The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Fayemi woos investors to Ekiti

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has called on investors to take advantage of the improved infrastructure, business-friendly policies and adequate security provided by his government to exploit the state’s economic prospects.

    A statement from the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, on Sunday, said Fayemi spoke while presenting “Investing in Ekiti: Facts Behind the State Economy” at the Nigerian Stock Exchange in Lagos.

    The governor said his administration has put in place policies and legislations that will ensure that the state becomes one of the top three states in ease of doing business.

    He added that the state was rated number four in ease of doing business in 2014 when he left office, before sliding to the 32nd position thereafter, assuring the business community that the state would soon return to the number three spot.

    Fayemi said the efforts of his government had started yielding positive results with the return of development partners as well as the resuscitation of some moribund businesses like the Gossy Water.

    He added that three banks that left the state owing to unfriendly business policies of the immediate past administration have return.

    “We are starting to regain the confidence of investors by reactivating those laws which we put in place in my first administration to create an enabling environment for investment to thrive.

    Read Also: Fayemi set to secure bond to defray outstanding gratuities

    “We have also passed the law establishing the Ekiti State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (EKDIPA) that will drive our Ease of Doing Business reforms and provide investors with a one-stop shop to deal with investment related matters,” he said.

    On the state’s partnership with the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the governor expressed optimism that the continued partnership would help the state in unlocking investment in its focus sectors and also optimising state-owned enterprises.

    Fayemi explained that his efforts as governor is aimed at making Ekiti an attractive destination for investors, delivering sustainable economic growth, putting people to work and lifting the citizens out of poverty.

    He highlighted the core areas where the state seeks partnership as including agriculture, tourism and the knowledge zone, a project which is designed to ensure infrastructure, power, transport, housing, recreation, medical and other services are available round the clock.

    “We have renewed our focus on peace and security, which is the foundation of any economic development; and started investing in developing the infrastructure required to make Ekiti a competitive destination for business.

    “We are quite concerned about the increasing spate of violence against ordinary citizens and it is the duty of the government to provide security and welfare of the citizens.

    “The steps we have taken since we assumed office is to work in collaboration with neighbouring states because those things just cut across, particularly as it affects kidnapping and banditry to make the highways safe,” he said.

    The NSE’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Oscar Onyema, said the Exchange had examined and noted an improvement in the GDP of the state; with a 63% economic growth which were necessitated by the projects executed by Fayemi between 2011 and 2014.

    Onyema, who described Fayemi as a reform-minded leader, hailed him for his commitment to providing durable infrastructure and employment opportunities for the state.

    He said the governor had created a roadmap for other political leaders to follow in their quest to deliver the goods to the people.

    “We acknowledge your excellency’s progressive leadership and reform-minded approach in managing the economy of Ekiti.

    “Your strategies towards revitalising the agricultural, manufacturing, mining, trade and tourism sectors, which together account for 75 per cent of the state’s gross domestic product (GDP), are also commendable.

    “For instance, you have increased the proportion of capital spending in the 2019 budget to 44 per cent from 31 per cent in 2018; and channelled budgetary resources toward pro-growth projects.

    “We recognise that to build a sustainable economy for the estimated 3.5 million citizens of Ekiti, supported by vibrant sectors, both state-owned and private sector enterprises will require access to right-sized capital,” Onyema added.

  • Traders clean Ladipo market

    Traders at the weekend cleaned Ladipo market in Mushin, Lagos Mainland.

    The traders, across all the units of the market, for about five hours participated in the cleaning of the market, including the streets and drainages.

    The exercise began at 7am and ended at noon.

    The President, Ladipo Market, Jude Nwankwo, said they embarked on the sanitation to support the government’s aim of ensuring a clean state.

    He said: “We have realised that it is important to make where we sell clean. We decided to close our market to join the Lagos State Government in keeping the state clean and also to keep our market clean to enable our customers patronise us in a healthy environment.”

    Nwankwo urged the traders to keep the market clean.

    He said: “This is a contribution from all of us in the market. We do this thorough cleaning of the market quarterly. We close all shops at 7am and reopen by 12pm.

