THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE JUNE 18, 2018
Why Ambode has not declared for second term—Epe indigenes, others (Vanguard)
As anxiety mounts over continued delay by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State to declare for second term, prominent indigenes of Epe, his home town, including Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, have given insight as to why the governor is yet to declare his second term ambition ahead of 2019 elections. Speaking yesterday, when residents of Epe, Epe Local Government Area of the state, stormed Marina axis of Epe for a rally on the platform of Epe Indigenes Stand for Ambode, led by Princess Bola Kazeem, Mrs Oladunjoye, urged the people not to worry as Governor Ambode will declare his stance at the appropriate time. Read more
Lagos seeks prioritisation of children’s rights in national policies (Guardian)
The Lagos State Government at the weekend advocated for the prioritisation of children’s rights in national policies and programmes for sustainable socio-economic development of the country. Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Agboola Dabiri, made the request at this year’s Day of the African Child at Ikeja with the theme: Leave No Child Behind For Africa’s Development. He said it was time children’s interests were prioritised above other issues in national policies and programmes, as many still lacked access to good education, adequate nutrition and quality healthcare. Read more
Lagos to students: Stop discriminating against albinos in your midst (Tribune)
The Lagos State government has urged both primary and secondary school students in the state to stop discriminating against the albinos in their midst, saying albinos are normal human beings like them. She also advised them not only to feel, mix and play freely with the albinos but also to share knowledge, experiences and other good things with them. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mrs Adebunmi Adekanye, gave the advice on behalf of the state government while speaking at an event to mark this year’s International Albinism Awareness Day in Lagos. Read more
Lagos lawyer drags Saraki, others to court for calling IGP unfit (Vanguard)
For declaring the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris, unfit to run for public office, a Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Debo Adeleke, has filed a suit against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and others before a Federal High Court. The Senate had declared Idris ‘’unfit to hold position in and outside Nigeria and an enemy of democracy’’ over his failure to appear before it. Joined as co-respondents in the suit are the Senate of National Assembly and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, as the first and third respondents, respectively. Read more
Convention: INEC backs Lagos APC’s delegates, court rules June 19 (Punch)
The Independent National Electoral Commission and the All Progressives Congress have urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to affirm Lagos State’s delegates for the June 23 national convention of the party. They urged the court to dismiss a motion filed by a member of the party in Lagos State, Bunmi Church, seeking an interlocutory injunction to stop the party’s delegates in the state from participating in the national convention. Justice Binta Nyako on Thursday fixed June 19 to rule on whether or not to restrain INEC and the APC from recognising the Lagos State’s delegates lined up for the June 23 convention. Read more
LASG screens 140 new waste collectors…distributes two million waste bags (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has screened 140 intending private sector waste managers who will soon join the existing PSP operators to evacuate waste and ensure a cleaner metropolis. The Special Adviser to the Governor on the Cleaner Lagos Initiative, Adebola Shabi, stated this at a stakeholders’ meeting with community and religious leaders as well as market men and women in Iju, Ifako-Ijaiye. He said the state government had carried out a survey, which showed that 16,000 commercial premises were in Lagos, while the total number of PSP operators was 350. Read more
NIESV plans forum on specialised real estate fields (Punch)
The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Lagos State Branch, says it has concluded plans to host the second edition of its real estate flagship programme on specialisation tagged ‘The Summit 2.0’. The Vice Chairman of the branch and Chairman of the Heads of Practice Sub-committee, Adedotun Bamigbola, said the forum would focus on a variety of specialised fields in real estate. These, according to him, include project finance, facility management, property taxation, mortgage and insurance valuation, agribusiness and Real Estate Investment Trust, among others. Read more
AMCON loses battle over Lagos Federal Secretariat Complex (Guardian)
Six years after fierce legal battle between the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Wale Babalakin and one of his companies, Resort International Limited over the soul of the Federal Secretariat Complex, Ikoyi, Lagos, the matter has been resolved in favour of the defendants. AMCON and Babalakin have been in a legal battle for the possession of Federal Secretariat Complex, Ikoyi since 2012. In the suit filed at the Federal High Court, Lagos against Babalakin and one of his companies, Resort International Limited, in November 2012, AMCON is seeking an order for the repayment of the sum of N20.5 billion comprising principal sum and accrued interest as at October 2011 on various loan facilities allegedly granted to the businessman and personally guaranteed by his company. Read more
Lekki-Epe, Nigeria’s property investment hub – Propertymart (Punch)
The Lekki-Epe area of Lagos remains the hub for property investment, the promoters of Propertymart Real Estate Investment Limited have said. Based on this, the company said it was aggressively developing the Fairmont Estate, its property on the Sangotedo axis of Lekki, and offering affordable land with flexible payment structure for the young and upwardly mobile investors. The Managing Director, Propertymart Real Estate Investment Limited, Mr Deji Fasuwon, stated that the company recently launched a social enterprise strategy, which it called the ‘Housing revolution’, to woo investors to opportunities in the Fairmont Estate. Read more
