu, Lagos. Over 50 youths as gathered, converged inside a bush in the community, Monday, where the initiation process was ongoing. Midway into it, a troop from 174 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Ikorodu, swooped on the youths, thereby resulting in a shoot-out. At the end of the gun duel, 25 suspected cultists were arrested while two of them sustained bullet wounds. A soldier according to the General Officer Commanding, 81 Division, Maj. Gen. Enobong Udoh, also sustained bullet wounds. Read more
