THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE JUNE 29, 2018
Otedola Bridge fire: We never wish for incidents like – Ambode (Vanguard)
Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday evening visited the scene of the tanker explosion which occurred on Otedola Bridge inward Ojodu Berger along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, describing the incident as sad and unfortunate. The incident, which occurred at about 5pm, was said to have left over 50 vehicles burnt and nine people dead. Governor Ambode, who visited the scene at about 9:30pm where he was briefed by Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr Seye Oladejo, among other emergency response agencies, particularly commiserated with the families of the victims and those who lost their properties to the incident. Addressing journalists at the scene after assessing the situation, Governor Ambode also directed the emergency responders and relevant government agencies to ensure the immediate removal of all the burnt vehicles from the road so as to open it up again for traffic. Read more
Lagos introduces digitised answer sheet (Punch)
In a bid to stamp out impersonation and all other forms of examination malpractice, the Lagos State Government has invented a digitised theory answer sheet. The innovatation was made public during the unveiling of its pilot phase on Tuesday in the 2018 Basic Education Certificate Examination for JSS 3 pupils. While it was first used in 200 junior schools across 20 local government areas in the state, the Director, Lagos State Examinations Board, Mr Oluwafemi Hassan, described the innovation as a proof of the state’s zero tolerance for malpractice.Read more
LagosReads will revolutionise reading culture, says governor’s aide (Guardian)
Special Adviser to Lagos State Government on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh, has assured that the newly unveiled “LagosReads,” will improve the reading culture among residents and bring a radical change in Lagos literacy rate. He gave the assurance at Herbert Macaulay Library, Yaba, where he formally unveiled the initiative creatively designed to make reading cool and fun. The primary objective of the project according to him is to revive the reading culture to what it used to be in the 70s. If this is achieved, he said this would benefit the entire society, as the nation will begin to reap the dividends inherent in having a literate society. Read more
Ashafa urges youths to change Nigeria, hails Fashola (Punch)
The representative of the Lagos East District in the Senate, Gbenga Ashafa, on Thursday urged Nigerian youths to turn the challenges in the country into opportunities. The senator said this on Thursday in his remarks at the BRF GABFEST 2018 in commemoration of the 55th birthday of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fasola, SAN, at the City Hall on Lagos Island. The senator said he sympathised with the Nigerian youths because of heightened insecurity in the nation, brain drain, “the lack of job opportunities for our teeming young people, and the most recent being that Nigeria has taken over from India as the poverty capital of the world.” Read more
Lagos partner’s others on Research Laboratory (Nation)
The Ikorodu General Hospital, Ikorodu, Lagos State, has commissioned the Joint West Africa Research Group (JWARG). It is in collaboration with the African Centre of Excellent for Genomics of Infectious Disease (ACEGID) located inside the Redeemers’ University Ede, Osun State. The Research Laboratory was founded by the United States Government through the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in collaboration with Nigeria military. Explaining the significance of the centre, the Hospital Medical Director/CEO, Dr. Olufunmilayo Bankole said, “This research Laboratory is founded by the United States Government through the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and this is the first time the Military is partnering with Civilian Agency to establish a Laboratory of this caliber. Read more
Council to hold Business Summit (Nation)
Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos will on July 11 hold maiden Ejigbo Business Summit. The event will take place at Pinkron Hotels at Bucknor Estate, Ejigbo. According to the council Chairman, Monsuru Bello a.k.a Obe, former presidential aide Prof Pat Utomi will lead the discussants. Bello said the summit would pave the way for the creation of a Central Business District (CBD) in Ejigbo for those who cannot go to the Island to transact businesses. Read more
Mornings with Mama awakens parents to their roles (Punch)
Olufunke Fowler- Amba, daughter of a leading educationist, Chief Leila Fowler, has unveiled a book she wrote on her experience with the mum, who is the founder of Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls, Oregun, Lagos. The book unveiled on Wednesday at Metropolitan Club, Victoria Island, Lagos documents the values the author learnt from her mother, while it is also a call for the reorientation of adults and children to make Nigeria a better place. Fowler-Amba said her motivation, in addition to honouring and appreciating the old Fowler, was to impress on this generation the value of learning from the older. Read more
Pupil’s action inspires MC Oluomo to help 6 schools (Nation)
A pupil of Local Government Primary School, Orile in Oshodi Local Government has attracted amenities to her school and five others through her selfless act. The pupil refused to join others to collect money from the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) leader in Oshodi, Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya popularly called MC Oluomo at the Oshodi Central Mosque after a Jumat service. The Nation learnt that Oluomo usually distributed money to pupils after service. When the girl didn’t join others for the money, Oluomo beckoned on her after sharing out the money and asked what informed her action. Read more
Foundation initiates childhood project in Lagos (DailyTrust)