    Read Also: Ladipo auto market president harps on sanitation

    “This is not the first time we are doing this. We have a committee that looks into it and ensure that the market is clean. The committee ensures that the market is kept clean and that refuse are taken to where they will be evacuated. Our customers should patronise us, we will keep our market clean and ensure a good environment.”

    The Chairman, Environmental Committee of Ladipo Market, Nonso Chiufo, said they are determined to maintain the cleanliness of the market.

    “This is our contribution to the development of Lagos State, besides the Thursday cleaning of markets and shops made compulsory by the government. We want to make the environment clean for our business to move forward,” he said.

    Chiufo said efforts are on to ensure the market is clean always, adding that traders have been sensitised to clean their surrounding daily after trading and pack the refuse to the designated place provided by the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).

    Another trader, Africanus Ogudoro, advised customers, traders and everybody coming to the market to keep it clean.

  • Three die in accident

    Three people have died in an accident in Ikorodu, Lagos State.

    Several people were injured in the crash, which occurred last week on the Sagamu Road, near Flower market, Ikorodu. The Nation learnt that the accident involved a Kia Picanto car with number plate GGE 439 BT and a commercial tricycle (Keke Napep).

    It was gathered that the car was heading for Sagamu Road, and when it got near the market, the driver lost control and hit the tricycle moving to Ikorodu on the other side of the road.

    Read Also: One dead, seven injured in Lagos – Ibadan expressway accident

    The tricycle was said to have somersaulted, leaving six passengers and the rider injured. The tricycle and the car were badly damaged.

    The Nation learnt that the victims were taken to hospital, while three of them, Taiwo Okeowo, Kehinde Okeowo and Ade Oguntimehin died on the way to hospital.

    Traffic personnel were later drafted from the Sagamu Police Station to the scene, and the vehicle and tricycle were taken to the police station.

    Lagos State Police Command spokesman Bala Elkana confirmed the accident.

    He said investigation was on.

  • Command arrests eight ‘cultists’ at initiation venue

    Eight suspected new initiates of the One Million Boys Cult were at the weekend arrested by the police in Lagos.

    The suspects, comprising six men and two women, were arrested at 15, Alado Street, Shibiri, Lagos where they were being initiated into the cult by Yusuf Abu, 20.

    According to a statement by spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), those arrested were Sunday Gabriel, 20, Rilwan Dauda, 18, Mohammed Sikiru, 23, Oladimeji Abayomi, 18, Rasheed Alabi, 20, Habeeb Idowu, 18, Olaiya Bisola, 18 and Hazzan Hawawu.

    He said a team of policemen led by Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Ilemba Hausa Kazeem Abonde, a Chief Superintendent (CSP), raided the venue and recovered weapons and charms.

    Read Also: Police arraign three suspected cultists in Lagos

    “Three sharp cutlasses, a fetish calabash with dangerous juju and weed suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered from them. The suspects were charged to court and remanded in prison custody,” Elkana said.

    Policemen attached to Mushin Police Station on Friday night intercepted suspected armed robbers alleged to have operated on a Honda motorcycle with registration number AKM300VJ at Ogunmokun Street, Mushin, Lagos.

    “The gang mostly operates on a motorcycle for easy access to escape routes after operation. The gang was responsible for series of robberies reported in the area with the same mode of operation.

    “They take advantage of traffic situations and dispossess unsuspecting people of their valuables such as phones, laptops, bags and money. The rider refused to stop and was given a hot chase.

    “The leader of the gang, Taofeek Abayomi Oladiran, 26, was arrested, while others escaped through different directions into crowded areas along Akala, Idi-oro.

    “The motorcycle was recovered. One bag containing a locally-made pistol, an expended cartridge, 11 live cartridges and a jacket decorated with charms were recovered from them. The suspects at large are identified as Afeez, Michael and Tolu.

    “Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) have taken over the case and have launched a manhunt for the three fleeing suspects.

    Investigation is ongoing,” said Elkana yesterday.

