No fewer than 2,000 residents of Ifelodun Local Council Development Area (LCDA) have benefited from food palliatives and financial aid ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
The initiative, championed by Council Chairman, Olufemi Okeowo, is part of ongoing efforts to alleviate poverty in the area.
Speaking during the distribution, Okeowo said the gesture was in line with the council’s commitment to supporting the vulnerable, noting that similar interventions have been sustained for over a year.
“This edition is special because of the approaching Eid celebration. We expanded the number of supplies to accommodate more beneficiaries,” he said.
He added that beyond food items, the council has consistently provided monthly stipends to unemployed youths, the elderly, and other indigent residents.
“We have run this programme for more than 13 months and intend to sustain it beyond the 2027 election, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.
Okeowo reiterated his administration’s focus on infrastructure development and grassroots empowerment.
“We are committed to meeting the growing needs of our people by building facilities and supporting them with available resources,” he said.
The chairman also urged residents to participate actively in the forthcoming local government elections, saying their voices matter in shaping decisions at the grassroots.
One of the beneficiaries, Habbeeb Awolere, described the exercise as well-organised and impactful.
“The process ensures the support reaches those who truly need it,” he said.
Another beneficiary praised the consistency of the programme, describing it as a lifeline for many.
“Our chairman is doing well. They’ve never failed to distribute every month. It gives us hope,” he said.
All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State yesterday directed all candidates of the party for the July 12 Local Government Election to submit their blueprints to the party secretariat.
This, the party, said would be yardsticks to assess their performances when elected.
This was one of the directions handed over to the candidates during the presentation of flags to the party’s flag-bearers.
All roads led to the Acme, Ikeja, the secretariat of the APC.
Party stalwarts and faithful yesterday joined the 114 Chairmanship and Vice-Chairmanship and 376 councillorship candidates for the official kick-off of the council election campaign.
All the candidates shone in uniform attires while their supporters clad in different APC-customised outfits.
Leadership of the Lagos State Police Command ensured the party secretariat was not overcrowded. They did a good job in keeping those who had no business in the sprawling compound at outside the venue.
The cheering crowd waved brooms, the symbol of the party intermittently to show their readiness for the campaign exercise.
Chairman of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Prince Tajudeen Olusi, led other members of the council including the Secretary, Alhaji Mutiu Are; Princess Sarah Sosan; and Senator Musiliu Obanikoro. Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Abimbola Salu- Hundeyin and Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso led state executive members to the gathering.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, enjoined the candidates to deliver electoral promises to the people when elected.
•Senator Obanikoro (right) presenting a flag to Adebayo Olasoju of Isolo LCDA
He appealed to the party members to ensure victory for the party at the poll.
The governor, represented by Mrs Salu-Hundeyin, assured the candidates of government’s support to emerge winners in the election.
He said: “The love I have for this party is unquantifiable, I am with all the candidates, this is not just an official flag off, it symbolises the beginning of hard work and dedication. We are solidly behind every aspirant, we are in this together, all will be successful by God’s grace. “As we raise these flags today, we are proud and happy. Let us remember our values and principles, we are known for being a progressive movement. “We are not only here to win an election, we are here to change the lives of our people and continue the legacy of our President.”
APC Lagos State Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, applauded party leaders and aspirants for ensuring peace before, during and after the primaries.
Ojelabi, who noted that the party had done a lot to reconcile aggrieved aspirants, urged flag bearers to continue reconciliation and winning those that contested against them to their sides.
According to him, out of the 475 aspirants that vied for chairmanship tickets, only 57 chairmanship candidates were finally selected.
He urged the candidates to try to meet the needs of the people in education, health, infrastructure development and youth development and other critical areas, if elected.
While reiterating the need for the candidates to submit their blueprints, Ojelabi said the party would continue to monitor their performance.
Prince Olusi urged the party’s flag bearers to work for the people, when elected.
“This is an opportunity for you to promote the name of our party. It is sad today that those looking for money are many in politics, and not people who really want to serve.
“The love of our community and society should be paramount to us. Those who vied for the ticket but could not get it, should be patient because there is still time and tomorrow,” he said.
Prince Olusi said grassroots governance is critical, hence the need for office holders at the local government level to take care of the people and impact them.
Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa, reminded the gathering that the July 12 election is a yardstick for what to come in 2027 when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would be seeking a re-election.
He said the party cannot afford not to deliver.
Obasa appealed to those who lost during the primary election to accept the decisions of the party and support the party’s candidates.
“The party is supreme; we must stand by the decision of the party. We must obey the party and support all our candidates. We must not fight ourselves,” he said.
