THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE JULY 12, 2018
Third Mainland Bridge to be shut for 27 months (Vanguard)
The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Mr Adedamola Kuti, on Wednesday in Lagos said that the emergency rehabilitation/maintenance of the Third Mainland Bridge project would begin on July 27. Kuti who disclosed this a stakeholders’ meeting at the Ministry of Works office in Lagos. He said that the repair works on the bridge would be staggered over a period of 27 months and would be handled by Borini Prono Construction Company. The meeting was convened by the ministry for stakeholders to brainstorm on effective traffic diversion and management to prevent gridlocks during the period. Some of the stakeholders at the event include: NUPENG, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the police. Read more
‘Add value to governance’ (Punch)
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Wednesday urged the six newly-appointed permanent secretaries to contribute to the efforts of his administration to build a smart city. Ambode spoke at the swearing-in of the permanent secretaries at the Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja. He noted that the vision to transform the state could only be actualised when abilities were matched with responsibilities. “We believe strongly that our state public service deserves nothing but the best. Our vision to build a smart city can only be driven and actualised by matching ability with responsibility. This is a key philosophy which has guided all our actions since we assumed office. Read more
Ambode urges capacity training for improved services (Punch)
The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Wednesday said the systematic development of workers’ capacity and the creative use of resources by his administration was to secure the future of Lagos. The governor, according to a statement, added that the capacity development and innovative use of resources would enable the government to do more with less. Ambode spoke at the conferment of the ‘Award of Excellence and Outstanding in Capacity Building’ on the Lagos State Government by the Nigerian Institute of Training & Development, NITD, at its 26th Annual Trainers’ Conference on Wednesday at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja. Read more
Ambode Inaugurates Ultra-modern Furniture Factory (ThisDay)
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has described the citing of a new ultra-modern furniture company named ‘Home and You’ in Ibeshe, a suburb of Ikorodu, as a key driver for the economy of the state and the country at large. Ambode, while delivering a goodwill message at the unveiling of the factory in Lagos on Tuesday, said it will create employment and increase the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). “This is the first furniture company of its kind in the Ikorodu axis and it’s a clear indication that the efforts of Lagos Sate government to provide security and infrastructure is beginning to yield positive fruits”, he said. Read more
Lagos, Ogun, Osun to represent SouthWest in NNPC Science Quiz finals (Guardian)
Winners have emerged in the southwest regional finals of the ongoing 2018 Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Science Quiz Competition. Out of the six Southwest states of Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo state, three winners will represent the region at the national finals slated for September in Abuja. The representatives who emerged from an earlier competition organised for all secondary schools in the zone contested for the opportunity at the Wesley School of Science, Elekuro, Ibadan. At the end of the keenly contested competition, Lagos, Ogun and Osun states emerged first with 55 points, Oyo and Ekiti states emerged fourth with 50 points apiece while Ondo state emerged sixth with 40 points. Read more
Lagos schools get over N10 million as contest prizes (Guardian)
The Lagos State Government has awarded over N10 million cash prizes to winners in the grand finale of the State’s Schools Debate Season IX. The winning teams of each category in primary, junior and senior secondary schools were also given additional N50, 000 from Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. Deputy Governor, Idiat Oluranti Adebule who announced the special prize said the gift was the governor’s way of rewarding the pupils for their hard work. The winners in the three categories won N1m each, while the first and second runners up got N750, 000 and N500, 000 respectively. All schools that ended up in the fourth positions got N250, 000 each. The star prize of the primary category went to Ayetoro Primary School while the second and third prizes were won by Odo-Abore Primary School, Mushin and Onilikere Primary School, Ikeja respectively. Read more
Group seeks alternative source of energy (Punch)
A non-governmental organisation, 350.org, has called on the Federal Government to invest in an alternative source of energy, pointing out that fuels and coal mining are not sustainable for the environment. The coordinator of the group, Idowu Esuku, spoke at a rally in Lagos, a statement said on Wednesday. The rally reportedly started at the Opebi Allen Roundabout and ended at the Lagos State House of Assembly. Esuku said many countries were moving from fossil energy to hydro, wind and solar sources of energy because they were environment friendly and sustainable. Read more
Lagos-Ibadan rail: Disquiet as FG demands list of local engineers (DailyTrust)