  • Govt launches meningitis vaccination

    Lagos State Government, under the Primary Health Care Board (PHCB), at the weekend launched meningitis vaccination.

    The aim is to get rid of ‘Men A meningitis’ and protect children against same.

    Permanent Secretary Dr. Tayo Lawal launched the exercise at the Primary Health Centre, (PHC), Mushin, Lagos.

    He said meningitis was a devastating disease and remained a major public health challenge, adding that “the well-being of our children is paramount to the future of Lagos State and Nigeria.”

    Lawal said meningitis is an infectious disease affecting the lining of the brain and capable of causing serious fatalities, “this is especially so for states in the meningitis belt in Nigeria.”

    He added that many organisms caused meningitis, including viruses, fungi and bacterial.

    “For bacterial meningitis, the most common cause is Neisseria meningitis. Meningitis is known to begin at the peak of the dry season and stop abruptly in the rainy season. People of all ages can be affected by the bacteria. Children between the ages of five and 14 being the most vulnerable,” Lawal said.

    He said the sero-type A is responsible for most of the epidemic in the meningitis belt, but with the introduction of Men A vaccine in West African countries within the belt, there has been a remarkable decline in the incidence of the disease and that with the introduction of the vaccine into the national immunisation schedule, the incidence of the epidemics will further decline greatly.

    Read Also: Lagos trains 953 in aquaculture

    The permanent secretary said the symptoms of meningitis included severe headache of sudden onset, high grade fever, nausea, vomiting, irritability, neck stiffness, convulsion and loss of consciousness.

    He said the complications include arthritis, hearing impairment, seizures, mental retardation, paralysis and death.

    Lawal said a diagnosis is made after a sample of cerebrospinal fluid is taken by a doctor from a suspected patient and is tested and bacterial organism is isolated.

    “It can also be made from a test called polymerase chain reaction.

    “Treatment is always with antibiotics, using national guideline, while prevention of bacterial meningitis is by vaccination with meningococcal vaccine and by avoiding overcrowding, observing good personal hygiene and exclusive breastfeeding.”

    Lawal said Lagos has never had any epidemic of meningitis, but due to the daily influx of people into the state from parts of the country, Lagos is on the high alert “and in line with the national programmes, we are introducing meningitis A conjugate vaccine into the national routine immunisation schedule. This means that from now onwards, Men A conjugate vaccine will be available in all primary care health facilities in the state.”

    He said the vaccine would be administered as injection into the left upper outer thigh at nine months, adding that it would be administered alongside measles and yellow fever vaccines, which were all injectable.

    Lawal appealed to mothers not to be apprehensive and to allow their children to be given three injections at the same time.

    “The vaccines are safe and do not cause any disease. They are life time protection vaccines that far outweigh little discomfort the children may feel.

    “The vaccines are free in all government owned hospital,” said the permanent secretary.

    He said the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board is positioned and ready to deliver quality basic health care services to Lagosians.

    Lawal said the delivery of quality routine and supplemental immunisation to the children remained the priority of the board, adding that the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration was determined to implement government policies towards achieving an improved and sustainable health care agenda of the government.

    He encouraged parents and guardians to embrace immunisation services in the PHC, especially the newly introduced vaccine Men A that is available in the PHCs.

  • Court remands man for alleged phone theft

    A 22-year-old generator repairer, Idris Taiwo, was at the weekend remanded at Kirikiri Prisons by an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    Magistrate Mrs. O. O. Fagbohun, who gave the ruling, said the defendant should remain behind bars pending facts and sentencing at the next date of adjournment.

    Taiwo, a resident of Agege, Lagos, had pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a phone valued at N50,000.

    Prosecuting Inspector Emmanuel Ajayi told the court that the defendant on August 9, at Agege, Lagos, stole a phone belonging to the complainant, Mrs. Rita Umweni.

    Read Also: Police arraign three for allegedly stealing MFM’s N2.7m

    “The defendant entered the complainant’s shop to buy sachet (pure) water.

    “In the process, he took the complainant’s phone, hid it inside his trousers and quickly left.

    “When the complainant discovered that her phone was missing, she suspected the defendant.

