THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE APRIL 20, 2018
New Lagos bus terminals modelled after int’l terminals in Europe, America, says Lagos govt (Vanguard)
Lagos State government has explained that the new Ikeja Bus Terminal, Oshodi Transport Interchange under construction and 11 bus terminals being built in strategic locations in the state are modelled after modern international bus terminals in Europe and America. According to the state government, the decision to build bus terminals with world-class facilities was to give about 12 million people using public transportation a sense of belonging, similar to the kind of treatment about 21,000 air passengers daily using all the nation’s airports get. The terminal was inaugurated on March 29 by President Muhammadu Buhari. Read more
More Lagos wives beat husbands, says commissioner (NewTelegraph)
Lagos State government yesterday raised the alarm over the increasing cases of housewives who now batter their husbands. The Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, who said this while briefing journalists on the score card of his ministry in the last one year, said no fewer than 138 of such cases were reported to the agency in charge of domestic violence. Kazeem also said that the state Mobile courts arraigned 8,380 offenders for flouting the Road Traffic Law which included parking on walkways and yellow lines, use of BRT corridor, commuters and conductors hanging on the tailboards of moving vehicles, driving against traffic, etc. Read more
Ambode reiterates commitment to safety (Punch)
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has said he is committed to the safety of lives and property of Lagosians. The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr. Oluseye Oladejo, stated this at the inauguration of the Iworo Police Divisional Headquarters in the Olorunda Local Council Development Area, The governor said his administration had been able to harmonise the provision of security within the rural and urban areas, especially with the active participation and support of the people in communities, who provide timely information to security agencies. Read more
INEC to redistribute 1.4m unclaimed PVCs in Lagos (Punch)
The Independent National Electoral Commission in Lagos State on Friday said that it was making plans to redistribute the unclaimed 1.4 million Permanent Voter Cards in the state. Mr. Sam Olumekun, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, disclosed this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. “We are actually working out a new strategy,” the INEC boss told NAN, as he explained the commission’s plan to redistribute the permanent voter cards. Olumekun, who expressed concerns over the number of uncollected PVCs in Lagos state, urged the owners to go to INEC offices in their local government areas for collection. Read more
The looming war in Lagos (Vanguard)
His predecessor, Babatunde Fashola had set a mark in urban renewal that few expected him to match. However, after nearly three years as governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode seems to have set new heights in governance that few expected little challenge to a second term. Hence the surprise at the preemptive move by his associates to tackle the opposition. The men and women who gathered last Sunday at a discreet Ikeja GRA residence of a top Lagos politician tried much to dismiss insinuations of a panic. There should not be in a panic given that the men comprised a significant proportion of the elected political office holders in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC from Lagos State. Read more
Lagos signs MoU to collate data of PWDs (Guardian)
In consolidation of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s all-inclusive policy, the Lagos State government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Sociology, Lagos State University (LASU) to collate data of Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) in the state. The MoU, which has the input of all relevant stakeholders aims to capture ages, locations, status of living of PWDs in Lagos, as a way of ensuring that PWDs are properly catered and accounted for in planning. Speaking at the signing of the MoU in Alausa, Ikeja, the Special Adviser to the governor on Social Development, Mrs. Joyce Onafowokan, said: “The MoU became necessary giving the governor’s concern on ensuring everyone is captured in government’s plan of action so as to have a data, which will enable government build framework for special persons.” Read more
Lagos advises principals on standards (Punch)
As primary and secondary schools prepare to resume academic activities, the Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to providing quality education and an enabling environment for teaching and learning in both public and private schools in the state. The Deputy-Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule, made this known in a statement released by the Office of Education Quality Assurance in the state Ministry of Education and made available to our correspondent. Read more
Meadow Foundation to hold Education Convention (Punch)
The Meadow Hall Foundation will, on Saturday, hold its second edition of the Education Convention at the Landmark Event Centre on Victoria Island, Lagos. The convention, themed, ‘Addressing the quality question in the education sector’, will be delivered by a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe. According to the foundation, quality education is key to national development as its impact on students’ performance and nation building is far reaching. Read more
Mother tongue must be taught in schools – BSN scribe (Punch)
The General Secretary of the Bible Society of Nigeria, Dr. Dare Ajiboye, has said that government at all levels in the country need to work assiduously to preserve the local languages in the country. He stressed the need to preserve the mother tongues, through sustained efforts and policies in the educational system, noting that cultures can be traced to the languages spoken by a group of people. Ajiboye spoke at a briefing held to announce the completion of the translation of the Holy Bible into Kalabari and Okrika, two Nigerian languages spoken in parts of Rivers State. Read more