There is disquiet over the alleged flouting of the Nigerian content law in the on-going $1.5bn Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge project being constructed by the China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC), Daily Trust can report. It was gathered that the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi has demanded from the contractors list of local engineers involved in the project. During the last inspection of the project in Ibadan, the minister was shocked to find out that some workers on site introduced as engineers were mere foremen. “The Minister has asked the contractors to give him a list of Nigerian engineers employed in this project to know whether it is comparable otherwise, they will be asked to add more and know which areas are they engaged in,” a source disclosed yesterday. Read more
EFCC recovers N20b, secures 42 convictions in Lagos (Nation)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said it recovered N20 billion from corruption suspects in Lagos State alone this week. EFCC acting-chairman Ibrahim Magu said it also secured 42 convictions in the state between January and July. Magu, who was represented by EFCC Zonal Head in Lagos, Akaninyene Ezima, spoke in Lagos Wednesday during an anti-corruption walk to mark the African Anti-Corruption Day with the theme ‘Africa unite against corruption.’ The walk was organised in collaboration with civil society organisations including Women Arise for Change Initiative and Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering (GIABA) among others. Read more
Ugborodo indigenes protest against JAD over contract in Lagos (Vanguard)
A community in the Escravos area of Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, yesterday, protested against JAD Catering Services, in Lagos over its alleged unwillingness to pay part of contract proceeds to the community. The community also petitioned the National Petroleum Investment Management Services, NAPIMS, Corporate Services Unit, CSU in the Exploration and Production, E&P, Directorate of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to take note of the development. The community, whose members blocked the entrance to Chevron Nigeria Limited premises to register its protest, disclosed in a document that it was the support of the community that enabled JAD to win the contract in 2009. Read more
Ikorodu seeks another shot at Senate (Guardian)
Barely seven months to the 2019 general election, constituents from Ikorodu Division of Lagos East Senatorial district have initiated political schemes to ensure that the division produces the next candidate to represent it at the Red Chamber of the National Assembly. This is coming on the heels of recent calls for balanced representation among the components of the Senatorial district, especially claim that while Somolu/Kosofe and Epe/Ibeju-Lekki axis have presented representatives for two terms each, Ikorodu had only gotten one opportunity. Read more
Centre takes beggars off Lagos streets with training (Guardian)
Poised to facilitate the Lagos State government’s effort at reducing the large number of street beggars, Beady Empowerment Center recently organised a training and mentorship programme for persons living with disabilities. They were trained on shoemaking, watch repair, photography video/audio editing, bead making, hair/nail making, toiletries production, tie and dye, digital marketing and computer appreciation. With the theme, ‘Ability in Disability’, the one-week event in its second edition was held at the mini stadium in Ifako Ijaiye, Lagos. Read more
Group demands prosecution of killer policeman (Punch)
A human rights organisation, Know Your Rights Initiative, has demanded the prosecution of a policeman attached to the Isheri Osun Police Division, Lagos, for allegedly killing a graduate, Jude Okoronta. The group decried the arrest and arraignment of some youths who were accused of damaging the property of a hotel in Ijegun, Ikotun, where the victim was allegedly shot dead by the cop. The NGO, in a petition to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions and the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, alleged that the residents were arrested while in a meeting with the Area M Commander over the killing. Read more
Lagos seeks new sports talents (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has said its commitment to sports and entertainment development is unwavering, adding that it is keen on discovering talents that can win laurels and project the state globally. The Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr Kweku Tandoh, who stated this on Wednesday during a press briefing at the Teslim Balogun Stadium Sports Hall in Surulere, added that the government was collaborating with a firm, Towas Events, to organise a football-dance competition for children between ages five and 22. Read more
Football dance competition debuts in Lagos (Guardian)
Over 1000 participants are expected to compete for honours at the maiden Football Dance Competition holding on August 29 at the Indoor Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium. The event, which is opened to talented amateur footballers of ages five to 22 years to showcase their creativity with dance and get rewards, is organised by the Lagos State government through the state Sports Commission with the support of the state Football Association. Speaking with The Guardian on Tuesday, the Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr. Kweku Tandoh, said it is an opportunity to engage the youths. Read more
