THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE JULY 2, 2018
Macron’s visit: Lagos state announces diversion of traffic around African shrine (Nation)
The Lagos State Government on Sunday said there would be traffic diversion and restricted movement from 12 noon to 12 midnight on July 3, around Alausa, African Shrine and Agidingbi axis in Ikeja. The state government will receive the President of France, Emmanuel Macron. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Dr Taiwo Salaam, appealed for the understanding of residents and urged motorists to make use of alternative routes provided. “While we regret the inconvenience that this might cause the public, especially those who live and work in the area, we appeal that you kindly bear with us during this period and make use of the alternative routes provided,’’ Salaam said in a statement. Read more
Exploded tanker was built for drilling rig, not fuel tank, says Lagos govt (Nation)
More facts emerged yesterday on the tanker that exploded last Thursday on Otedola Bridge, killing nine and left 54 vehicles burnt. According to the Lagos State Government, preliminary investigation revealed that the ill-fated tanker marked NSR 888 YC was registered in Nasarawa Local Government in Kano State and had changed ownership 13 times. Commissioner for Transportation Ladi Lawanson made it known at a news conference in Alausa, Ikeja, alongside representatives of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Container Truck Association of Nigeria on development arising from the tanker explosion. Read more
NAMA deploys VHR radios at Lagos control centres (Guardian)
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) yesterday completed the installation of two Jotron high-powered Very High Frequency (VHF) long-range radios to enhance communication between airlines and the control tower. Installed in each of Lagos West and Lagos East Area Control Centres (ACCs), the equipment is in line with NAMA’s pledge to address Remote Control Air to Ground (RCAG) communication challenges in the nation’s airspace. The installation, which began a few weeks ago culminated in the successful Site Acceptance Test (SAT) carried out by NAMA engineers in conjunction with their counterparts from Jotron AS, Norway. Read more
Volunteerism needed for devt, says Lagos (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has said volunteerism is the key to develop communities in the state. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Civic Engagement, Benjamin Olabinjo, stated this at an awareness campaign on volunteerism at the Lagos Government Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja. He said volunteerism had become a veritable solution to challenges in communities, adding that the government planned to encourage youths and others to volunteer time and skills to address needs of the people without expecting financial reward. Read more
Govt seeks world-class artisans, tradesmen (Punch)
The Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, has said Lagos State needs artisans and tradesmen equipped with modern techniques in various fields. Akinbile-Yusuf stated this on Friday at the inauguration of an eight-week up-skilling training programme for 1,000 tradesmen and artisans in 23 different vocations. At the inauguration of the training on the premises of Lagos State Technical College, Ikeja, the commissioner explained that the programme was designed for practitioners of different trades to acquaint themselves with modern techniques in their various fields. Read more
Vehicular defects, human errors caused tanker fire, says LASG (Punch)
The Lagos State Government on Sunday said a combination of vehicular defect and human errors were responsible for the Thursday tanker fire on Otedola Bridge end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which led to the death of 10 persons and destruction of 54 vehicles. The government said it had taken some measures to prevent a recurrence, adding that it had restricted movement of fuel tankers to trailer route. The state also said it was now mandatory for all articulated trucks coming into Lagos to obtain the Ministry of Transportation’s Road Worthiness Certificate. Read more
Lagos fuel fire ignites panic in Apapa, Mile 2, Kirikiri (SUN)
Friday, June 29, 2018. It was the morning after the mayhem, the day after sheer hell poured down on Lagos in copious quantities. The gridlock on the Otedola Bridge axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway – the scene of carnage and source of the unimaginable traffic chaos that paralysed many parts of Lagos the previous night – had thinned out. The flames and the clouds of thick, dark smoke had evaporated, though the ashes and black soot remained – a constant reminder to passersby of the nerve-wracking horrors of the preceding night. On both sides of the expressway, traffic now flowed fluidly, albeit slowly, as motorists and commuters cast sad glances at the carcasses of vehicles haphazardly relocated from the main road to the right side of the expressway. Emergency workers were back at the scene with their equipment, hauling whatever remained of the razed vehicles away from the road. A few dozen individuals perambulated around the area, seeking information on their missing relatives and friends. Read more
Tandon bows out after leading Rotary Club of Lagos Island to record feats (Guardian)