JOHESU nationwide strike takes toll on UITH, Lagos hospitals open for work, provide services (Guardian)
The ongoing strike by the Joint Health Sector Union JOHESU is taking its toll on the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), as it entered its third day today. The work to rule industrial action was declared by the non-doctors of the nation’s hospitals, especially, teaching hospitals and federal medical centres (FMCs) to seek improved working conditions from their Federal Government. A visit to the UITH showed that the nurses, pharmacists, laboratory technologists, administrative and establishment staff were absent from duties in compliance with the union’s directives.But it was not a total strike as all categories of doctors of the hospital were sighted attending to patients. It was not, however, certain if new patients were admitted. Read more
‘When Lagos stepped up tourism promotion with MICE agenda (Tribune)
The recently concluded Lagos Tourism Summit, held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos was a big statement in the anal of the Lagos State, with different papers and panel discussion centered on the theme; Destination Lagos; Towards a Sustainable Tourism-Driven Economy. However, speakers, panelists and stakeholders at the venue have called for sincerity of purpose in using the outcome of the summit to build a robust and sustaining people-driving tourism industry to further grew the state economy. Read more
Accident report indicts pilots, airline, NCAA in Associated’s 2013 crash (Guardian)
The final probe report into the 2013 crash of a plane belonging to Associated Aviation Limited has indicted its pilots and the airline of poor handling of the ill-fated aircraft, leading to the fatal accident in Lagos. The report, among five others released by the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) on Wednesday, found the flight crew of unprofessional conduct, while the airline, now defunct, was charged of “poor company culture”, amid “inadequate regulatory oversight” on the part of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).The Associated airlines’ Embraer 120ER chartered flight, with registration 5N-BJ, on October 3, 2013 crashed very close to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, shortly after take-off. On board were the remains of former Ondo State governor, Olusegun Agagu, and 16 souls, travelling to Akure, Ondo State for burial. Read more
Ayuba kicks against obscene music (Punch)
Fuji artiste, Adewale Ayuba, on Thursday expressed worries over obscene contents in music, saying they were impacting negatively on youths. Ayuba told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that the Federal Government should tackle the problem before it became the norm. The musician said if the government did not do this, it would negatively affect the psyche of the younger ones. He said that the National Film and Video Censors Board had failed in its duties to halt music with negative contents and obscene views over the years. Read more
Wizkid, 2Face, Tiwa Savage, Dj Spinall raise the roof at Gidi culture festival (Tribune)
The one-day event in Lagos marked its fifth year with a new stage, a growing global reach, sold-out food vendors and a host of memorable moments. Alongside pulsating performances by Wizkid, 2baba, Adekunle Gold, Brymo, Aye, Ycee and Dj Spinall, Gidi fest 5 succeeded in providing a platform for local Nigerian artistes with the introduction of the Next Gen stage. 20-year-old Tay Iwar shone through as a breaking act on the main stage, demonstrating the festival’s impressive spread of artists and a strong receptive crowd. 2Face’s amazing show also resonated with the young Nigerian audience – a testament to his legendary status and catalogue of timeless classics. Read more
Surgery: Davido donates N15m to MMIA Staff (Independent)
A female worker at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, became a beneficiary of N15 million from popular musician Davido, a gesture to offset her medical bills. The `IF’ and `FIA’ hits maker posted the video on his Instagram Story @davidoofical to share the joy of being appreciated after the surgery was successful. “Aaww I paid for the surgery of a lady that works at the airport and they did this to thank Me! So Cute!’’ In the video, some of the airport staff held placards with inscription that reads “Omo Baba Olowo Thank You 15 million No Be Joke ooo.” Though the name of the female colleague was not mentioned but the video clearly showed the appreciation to the `Aye’ crooner for his humanitarian gestures. Read more
Evans’ arrest: 58 officers promoted for gallantry (NewTelegraph)
Police Service Commission (PSC) yesterday said it had approved the promotion of 45 officers and acting appointments for 13 others, as part of measures to reward gallantry. The Head, Press and Public Relations of the commission, Mr. Ikechukwu Ani, said in a statement that the officers were rewarded for the gallantry they demonstrated in the arrest of suspected billionaire kidnapper, Mr. Chukwudumuje Onuoamadike (aka Evans), and members of his gang. He said: “The Police Service Commission has approved special promotion of 45 police officers and acting appointments for another 13 officers who played major roles in the arrest of Chukwudumuje Onuoamadike aka Evans, a notorious kidnapper and 21 members of his gang.” According to him, the decision to elevate the officers was taken at the end of the commission’s plenary meeting. Read more
Kidnapping: Evans‘ll not escape Justice, Lagos assures (Nation)
