THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE APRIL 7, 2018
Strange things we did after oil spill —Lagos community residents (Nation)
There is still no respite for residents of Isheri Oshun community, a suburb of Ijegun area of Lagos State, after the oil spill that threw the community into panic early Thursday morning. The embattled residents, who spoke with The Nation, were yet to overcome the shock they suffered as a result of the incident which they said would have wiped out the entire community had there been a spark of fire when the fume enveloped the area. Paralysed by the fear of the imminent danger, the respondents shared the weird decisions they took while fleeing their homes. “When I sensed danger, I quickly went to where I kept my money and took everything. I also took my ATM card so that if the unexpected should happen, I would have something to take care of myself and my household for about two weeks. That was the thought that came to my mind and I immediately acted on it,” a resident who gave her name as Akpo Nkiruka said. Read more
Lagos enhances transit payment system, launches EMV Contactless card (Vanguard)
Over 500,000 daily commuters on the Lagos Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system can now board buses using a contact-less card payment system. The system allows commuters who ride on BRT buses to make payments via their Lagos Connect contactless cards powered by Farepay that have either been pre-loaded or linked to a funded bank account. Powered by Lagos State, LAMATA, Primero Transport Limited and Sterling Bank Plc, the enhanced electronic payment system was launched Thursday at the Sterling Bank, House, Marina, Lagos in partnership with leading global payment and technology companies – Mikroelektronica, MasterCard, E-Purse Systems, Monet Plus, NIBSS, Epay-plus and SecureID in Lagos. Read more
Buhari congratulates David Mark at 70 (Punch)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday congratulated a former President of the Senate and Senator representing Zone C Constituency of Benue State, David Alechenu Mark, on his 70th birthday. In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President felicitated with the family, friends and political associates of the former military officer, who served the country variously as a governor, minister and Senate President. The statement read, “As Senator Mark turns a septuagenarian, the President commends the maturity, stability and focused legislation that he instituted in the upper chamber during the eight years he served as Senate President, and the dutifulness that culminated in the passing of many bills. Read more
Waste collection: PSP operators refute LASG settlement claim (Vanguard)
Moments after a statement had been issued on an agreement by the Visionscape Sanitation Solution, VSS and Private Sector Participant (PSP) operators, otherwise called Waste Collection Operators (WCO),to work together on waste collection in the state, one of the parties has denied the agreement. Chief Executive Officer, CEO of VSS, Mr John Irvine, described the purported agreement to work together as welcome development stressing that Visionscape was already in control of three transfer loading stations and three vehicle maintenance depots, in addition to the ongoing construction of the first engineered landfill in West Africa in Epe, Lagos State. Read more
Second Lagos Leather Fair set for next month (Guardian)
The Lagos Leather Fair, the first of its kind in the country for all the stakeholders along the leather value chain, will hold on May 5-6 this year at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos. Created to identify the challenges facing the industry with the hope of finding possible innovative and sustainable solutions, the theme of this year is The New Possible. The leather industry has been identified by the Bank of Industry (BOI) to generate an annual income of N24.5 billion even with limited support and also has the capacity to create over 700,000 direct and indirect jobs, therefore implying that the industry has not been maximized to its full potential. Read more
Lagos-Budapest Challenge kicks off June (Nation)
No fewer than 300 participants from across Europe will in June be part of the maiden intercontinental motor rally tagged Budapest-Lagos Challenge. The rally, according to the initiator, Omotunde Komolafe, is aimed at drawing the attention of Europeans to the tourism potential in Nigeria as well as showcasing the country to the world of motor rally. Komolafe, who spoke in Lagos, said Nigeria was blessed with people endowed with tourism potential waiting for development.“My country is endowed with tourism potentialities which are still virgin, in the raw form and waiting to be enhanced, developed and patronised. Read more
Adeboye prays for release of all girls in Boko Haram captivity (Guardian)
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has prayed for the immediate release of all the female students still in Boko Haram captivity. This formed part of his sermon at the April 2018 Holy Ghost Service and Vigil of the Church at its prayer ground in Mowe, Ogun, on Kilometre 45 of Lagos – Ibadan Expressway, which ended on Saturday. The monthly programme was attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and his wife, Dolapo, as well as thousands of Christian faithful. Read more
No plastic fish in Nigeria, says NAFDAC (Guardian)
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), yesterday, assued that there was no plastic fish in circulation in Nigeria and called on Nigerians to report any suspected unwholesome product, including fish, to the nearest NAFDAC office for further investigation. In a statement in Abuja, NAFDAC noted that after a report from a Nigerian consumer in Abuja that he bought a fish and discovered that it refused to cook when it was set on fire for several minutes, the agency launched a thorough investigation and analysis of some suspected plastic fish samples in its laboratory. Read more