Foundation for Montessori Education in Nigeria (FMEN), has unveiled plans to support families to properly manage the early childhood of their wards being raised with Montessori education. The NGO unveiled the programme at its first annual general meeting held in Lagos. FMEN Chairperson, Bimpe Pogson, said the ‘Aid to Life’ project shall be focusing on three key areas of “preparing the child for the environment, connect the child with the environment and make time for the child.” “To support early years’ education in Nigeria, FMEN proposes to focus this initial phase of the programme on the less privileged in the society who don’t have access to child care,” Pogson said. Read more
MSMEs catalysts for growth, says LASG (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has described owners of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the state as catalysts for socio-economic change responsible for employment generation, wealth creation and economic growth. The Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, said this at an event organised to mark Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Day to recognise the roles of MSMEs in global economic development. She said the sub-sector, which was predominantly made up of active women and youth population, was responsible for improved livelihoods and economies globally, a statement said on Thursday. Read more
Lagos-Badagry Expressway: Harrowing tales of traffic gridlock (Vanguard)
Commuters and motor-ists plying the Lagos-Badagry Expressway are no longer finding it funny. Plying the international road has become hectic, and this can be attributed to the failed portions on both sides of the highway. This has forced motorists and commuters to spend hours maneuvering the road. Residents had for weeks, been enduring gridlock on the section of the road from Okokomaiko to Badagry. But the situation last Sunday worsened as gridlock experienced on the road spread to Lot 2 section of the road spanning Mile 2 and Okokomaiko. Many, who had intended to visit relatives and attend meetings found themselves trapped in traffic with little or no hope of making it out of it in hours. Read more
Lagos-Ibadan rail: FG orders CCECC back to Lagos (Punch)
The Federal Government has directed the contractor handling the modern Lagos-Ibadan rail line, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, to commence work on the Lagos-end of the project, having cleared most of the huddles hindering the job, including the right of way issue. This is coming barely six months to the December 2018 deadline for the completion of the $1.5bn standard gauge line, whose ground-breaking was performed last year by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who was then the Acting President. The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, who gave the updates on the rail project in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday, after a monthly meeting with representatives of the contractors, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of work on the new track. Read more
Air Namibia begins direct flight to Lagos (Nation)
Air Namibia, the national carrier of the Republic of Namibia, today begins direct flight from Windhoek, Namibia to Lagos, and then to Accra, Ghana, with a return flight from Accra to Lagos, and then to Windhoek. The flight, which will run four times a week, will be on Mondays, Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays using the airlines Airbus A319-100 aircraft. According to Air Namibia official sources, this development is the culmination of many years of negotiations between Nigeria and Namibia, spearheaded by the Nigeria High Commission in Windhoek. Apart from providing direct connection from Namibia to west Africa, the operation will further transport passengers and cargo on the Lagos-Accra-Lagos route, using the fifth freedom traffic rights granted by the Nigerian and Ghanaian Governments, as contained in the existing Bilateral Air Service Agreements. Nigerian passengers can now fly to Accra on Air Namibia, departing from Lagos. Read more
Trader ‘slashes’ landlady with blade (Nation)
A 30 -year-old trader, Mariam Amos, was yesterday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly inflicting life threatening injuries on her landlady with a blade. According to prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Ezekiel Ayorinde, the accused committed the offence on June 12 at Alakuko, a Lagos suburb. He said the accused inflicted deep cuts on her landlady, Mrs Tolani Sholanke because she gave her a quit notice. Ayorinde said Sholanke gave the accused a quit notice for allegedly quarrelling with other tenants. He said Sholanke reported the case and the accused was arrested. Read more
Lagos discovers 25 Athletes at 4th U15 Deaf Sports School Games (Independent)
As part of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode government’s all-inclusive policy in sports development, a four-day multi sports games was organised for deaf students in the state at the Agege Stadium, the ‘Soccer Temple’.At the end of the tournament tagged Lagos U15 Deaf Sports School Games, a total number of 25 athletes were discovered in Badminton, Table Tennis and Athletics. These set of athletes, though were physically impaired, they proved that there is ability in disabilities as they did their various schools proud. Read more
International Breweries boosts Lagos World Cup Viewing Centres (ThisDay)
International Breweries Plc has joined Lagos State Government to bring live football matches of the ongoing Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup Finals to Lagos fans. International Breweries is sponsoring all the Viewing centers established by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode through the Lagos State Sports Commission. These viewing centers, which were adequately secured and insured are located at Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos Island; Abesan playground, Alimosho; Naval Yard Ajegunle; Bishop Aggrey Youth Centre, Mushin and Epe Recreation Centre. He also maded approval for additional two viewing centres at Ikorodu Town Hall, Ikorodu and Badagry Grammar School, Badagry. Read more