Why action on distressed buildings is slow, by Lagos official (Guardian)
Dreams by residents in Lagos State for safe and sustainable buildings may be hanging on the air due to inertia by relevant authority in addressing cases of marked distressed and abandoned building across the state. The Guardian investigations revealed that many of the buildings marked as distressed in location like; Berkley Street, Lagos Island and some other areas are still being occupied by people. This, experts say portend danger for the built environment. The government had recently disclosed that it has identified 149 distressed buildings across the State in the last one year, out of which 40 have been demolished. Read more
Ukiwe urges Ndigbo in Lagos to be Law-Abiding (Independent)
Retired Air Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, the former Chief of Staff during the administration of retired General Ibrahim Babangida, has charged Ndigbo living in Lagos State to be law abiding and pay their taxes. He also urged the Igbos to fulfil their civic responsibilities and live in peace with their neighbours because they are ambassadors of Ndigbo any where they are. The former Nigeria’s number two man made the statement when he was the chairman during the recent inauguration of the Lagos State executive council (EXCO) of Ohanaeze Ndigbo at the National Theater, Lagos, at the weekend. Solomon Aguene was sworn in as the president of the Igbo socio-cultural organization in Lagos. Read more
Engineers to host students’ quiz competition (Guardian)
The Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers (NSChE) has concluded plans to host the maiden edition of the yearly intercollegiate quiz competition in chemical engineering among tertiary institutions in Lagos State. The programme, which is being organised by NSChE Lagos/Ogun Chapters, is part of efforts to get the students to develop a deeper knowledge of the profession and contribute meaningfully to the industrial development of Nigeria. Speaking on the programme, which would host four higher schools that include; University of Lagos (UNILAG), the Lagos State University (LASU), Covenant University and the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), a member of the planning committee, Mrs. Edith Alagbe disclosed that the goal is to make the students to be versatile, advance their knowledge of the field and provide a platform for participants to exchange ideas. Read more
SIFAX Group begins Ferry Service in Lagos (Independent)
SIFAX Group, determined to ease movement of passengers through waterways has commenced ferry service operations from its newly-commissioned terminal at Ebute Ojo Jetty, in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State. Captain Olugbade Ibrahim, Managing Consultant to SIFAX Ferry Terminal, Ojo, said Sifax launched this new venture as part of it’s desires to increase transport options for commuters and to support the efforts of the Lagos State government to develop water transportation sector. “We are conscious of adding value and bring new innovations to the waterway business. Our business goals and objectives are well aligned with that of the Lagos State Government in the massive development of the waterways. Read more
SARS operative threatened to drink my blood –HR manager (Punch)
A human resources manager, Kamil Mahmud, has alleged being threatened by some operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad. The 26-year-old claimed that the men threatened to drink his blood for allegedly disrespecting them. Punch Metro gathered that Mahmud had driven behind his brother’s car to the Ikeja area for an interview on a radio station on Thursday. They were returning on Friday when three policemen allegedly accosted them at the Agidingbi area of Ikeja. Read more
‘LASG workers to get gratuity 3 months after retirement’ (Punch)
The Lagos State Government is to introduce an efficient pension scheme for its workforce. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that under the new regime, retirees will be paid their gratuities within three months after retirement. The Director-General, Lagos State Pension Commission, Mrs. Folashade Onanuga, said the new regime would soon be inaugurated. “The Lagos State Government is working towards a three-month gratuity collection regime. “We are working towards a regime that all pensioners will be able to access their gratuities within three months after retirement,” she said. Read more
Pickpockets target policeman, arrested (Punch)
A 28-year-old suspected pickpocket, Ndubuisi Nsuka, has begged the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, for forgiveness after he was arrested with two other members of his gang while attempting to steal from a policeman attached to the command. Punch Metro learnt that the Imo State indigene and his accomplices – Saheed Shittu and Usman Abubakar – belonged to a syndicate, which specialised in using a tricycle to dispossess commuters of their valuables. While Abubakar rode the tricycle, Nsuka and Shittu allegedly pretended to be passengers and stole from their victims. Our correspondent gathered that luck ran out on the suspects on Tuesday when they attempted to rob a policeman. Read more
Fans root for Nigeria at Super Eagles Dome Lagos (Guardian)
Thousands of ecstatic football fans in Lagos came out on Saturday night to cheer on the Nigerian national football team at Super Eagles Dome, where Star Lager, the official beer of the team showed enormous support. The venue showcased high-tech, multi-media technology giving a 360-degree experience, where fans rallied in support of the Super Eagles as they faced Croatia in their first match in Russia. Football supporters also experienced a beer village, where fans were treated to refreshing premium lager beer all through the night. Read more