Chairman of APC Campaign Committee, Alhaji Babatunde Balogun, who welcomed the candidates, expressed confidence that all the flag bearers would be victorious at the polls.
Balogun, who urged the party’s campaign Local Organising Committee (LOC) in each council area to start rigorous mobilisation of voters, however, cautioned that no campaign should exceed the June 9 deadline, stipulated in the electoral guidelines.
According to him, the LOC should be co-chaired in each council by the APC LGA chairman and the council chairmen.
“The LOC must work with various groups including ethnic nationalities “so that we can achieve great results. Let us move across all the wards and garner votes for the party,” he said
The chairmanship candidates who received party flags included: Azeez Babatunde (Agege); Idowu Akinola (Orile-Agege); Johnson Akinpelu (Alimosho); Adunni Akindele (Mosan Okunola); Lukman Abiodun (Ayobo-Ipaja); Abiodun Ejigbadero (Agbado Oke-Odo) and Idris Balogun (Egbe- Idimu).
As part of efforts to create employment opportunities for teeming youths in automobile, the Chairman of Apapa Local Government Area, Idowu Senbanjo, has organised an intensive training for youths on Compress Natural Gas (CNG) Conversation and Maintenance.
The training, which is to last for two weeks, would teach youths, auto mechanics and other artisans practical ways of converting vehicles to CNG compliance and how to maintain the vehicles for effective and efficient use for the public.
While declaring the training open, Senbanjo, said the strategic programme, which was aligned with the Federal Government energy’s transition agenda, seeks to empower youths and artisans with practical CNG vehicles conversation and maintenance.
She urged the youths to take advantage of the skills to be self-independent.
The initiative, she said, would ensure cleaner and sustainable environment.
Senbanjo, who was represented by Supervisor for Budget, Information and Intergovernmental Matter, Mr. Tosan Ayokunmi, advised the participants to make good use of the opportunity at their disposal.
The facilitator of the training who is the initiator of Firstcor CNG Conversation, Mr. Adeshina Banire, said the organisation was partnering with Apapa Local Government Area in capacity building on CNG to convert millions of vehicles into CNG within a short period.
He said the collaboration would create about 1,000 conversation centres where people could convert their vehicles to CNG.
Banire said the training would go a long to create job opportunities for youths.
He added that CNG was a new way to go because it is safer and more efficient compared to premium motor spirit (PMS) and diesel.
He urged Nigerians to take advantage of centres available to get their vehicles converted to CNG.
The atmosphere in Surulere was carnival-like on Monday as leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Surulere Local Government presented the party’s flag to the Chairman of the council, Sulaimon Yusuf, for his re-election.
In addition, nine councilorship candidates also received the APC flags to represent the party in the upcoming local government election on July 12.
The gathering served as an opportunity to rally support for the APC candidates in the forthcoming election.
Party leaders from all wards attended to show solidarity for the party, wearing various t-shirts to canvass votes for Yusuf and his running mate, Prince Muiz Dosumu.
APC Chairman in Surulere Local Govt Area, Sheriff Balogun, along with former Commissioner for Youths and Social Development, Mr. Agboola Dabiri, and others, emphasised that Yusuf’s outstanding performance in areas such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, and human development earned him an automatic ticket. They assured attendees that better days lay ahead.
After receiving the party flag, Yusuf expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu; the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; APC State Chairman Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi and other party leaders for their trust in him to continue leading the council.
He stated that the mandate would motivate him to enhance infrastructure development and empower more youths and women.
Yusuf hailed party members for exhibiting unity all through the primary election.
The council boss called on residents to come out in large numbers to exercise their civic rights on July 12.
No fewer than 2,000 residents of Ifelodun Local Council Development Area (LCDA) have benefited from food palliatives and financial aid ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
The initiative, championed by Council Chairman, Olufemi Okeowo, is part of ongoing efforts to alleviate poverty in the area.
Speaking during the distribution, Okeowo said the gesture was in line with the council’s commitment to supporting the vulnerable, noting that similar interventions have been sustained for over a year.
“This edition is special because of the approaching Eid celebration. We expanded the number of supplies to accommodate more beneficiaries,” he said.
He added that beyond food items, the council has consistently provided monthly stipends to unemployed youths, the elderly, and other indigent residents.
“We have run this programme for more than 13 months and intend to sustain it beyond the 2027 election, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.
Okeowo reiterated his administration’s focus on infrastructure development and grassroots empowerment.
“We are committed to meeting the growing needs of our people by building facilities and supporting them with available resources,” he said.