Nigeria needs support of the clergy, says Adesina (Guardian)
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina has said Nigeria is in need of spiritual support of respectable clergy. Speaking yesterday when pastors of the Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT), led by the Deputy General Overseer of the Mission, Pastor Emmanuel Oluwayemi paid him a courtesy call in his office, Adesina called on religious leaders in the country to continue to pray for the unity, peace and prosperity of the country, especially as she approaches 2019 elections. He added that God is the ultimate solution to all challenges and that no man has the solution to happenings around him. Read more
Celebrating the World Health Day (Nation)
The World Heath Day is a global health awareness day celebrated every year on the 7th of April, under the sponsorship of the World Health Organization ( WHO ). It is a known and popular saying that health is wealth; regardless of the amount of cash you have stashed in your account, a deficient health is tantamount to poverty. The theme of this year’s celebration of global health is “Good Health Adds Life To Years”. WHO as an international body is saddled with the responsibility to help people around the world attain the highest possible standard of health. Read more
My daughter won’t suffer inferiority complex like me –Seyi Law (Punch)
It seems ace comedian Seyi Law is already preparing the stage for his daughter Tiwaloluwa. In a recent comedy gig, the comedian performed with his one-year-old daughter and they both succeeded in worming their way into the hearts of the audience. From the clip, the proud father was seen asking Tiwa various questions ranging from the name of her country, to the name of the governor of Lagos State, and Tiwa answered correctly, triggering hearty cheers from the audience. This is the first time the comedian would be spotted performing with Tiwa and in a chat with Saturday Beats, he revealed that the questions were not rehearsed. He said, “No, we did not rehearse before I brought her on stage. Read more
Offa robbery: We have arrested seven suspects, say police (Punch)
The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Lawan Ado, on Saturday said seven suspects have been arrested in connection with the robbery of banks in Offa, Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State. Armed robbers had on Thursday robbed Union Bank, Ecobank, Guarantee Trust Bank, First Bank, Zenith Banks and Ibolo Micro Finance Bank. The CP during a media briefing in Ilorin, the Kwara State Capital said the number of injured victims had yet to be ascertained as they were receiving treatment in different hospitals. Read more
Don’t rely on past successes, Adelabu tells Eagles (Guardian)
Former Green Eagles winger, Adegoke Adelabu says that Super Eagles must not rely on their past successes in confronting today’s game, particularly as they prepare for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. For the team to succeed, according to Adelabu, the players must change their attitude with or without the ball during matches. “Every game sets its own standard,” Adelabu said in a message to The Guardian. “That is why our players need to evaluate themselves on the basis of their understanding of their responsibilities on the field of play. Read more
Commonwealth Games: Blessing Okagbare set to defend titles (Punch)
Blessing Okagbare’s quest to successfully defend her Commonwealth Games 100 and 200 metres sprint titles will be boosted by her new African record over the longer distance. Last month, the Nigerian shattered compatriot Mary Onyali’s 22-year-old mark of 22.07secs when she ran 22.04secs in Texas, the fastest time in the world this year. It could provide a psychological edge for Okagbare, who is coming off an injury-hit 2017 and will face Olympic champion Elaine Thompson of Jamaica in the 200m in Gold Coast. Read more
Amazons tackle Robo as 2018 NWPL season begins (Punch)
The Nigeria Women’s Premier League begins today with an opening match between last season’s champions Nasarawa Amazons and Lagos club Robo Queens at the Lafia Stadium. Following the congress of the Nigeria Women’s Football league in March, the season will run in an abridged format with the clubs in two groups of eight teams each. Four-time winners Rivers Angels alongside Confluence Queens, Edo Queens, Sure Babes, Delta Queens, Taraba Queens, Bayelsa Queens and Ibom Angels are in Group A while Group B has Amazons, Adamawa Queens, Abia Angels, Robo, Jokodolu Babes, Sunshine Queens, Osun Babes and Pelican Stars. Read more
South Carolina Republican puts loaded gun on table in constituent meeting (Guardian)
A South Carolina Republican pulled out his own loaded handgun during a meeting with constituents on Friday, in an attempt to make a point that guns are dangerous only in the hands of criminals. One campaigner for gun reform who was present at the “coffee with constituents” meeting called the US representative’s actions “a far cry from what responsible gun ownership looks like”. According to local news reports, Republican Ralph Norman placed the .38-caliber gun on a table and said: “I’m not going to be a Gabby Giffords.” He was referring to a former Democratic Arizona congresswoman who was shot outside a grocery store during a constituent gathering in 2011. Read more
Salman Khan bailed after jailing over deer shooting (ITV)
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has been granted £550 bail two days after he was jailed for five years for poaching rare deer. Khan, 52, will be set free on Saturday after signing the surety bond of 50,000 rupees as he appeals against his conviction. Fans of the star, who has appeared in more than 90 Hindi-language films, danced outside the courtroom in Jodhpur, a town in western India, and chanted: “We love you, Salman.” Khan will remain on bail pending the outcome of the appeal into the alleged poaching in a wildlife preserve 20 years ago. Read more