The Lagos State Government on Wednesday assured that no effort would be spared in ensuring the logical conclusion of the cases filed in court against kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike popularly known as Evans. Evans, who was arrested at his mansion in Magodo area of Lagos last year, is being prosecuted by the State Government in court alongside others for masterminding and executing series of high profile kidnappings and murder in the State. The State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, who said this at the ongoing Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa as part of activities marking the third year anniversary of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration, said the State Government was committed to ensure the logical conclusion of all pending cases in court and serve justice to the people. Read more
Reverend King may get clemency (Guardian)
Lagos State Government said Reverend Chukwuemeka Ezeugo popularly called Rev King would get clemency and not go through the hangman’s nose, if Ezeugo is worthy of it. Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, stated this during the 2018 Ministerial Press Briefing of the Ministry of Justice to mark Akinwunmi Ambode third anniversary. Kazeem said: “The truth of the matter is that the case of Rev King, as high profile as it could be, it is just one of the other cases of people that are on death row. The case of the clergy would be considered like others that had been convicted by the court. Read more
England, Nigeria friendly almost sold out (SUN)
Tickets for the June 2 friendly between the Three Lions of England and the Super Eagles slated for the Wembley Stadium are almost sold out, president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick disclosed. Pinnick added that from the interest shown by fans, the match promised to be exciting, stressing that the shape of the Super Eagles team for the World Cup would have emerged by then. “The tickets for Nigeria/England match is almost sold out and it will a good game. The match would play at the Wembley on June 2, and from then we would go to play Czech Republic in Austria on June 6, before moving to Russia for World Cup.” Read more
NFF targets N5.5bn annual sponsorship deals (SUN)
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has revealed that it is targeting an annual sponsorship deal of N5.5 billion from local and foreign partners. A source at the Glass House disclosed that as part of the arrangements to make the football federation financially autonomous, NFF had widened its drive to actualize the targets. Reviewing its strategy, the NFF executive board, during its meeting on Tuesday in Abuja applauded the chairman, Marketing Sub- Committee, Alhaji Shehu Dikko for his committee’s efforts towards ensuring the reliance of the financial target. Read more
Ndidi named in alternate Premier League Team of the Year (SUN)
Leicester City midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi has been named in Squawka’s Alternate Premier League Team of the Year. On Wednesday, the Professional Footballers’ Association announced its Premier League Team of the Year for the 2017-2018 campaign, with no player representing a club outside the top six making the roster. But there are no shortages of quality players outside the top six teams, so Squawka decided to publish a list excluding Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal players. In a 4-4-1-1 formation, Ndidi was selected in central midfield along with Watford ace, Abdoulaye Doucoure. Read more
Joel Obi involved in car accident (SUN)
It has been a bad few days for Super Eagles maestro, Joel Obi on and off the pitch in Italy. Last week, he was involved in an accident with his car, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, while returning from the birthday party of his teammate, Argentina international, Nicolas Burdisso. Though the Nigerian midfielder was unharmed in the crash, Torino coach, Mazzarri did not want to take any risks and left him on the bench in the team’s goalless draw at Chievo in the penultimate round of matches in the Italian topflight. Read more
The woman risking her life to save a village from lead poisoning (CNN)
On a hot afternoon at a sprawling settlement on the outskirts of Mombasa, Phyllis Omido makes her rounds. For close to a decade, Omido has been visiting the Owino Uhuru village, monitoring the various illnesses, deaths, and miscarriages that have occurred since a nearby smelter contaminated the village’s air and water with lead. She passes through the rows of small, mud-walled homes that make up this densely packed village and pokes her head through the doorway of her first visit: Catherine Okello, a small, sickly 35-year-old woman. On the couch next to Okello, Omido listens to her say in a soft, quiet voice that she’s barely eaten in two weeks. Adjacent to them are two framed photos: one of Okello’s five-year-old son staring into the camera, and another of his casket. Omido tells Okello to pack a few items of clothing; she needs to go to the doctor, Omido says. Read more
France to ban use of meat terms to describe vegetable-based products (BBC)
Vegetable-based products such as soya steaks or vegetarian sausages marketed as meat substitutes are to be banned in France for “misleading” consumers. Food producers will no longer be able to use “steak”, “sausage” or any other meat term to describe products that are not partly or wholly made up of meat. The measure will also apply to vegetarian or vegan products marketed as dairy alternatives. Failure to comply will lead to fines of up to €300,000 (£260,000). Read more
Lois Riess: Woman who ‘murdered victim and stole her identity’ arrested (BBC)
US police have arrested a woman suspected of killing first her husband and then a woman who looked like her in order to steal her identity. Lois Riess, 56, was captured at a southern Texas resort after a nationwide manhunt. Mrs Riess has been on the run since 23 March when her husband, David Riess, was found dead in their Minnesota home. Investigators believe she then travelled to Florida, where she allegedly killed a lookalike. Pamela Hutchinson, 59, was found dead in Fort Myers Beach, Florida on 9 April. Read more