    “She rushed to his house and recovered her phone,” Ajayi said.

    He said the complainant reported the case and the defendant was arrested.

    The offence contravenes Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The case continues on August 28.

  • RRS arrests suspected traffic robbers

    Operatives of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS) at the weekend arrested three suspected traffic robbers said to be terrorising Ikeja and its environs.

    The suspects, Issa Jidda, 15, Alli Jumah, 19, and Adamu Mohammed, 22, were arrested around Olowopopo Way in Ikeja at about 8:46pm shortly after dispossessing two women of their belongings, including phones, at Agidingbi and Isheri.

    The police said they were nabbed following a distress call that robbers on motorcycle were operating in the area.

    The officers were said to have trailed the robbers to Olowopopo Way, where a motorist, who was informed that the suspects were being chased, hit their motorcycle, to prevent them from escaping to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    Upon their arrest, the police said the owners of the phones identified the suspects.

    Read Also: Police parade suspected killers of two Catholic priests in Enugu

    Jidda, the police said, confessed that the gang operated on Ogun Long Bridge, Isheri, Unilag Estate, Gateway Estate, Ojodu Berger, Fela Shrine and Agidingbi since May.

    “We have been operating since May. I was invited to join the gang by Adamu. He is the leader of the gang. I have gone out on robberies with them seven times. Our targets are phones, wallets and jewellery.

    “We also rob in traffic, especially on Long Bridge. We avoid operating at Kara because we live there. Our neighbours may see us. We sell the phones and share the money.

    “The motorcycle we use is owned by Alli. The three of us operate on it, using a knife and dagger as our arms,” Jidda told detectives.

    The suspects were said to have been transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for further action.

    Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu urged residents to partner the command in addressing security challenges in the state.

  • Lagos trains 953 in aquaculture

    Lagos State Government says it is implementing programmes and projects that will upscale fish production and harness the enormous economic opportunities available in the agricultural value chains.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Olayiwola Onasanya, who disclosed this in Lagos at the weekend at the closing ceremony of the 15th Annual Executive Weekend Training in Investment Opportunities in Fish Farming, organised by his ministry, noted that “these programmers and projects have significantly increased fish production, created jobs and stimulated economic activities.”

    He identified the programmes and projects to include fish farm estates development; fish cage culture system; training/capacity building programmes; agricultural value chains empowerment and artisanal fisheries development, among others.

    While admitting that there is still much to be done if the goal of making the state self-reliant in fish production is to be achieved, the permanent secretary called for collaborative efforts between the private sector and the government in the development of Agricultural Value Chain, bearing in mind that the task of food production for Lagosians is enormous and as such should not be left for the government alone.

    Read Also: Lagos flags-off meningitis vaccination to protect children

    Onasanya said fish is a major source of protein that is low in cholesterol compared with beef, hence its consumption is healthy. He added that the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a per capita consumption of 17kg of fish per annum.

    “Lagos State with a population of 22million people is structured to have a fish demand of 374,000 tons per annum, as against the current fish production figure of 155,262 tons per annum. The deficit in supply is being met through importation, which gulps enormous foreign exchange that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture has estimated at a total sum of USD1billion,” the permanent secretary said.

    According to him, very wide investment opportunities exist within the Agricultural Value Chain both within the country and internationally, especially now that there is the need to increase export of non-oil commodities in order to earn foreign exchange for the financing of the nation’s economy.

    Onasanya said the four-day Executive Weekend Training Programmes has been carefully structured to equip participants that include aspiring fish farmers and retiring executives both in the private and public sectors, among others, with relevant knowledge of best practices in aquaculture; broaden their practical experience in fish juvenile and feed production as well as expose them to investment opportunities available in the fish farming.

    “The training programme has a special focus on the overview of Fisheries development in Lagos State; Fish Culture System and Management; Water Quality Management & Disease Control; Prospect of Cage and Pen Culture System in Lagos State; Hatchery Management and Fingerlings Production; Fish Feed Formulation and Nutrition; Fish Farming Insurance and Fish Preservation, Processing, Packaging, Marketing and Export Potentials,” he added.