The chairman also urged residents to participate actively in the forthcoming local government elections, saying their voices matter in shaping decisions at the grassroots.
One of the beneficiaries, Habbeeb Awolere, described the exercise as well-organised and impactful.
“The process ensures the support reaches those who truly need it,” he said.
Another beneficiary praised the consistency of the programme, describing it as a lifeline for many.
“Our chairman is doing well. They’ve never failed to distribute every month. It gives us hope,” he said.
The Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area (LCDA) has distributed over 600 rams at a subsidised rate to low-income families under its annual Ramadan welfare scheme.
The initiative is part of the council’s strategic social intervention programme designed to support vulnerable households and ensure inclusive celebration within the Muslim community.
The council Chairman, Razak Ajala, emphasised the importance of sustainability and continuity in governance, assuring residents that the initiative would outlive his administration.
“This programme is not about me. It is born out of the desire of our people. Democracy is about the people, Before I got this mandate, I moved across every part of this local government to hear from the people. One of their key requests was for us to align our programmes with their actual needs,” he said
He explained that the council opted for a heavily subsidised model, bringing down the cost of rams to N75,000, compared to market prices ranging between N250,000 and N300,000. He noted that the intervention was particularly aimed at families at the lowest level of the economic ladder, saying: “We believe this gesture will give them a sense of belonging during this festive period, just like their counterparts elsewhere.”
According to the council boss, a ticketing system was used to maintain order, while special consideration was given to elderly beneficiaries.
“Initially, we observed that many of the beneficiaries were youths. To balance this, I personally stepped into the line and picked elderly residents to ensure they were not left out,” he said.
To avoid crowd surges, the council installed barricades and designed a 250-metre walk-through system leading to the payment and collection points.
He disclosed that the incoming administration, led by the party’s current candidate and vice-chairman, has promised to sustain the initiative, describing it as “a collective effort, not a personal agenda.”
“With my vice-chairman—now the party’s flagbearer—on board, residents should expect a continuation of impactful and inclusive governance,” he added.
Ajala urged residents to amplify the scheme’s success to encourage other local governments to adopt similar models. He also reiterated that the programme was strictly for bonafide residents of Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye, to ensure local funds serve the local populace.
“Our political philosophy is clear—common purse for common benefit. That’s the principle guiding our actions,” he said.
Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) has inaugurated two roads and distributed empowerment tools to 70 residents to support small-scale businesses.
The roads, located in Agric and Isawo communities, were unveiled by the Council Chairman, Sulaimon Kazeem, who said the projects were part of his administration’s ongoing effort to improve infrastructure and promote economic empowerment.
“These roads will significantly reduce travel time and ease the burden on residents of Agric and Isawo. Our administration is committed to interventions that impact lives,” he said.
Following the inauguration, items including tricycles, sewing machines, generators, deep freezers, and coolers were distributed to residents to boost local entrepreneurship.
“This is a continuation of our empowerment drive. In the past, we disbursed N20,000 each to over 300 households and extended support to the elderly and youths. Today, we are equipping residents with tools that can transform their businesses,” he added.
Sulaimon warned beneficiaries against selling the items and urged them to make judicious use of the support.
“These are dividends of democracy. Please use them wisely. When you utilise these tools effectively, it encourages us to do more,” he said.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to community development and urged residents to vote wisely in the forthcoming local elections.
“We will continue to work for the progress of Ikorodu West. As the elections approach, I encourage you to support candidates who prioritise development,” he said.
Member of the House of Representatives for Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Babajimi Benson, commended the chairman for his developmental strides and urged residents to reflect on his achievements at the polls.
One of the beneficiaries, Adebimpe Omooba, who received a tricycle, expressed gratitude, saying the support would enhance her business.
Another beneficiary, Alade Ademeyin, a fashion designer, said the sewing machine he received would help revive his struggling tailoring shop.
A non-governmental Organisation (NGO), Aiding Lives Initiative for the Vulnerable (ALIVE), has called for urgent government intervention to address the impact of flooding and environmental degradation on women in Lagos’ coastal communities.
The call was made during a clean-up exercise in Ago-Egun, a riverine settlement in the Ilaje area of Bariga, Lagos. The community, predominantly occupied by Egun-speaking fishermen, is among several coastal settlements in the state affected by seasonal ocean surges, stagnant floodwaters, and poor drainage systems.
Executive Director of ALIVE, Pandora Umechukwu, said the exercise was part of a broader advocacy and documentation project aimed at highlighting the voices of women bearing the brunt of climate change in vulnerable communities.