Rotary International yesterday, July 1, turned the calendar of a new year and for Rotarian Sanjeev Tandon, the Vice-President, Kewalram Chanrai Group, General Secretary, Indian Cultural Association and president 2017-2018 Rotary Club of Lagos Island, he has surpassed all expectations and placed the young club of barely two years on the world map in Rotary reckoning. Under his astute and resourceful leadership, the Rotary Club of Lagos Island is today the first Mega Rotary Club in District 9110 (first club with more than 100 members in the district comprising over 100 clubs in Lagos and Ogun states); largest Rotary Club in Africa; and the largest Rotary Club with female members in the world. Read more
Lagos schoolgirl, 14, disappears after outing with boyfriend (Punch)
The parents of a schoolgirl, Bilikisu Oseni, are in distress after she left her mother’s shop in the Odogunyan, Ikorodu area of Lagos State, without returning home. The 14-year-old was reported to have left the shop with a boyfriend, identified only as Wahis, on Sunday, June 24, 2018. Wahis, a motor boy, had reportedly taken the victim to his apartment on Igbosoro Road, Ikorodu, but the Senior Secondary School one pupil had yet to be seen since then. The victim’s mother, Fausatu Oseni, said she had travelled to Ogun State for a family function when her daughter followed the suspect. Read more
WAYS condoles families of plateau killings, victims of Lagos tanker inferno (Vanguard)
The Women and Youths Support Group , WAYS, for ATIKU 2019 National President/Global coordinator, Princess Kemi Adesanya-Eboda, has described the recent killings in Plateau state where about hundred people were reported killed and the unfortunate crash of a 33-litre petrol tanker truck that caught fire on Otedola Bridge axis of Berger along Lagos-Ibadan expressway, killing ten people and burning 54 vehicles as painful and a great loss to the nation. Princess Adesanya-Eboda commiserated with the families that have lost their loved ones in the two separate incidents and called on the government especially on the Plateau killings to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice for this heinous crime against humanity. Read more
LUTH detention: Ajimobi, NGOs, settle bill of mother, baby (Punch)
The wife of the Governor of Oyo State, Florence Ajimobi, and other well-meaning Nigerians have donated money to secure the release of Busayo Busari and her daughter, Fikayo, who were detained at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba, Surulere, for four months over unpaid bills. PUNCH Metro had reported that Busayo was delivered of her baby, Fikayo, through a caesarean section in February 2018. After spending about four months at the hospital, the family’s medical bill rose to about N387,000. Some social workers at LUTH were said to have assisted in getting funds, which reduced the bill to N93,000. Read more
Fuel tanker explosions: Lagos restricts tankers to designated route (SUN)
The Lagos State Government has restricted movement of fuel tankers to designated trailer route in the state. The government also gave a 30-day ultimatum to all tankers and containers coming into the state to obtain road worthiness. These are fallouts of the tragic tanker explosion on Otedola Bridge, Ojodu Berger Area of the state which claimed several lives and property last Thursday. The state government made the disclosures at a press conference jointly addressed by the state Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Ladi Lawanson and his counterparts in Information and Strategy, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr. Seye Oladejo and heads of some government agencies after a meeting with stakeholders in the transportation sector, yesterday. Read more
Police arrest traffic robbers in Lagos (Guardian)
Tunde Raphael, 24, who was last week arrested by officials of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State police command, has explained how he and 19 other gang members dispossessed motorists and commuters of their belongings in Mile 2 bridge during traffic. Tunde, who was arrested at about 5:00a.m. along with two other accomplices, Samuel Kolawole, 23 and Solomon Omini, 32, on Wednesday after a chase by the operatives of the RRS, noted that the only job he had was robbing motorists and commuters of their belongings between 4:00a.m. and 6:30a.m. as well as at night. He disclosed that he and about 20 colleagues work in twos or threes holding toy guns, machetes, jack knives, hammers, rods and other weapons to dispossess commuters of phones, money, jewelry, laptops and other prized possessions. Read more
Many feared dead in Lagos Multiple Auto Crash (ThisDay)
Many were feared dead and several others sustained varying degree of injuries following a multiple auto crash at Ile Zik bus stop, Agege, Lagos on Sunday evening. According to eyewitness report, the crash was caused by poor visibility due to the rains and the recklessness and impatience of drivers. The multiple crash involved a blue and white long coaster commercial bus, a blue Vanagon and some private cars. Although details are still sketchy, it was gathered that the injured persons helped themselves out of the wreckage while the dead were left under the rain until the appropriate authorities arrived. Read more
Ikoyi Club 1938 Swim Squad wins Swimfest in Germany (Vanguard)
The Swim Team from Ikoyi Club 1938 has emerged winners in the 47th International Swimming Competition held in Neheim-Husten, Germany Ikoyi Club 1938 came 1st after winning 75 gold medals, 59 silver medals, 38 bronze medals, several certificates and trophies for outstanding performance in different categories. Oloyede Obatoyinbo, Vice Chairman/Games Captain of the Swimming Section at Ikoyi Club, said he was especially proud of the girls and boys relay teams whose combined average age is 11 years. The Games Captain said: “Given the times the swimmers age 9-13 years achieved, there was no doubt that swimming is a sport that will give prominence to Nigeria in the nearest future”. Read more