LASG bring back LAKE Rice to crash prices (Punch)
The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said LAKE Rice was now available at retail outlets, markets, super markets and stores across the state. The Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Oluwatoyin Suarau, who stated this while reviewing distribution report of the product, said the government flooded the state with bags of the rice because of skyrocketing prices of other rice products in the market, adding that the government would ensure all year round availability of LAKE Rice at affordable prices. Read more
Lagos ministry clarifies non-payment of sanitation workers’ salaries (Guardian)
Following Visionscape’s statement on August 28, 2018, wherein the organisation denied and clarified allegations regarding their purported non-payment of Community Sanitation Workers’ (CSW) salaries, the Ministry of Environment has accepted responsibility of paying the CSWs. Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of the Environment, Mr. Abiodun Bamgboye, said there had been some anomalies in their payment system, which caused the delay in salary payment. Read more
OGUNDELE: Agege boy who became one of Nigeria’s youngest billionaires (Vanguard)
In a society with limited opportunities especially for youths, he was terrified by the fear of poverty early in life. In Agege, a Lagos suburb, where he grew up, he converted his apprehension to a motivation which eventually became his saving grace. Education and creativity were vital in elevating Mr. Sijibomi Ogundele to the position of Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of a multi-billion naira real estate firm, Sujimoto Construction. The firm built the tallest residential building, Lorenzo, in Lagos. His wealth and fame at a relatively young age, have been adjudged an inspiration. Ogundele, who is regarded as one of Nigeria’s youngest billionaires, is rated a brave young entrepreneur by Forbes Africa. The following is his story: Read more
Jim Iyke debunks airport arrest, says it’s blogs sensationalism (Vanguard)
Nollywood superstar actor, Jim Iyke has debunked the reports making rounds that he was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed Airport on Monday following a bust up with a security personnel of Dana Air after having allegedly missed his flight. Jim Iyke who spoke exclusively with Vanguard Ripples said there was no arrest of any sort, adding that it was mere sensationalism and mischief on the part of mediocre bloggers to get stories out without recourse to proper assessment of situations and thorough investigation. Read more
FG seeks World Bank, Bill Gates’ support to fund NHIS (Punch)
The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that the Federal Government no longer has the resources to fund the National Health Insurance Scheme. He said the government was seeking funding from the World Bank and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to provide better health insurance coverage for Nigerians. Read more
There are plans to destabilise Nigeria before 2019 polls – Okogie (Vanguard)
Retired Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, yesterday, warned of attempts by some unscrupulous politicians to destabilise Nigeria before the 2019 general elections even as he urged Nigerians not to vote on ethnic, religious or regional lines. In a letter entitled: ‘Beware the Ides of March’, Okogie said; “no true lover of Nigeria would want to drag this country into bloodshed.” Read more
Akwa Ibom indigenes march for Udom in Lagos (Vanguard)
Akwa Ibom supporters of the second term aspiration of Governor Udom Emmanuel based in Lagos took their support to the streets of the nation’s capital over the weekend. The supporters under the aegis of different support groups engaged themselves in what was styled as a 5,000 Man March for Governor Emmanuel during which the recent defection of Emmanuel’s predecessor became a talking point. Read more
Govt denies plan to sell NLNG to reflate economy (Punch)
The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, on Tuesday denied that the Federal Government had any intentions to sell its stakes in the Nigerian LNG Limited. He made a submission to the House of Representatives Committee on Gas Resources and Allied Matters at the National Assembly in Abuja. The committee is chaired by a member from Bayelsa State, Mr Frederick Agbedi. Read
Mr President, rule of law is sacrosanct (Punch)
President Muhammadu Buhari again pushed the narrative against the observance of the rule of law at the weekend as he asserted that national security and national interest should precede considerations of legality. Mr President chose the 58th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association to make this assertion aimed at furthering a gradual but sure-footed descent into illiberalism and dictatorship. It is the wrong path. Read more
Osinbajo urges stiffer sanctions for corrupt lawyers (Vanguard)
Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, yesterday, decried the pervading level of corruption in the justice sector, even as he called for stiffer sanctions against legal practitioners found culpable in acts of judicial malpractices. Osinbajo, who spoke at the ongoing Annual General Conference of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, in Abuja also identified delay in justice delivery as a major problem bedevilling the judiciary. Read more
Buhari scared of Kwankwaso’s popularity — CUPP (Vanguard)
Less than 24 hours to his presidential declaration on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, erstwhile Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, confirmed yesterday that the Federal Government has barred him from using the Eagle Square, despite paying for same. Kwankwaso had announced a few days ago that he would make his presidential declaration today (Wednesday) at the Eagle Square. Read more
Nigerian students to benefit from N12.5m Interswitch scholarship (Vanguard)
In a bid to increase interest in the study of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STM), e-commerce and digital payment company, Interswitch, has concluded plans to host its maiden edition of InterswitchSPAK project with about N12.5million-scholarship amongst other prizes. Group Managing Director, GMD, Interswitch, Mitchell Elegbe, said: “The project is a real experiential window for students, where they will not only meet successful people who are providing solutions, but will also be motivated and prepared to develop the right mind-set and attitude for leadership.” Read more
Tax burden scares MSMEs from registering businesses (Vanguard)
Most Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria are scared of registering their businesses due to fear of tax burden, Prince Degun Agboade, President of Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) has said. Agboade stated this yesterday, in Lagos, at the inaugural edition of the Vanguard Economic Forum Series focusing on MSMEs, with the theme, “The impact of Technology Adoption for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises in a Changing Tax Policy and Regulatory Environment”. Read more
Security agents aided disruption of Rivers by-election — Wike (Punch)
THE Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has maintained that security agents abetted the disruption of the August 18 by-election held in Port Harcourt Constituency 3. Wike also called on non-governmental organisations and the international community to speak out on the matter in order to avoid a repeat of the incident in Port Harcourt or anywhere in the country. Read more
Three arrested for attempting to kidnap prof (Nation)
Three persons have been arrested in Edo State for attempting to kidnap an Emeritus Professor Joshua UnuiGboje Aiseku. Adamu Aminu, 23, Tamuno Diepreye Samuel, 19, and Ovie Raymond, 21, were said to have threatened to kidnap and kill Prof. Aiseku, if he did not pay them the equivalent of N7.5 million. The suspects provided a Turkish bank account number 851838335002, with account name, Akunday Aorah, into which their victim was to pay the money. Read more
Ohanaeze youths kick over alleged South West’s 2023 presidential plot (Guardian)
Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) has faulted the alleged plot by the South West to produce Nigeria’s president in 2023, insisting that it was the turn of Ndigbo to occupy the most exalted office in the land. In a statement by its Secretary General, Okwu Nnabuike and Deputy Public Relations Officer, Ado Osaka, after a meeting yesterday in Abakiliki, Ebonyi State, OYC frowned on the reports that a cabal in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had perfected plans to return power to the South West when President Buhari completes his terms. Read more