She noted that the group has been working in Ago-Egun since 2017, providing maternal and child health support, hygiene education, and recreational activities. However, a major flooding incident during a 2023 breastfeeding programme exposed the extent of the challenges.
“We came for an event and couldn’t access the venue because the whole area was flooded. Women arrived in rain boots, while some waded barefoot through the water. That moment revealed the urgency of the problem”, she said.
According to her, to better understand the community’s experience, the organisation conducted focus group discussions in Ago-Egun, Makoko, and Ijora.
“Many women reported loss of income, interrupted schooling for their children, and health complications linked to polluted water and poor sanitation”, she added.
She urged the Lagos State Government to prioritise the needs of women in coastal areas in its Climate Action Plan.
“These women live on the frontlines of climate change. Their voices should not be ignored. We as an organisation are advocating a more inclusive approach to climate resilience that supports community-led efforts and long-term solutions”, she said.
The clean-up focused on clearing blocked drainages and was led by volunteer women in the community. Umechukwu said the turnout was impressive, noting that no incentives were offered.
“They came out willingly and even suggested we make the clean-up a regular activity, either monthly or every two months,” she said.
A resident of the community, Omowunmi Bademosi, described the exercise as a step in the right direction. She, however, echoed the organisation’s concerns, noting that the drainage system is “terrible”. She warned that stagnant water encourages mosquito breeding and increases malaria cases.
Another resident, Motunrayo Ateji, called for government support.
“Cleanliness is life, but we cannot do this alone. We need investment in infrastructure and sanitation,” he said.
Yaba Local Council Development Area led by Chairman, Dr Kayode Omiyale, has inaugurated a remodelled state-of-the-art e-learning centre in the council.
While speaking at the event, Omiyale stated that the facility is a representation of the council’s stance on education and technology-driven learning.
He said: “The center contains 275 modern laptop and desktop computers fully networked and configured for seamless learning and research. A 24/7 high speed internet facility ensuring uninterrupted access to the digital world at any time of the day or night. A 160KVA generator and a 40KVA soar power system, making it three sources of power.”
The Chairman added that the facility recently hosted candidates for the 2025 Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination, further proving its capacity and reliability.
“Just last month, it hosted JAMB candidates and was also used for the resit examination. This is a testament to the facility’s readiness, reliability and world class standard,” he added.
He encouraged the residents to maximize the benefits of the center for their personal and professional development.
“The centre belongs to you whether you are a student, researcher, entrepreneurs or simple lifelong learners. This facility is for your growth, an opportunity for you to explore , learn and innovate in your various fields,” he advised.
Speaking at the event, the Oniwaya of Iwaya Kingdom, Oba Sulaimon Owolabi commended the initiative, describing the project as a beautiful innovation.
He urged the students to utilise the facility to enhance their computer literacy and academic journey.
Echoing Oba Omiyale, the Rector of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr Ibrahim Abdul and Vice Chancellor of Trinity University, Prof. Clement Kolawole each maintained that the initiative is a worthy investment that gives the students a competitive edge.
In commemoration of Children’s Day, the Chairman of Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Ladi Oluwaloni, has said that the council would continue to support initiatives that help to enhance learning outcomes and provide opportunities for the children’s intellectual and personal growth.
Oluwaloni was represented by the Secretary of the Council, Prince Rotimi Adeoye, said the Children’s Day celebration is a testament of the importance placed on the well-being, education, and development of the young ones.
“As the Chairman of Ayobo Ipaja LCDA, I am delighted to host all our children today to celebrate your creativity, curiosity, and enthusiasm. It is a reminder that our community is committed to nurturing and supporting your growth.
“Because we know the essence of education, we have never compromised the importance of quality education in shaping your future,” Oluwaloni noted.
He also reiterated that the council will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the community provides a secure and nurturing environment for them to thrive and become enviable pride of our community.
“Unrelenting, we shall continue to uphold our strong belief in empowering our children with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to become leaders and change-makers in their own right,” he said.
The council boss further advised them to dream big and chase their dream with the right vigour. “Don’t be afraid to dream big and aim high. Your potential is limitless, and we believe in you.
“As you continue to grow academically, always learn to take advantage of every good opportunity life presents to you; and be mindful of the fact that your education is the key to unlocking your future. More importantly, always remember to be kind, respectful, and compassionate towards others. These values will serve you well throughout your lives,” he advised.
He also lauded teachers, parents, and community leaders for their tireless efforts in shaping the minds and characters of the children. “Let us continue to work together to create a brighter future for all of them.”