    He urged the 43 participants to make good use of the lessons learnt during their training programme as well as leverage on available government extension services towards successful fish farming businesses.

    Since the commencement of the training programme in 2005, no fewer than 912 people have been trained, which has contributed to the increased investments in the fish farming value chain in the state.

  • Police find decomposing body of farm worker on mango tree

    The police in Ogun State have discovered the decomposing body of a farm worker, who was allegedly killed by his boss over allegation of stealing levelled against the deceased.

    The family of Ismaila Mukaila is calling on the police to carry out a thorough investigation into the alleged murder.

    The Nation gathered that the boy was allegedly murdered on August 11 on a farm on Adejunrin Road, Owode Egba area of Abeokuta and his remains were kept in a sitting position on a branch of a mango tree on the farm.

    Read Also: Police parade inspector’s killers, 116 criminals in Kano

    The boy, who is said to be a farm worker, was allegedly killed by the owner of the farm.

    A member of the bereaved family, who craved anonymity, alleged that the owner of the farm told Ismaila to see him on the farm on August 11, but the boy did not return home. After a search was carried out, his decomposing body was found on August 15 on top of a mango tree on the farm.

    It was learnt that the bicycle the boy rode to the farm before his mysterious death was also found at the entrance to the farm.

    Police spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed the incident. He said the matter is being investigated.

    Oyeyemi said some suspects have been arrested in connection with the alleged murder.

  • Falana to Buhari: direct authorities to publish detainees’ names 

    Activist lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct authorities to publish the names of detainees in their custody and the locations they are being kept.

    This demand is the latest by the lawyer, who has since May sustained allegations of illegal detention against the Nigerian Navy (NN).

    Falana also demanded that the President should prohibit the police and other security agents from subjecting Nigerians to any form of incommunicado detention.

    In a statement yesterday, Falana claimed that more relatives of victims arrested and detained for several months have contacted him following his petition to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) last week.

    He said: “Following the publication of the contents of the said petition by the media, a number of the families and friends of the majority of the detainees have reached out to us. Since the detainees were arrested by armed and masked naval personnel in mufti without any warrant of arrest and incarceration incommunicado, it was thought by many families that the detainees had been abducted and killed by kidnappers.

    “The most pathetic case is that of Ms Grace Inyang, who was arrested in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, by masked naval personnel on October 27, 2018. She was driven to Abuja and dumped in an underground cell at the detention facility of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

    Read Also: Navy’s ‘illegal’ detention: Falana threatens to sue NHRC

    “She was, however, transferred to the NNS Beecroft detention centre at Apapa, Lagos last week for further incarceration. Although the lady has spent 295 days in detention, the detaining authorities have not informed her of any criminal offence allegedly committed by her. Neither has she been allowed to communicate with her relatives.

    “The 56 men in the same detention facility at Apapa have been abandoned by the detaining authorities. Similarly, no one has attended to the other 10 citizens who have been detained inside a vessel at Marina, Lagos for the past 13 months.

    “By not notifying the families and relatives of the detainees of their arrest and places of detention, the authorities of the Navy have wilfully violated Section 6(2)(b) of the Administration of  Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which has imposed a duty on all detaining authorities to notify the next of kin or relative of every suspect of the arrest at no cost to the suspect.

    “It is pertinent to note that the authorities of the Navy have also continued to ignore court orders for the unconditional release of 15 of the 67 detainees, including Navy Captain Dada Labinjo being detained at the underground cell of the DIA in Abuja.

    “Since the detention of the 67 people for several months without trial cannot be justified under sections 35 and 36 of the constitution, the Navy ought to release them without any further delay.

    “The illegality of the detention of the 67 people is compounded by the fact that the authorities of the Navy have no power under the Armed Forces Act to detain persons who are not subject to service law. However, if there is evidence that they have committed economic crimes, they should be transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prosecute them.

    “Finally, we call on President Buhari to direct all detaining authorities to publish the names of all detainees and their places of detention and prohibit the police and other security agents from subjecting Nigerians to any form of incommunicado detention.”