The Nation Newspaper

Category: Grassroots

  • Isolo, LAWMA clear illegal dumpsites

    Isolo, LAWMA clear illegal dumpsites

    The Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) has intensified its collaboration with the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to remove waste illegally dumped at undesignated locations within the council area.

    This is part of efforts to promote environmental cleanliness and public health.

    Over the last few days, officials of the Isolo LCDA, working alongside LAWMA personnel, carried out a cleanup exercise at several flashpoints, including the powerline corridor along Okota Road.

    The operation focused on clearing heaps of refuse indiscriminately disposed of by residents and traders, restoring the area to a cleaner and safer condition.

    Chairman of Isolo LCDA, Adebayo Olasoju, said the exercise underscored his administration’s commitment to achieving a cleaner environment across the council area.

    Read Also: Nigeria can earn $10bn yearly from cashew industry, says NCAN

    He noted that environmental sanitation remains a core priority of the local government, especially during the festive season when waste generation typically increases.

    Olasoju commended the council’s Environmental Health Officers for what he described as their dedication and round-the-clock efforts to ensure proper waste management and enforcement of sanitation standards throughout the period.

    The council chairman also expressed appreciation to the Lagos State Government for its continued support, particularly acknowledging the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, for providing the necessary policy backing for effective waste management across the state.

    He lauded the Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegeshin, for the agency’s unwavering commitment to sustaining a cleaner and healthier Lagos, assuring residents that the partnership between Isolo LCDA and LAWMA would be strengthened to discourage illegal dumping and promote responsible waste disposal.

  • Coker-Aguda hosts legal community advocacy programme

    Coker-Aguda hosts legal community advocacy programme

    The Coker–Aguda Local Council Development Area (LCDA) has recorded a major milestone in grassroots governance with the successful hosting of a Community Advocacy and Free Legal Aid Programme, organised in collaboration with the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, Lagos Branch.

    The initiative underscored Coker–Aguda LCDA’s commitment to deepening access to justice and promoting human rights at the community level.

    Head of the Legal Unit and Chief Host, Khadihat Tijani, explained that the programme was designed to bridge the justice gap by taking legal services directly to the grassroots, particularly for indigent and vulnerable residents.

    Read Also: DisCos raked in N570b in Q3, install 228,614 meters

    She described the initiative as a bold and strategic step towards institutionalising structured legal intervention within local government.

    Chairman of Coker–Aguda LCDA, Azeez Ogidan, stated that the initiative reflected his administration’s resolve to make justice accessible to all. He noted that many citizens suffer injustice not due to the absence of laws, but because legal support is often beyond their reach. According to him, the programme brings justice closer to the people, especially those at the grassroots.

    The Chairman of the occasion and former Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission (LGSC), Alhaji Kamal Bayewu, commended the chairman for the visionary initiative.

    He noted that the programme demonstrated that impactful free legal interventions can be effectively implemented at the local government level. He emphasised the importance of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as a critical mechanism for decongesting courts and ensuring timely justice, while urging councils to establish functional legal desks for prompt legal advisory services.

    In her presentation, Abimbola Jack-Oladugbe, sensitised participants on various forms of violence prevalent in society, including domestic violence, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, economic violence, and other harmful practices that undermine human dignity and family stability.

    Similarly, Olumide Omosebi, presented compelling statistics on domestic violence, with particular emphasis on Lagos State.

    He cautioned against remaining in abusive relationships and advised both women and men to seek help and exit violent environments promptly. He stressed that culture and tradition must never be used to justify violence, warning that unresolved abuse often has lasting consequences on children and society.

  • Yuletide: Agege residents hail Obasa over 50% rebate sales

    Yuletide: Agege residents hail Obasa over 50% rebate sales

    Residents of Agege Local Government have been singing the praises of their council chairman, Abdul-Ganiyu Vinod Obasa, for the introduction of Christmas 50 per cent Special Sales Initiative.

    The action, they said, demonstrated Obasa’s responsive and compassionate governance through the implementation of its a strategic intervention designed to make essential food items more affordable for households across the council.

    According to them, the initiative provided residents with access to key food commodities at 50 percent subsidised rates, ensuring that the joy and warmth of the Christmas season are not diminished by financial constraints. Items made available under the programme include chickens, vegetable oil, and rice.

    Obasa said true leadership is measured not by words spoken, but by lives touched and ability to ease burdens of the people.

    Read Also: Nigeria can earn $10bn yearly from cashew industry, says NCAN

    The gesture, he said, was deliberate to ease the prevailing economic burden on residents.

    “Beyond its immediate economic relief, this intervention stands as a remarkable milestone to make the yuletide memorable for our people,” he said.

    He urged the residents to continue supporting the council activities.

    He said: “Rather than allowing governance to remain at the level of promises, we have persistently translated our vision into action, placing food on tables, easing household pressures, and restoring dignity to families. Each phase of the subsidy market has strengthened public trust, reinforced community unity, and renewed hope among residents that their government is not distant, but present and responsive.

  • Epe donates patrol vehicles to police

    Epe donates patrol vehicles to police

    Determined to further empower the police with a view to strengthening the security apparatus within the council, Epe Local Government Council Chairman, Princess Surah Animashaun, has donated two patrol vehicles to the Police Tactical Team.

    Princess Animashaun, at the event that took place at the council secretariat, Ita-Marun, Epe, said the gesture was to enable the police to enhance its operations by combing notorious areas that could serve as hideouts for hoodlums.

     Handling the vehicles to the Commander of the Police Tactical Team, she commended the police for the great work it is doing to ensure the safety of lives and properties.

    She emphasised that security remains the heartbeat of her administration, stressing that Epe local government must remain a place where residents, businesses, and visitors feel safe and protected at all times.

    Read Also: DisCos raked in N570b in Q3, install 228,614 meters

    Princess Animashaun described the donation as a clear demonstration of support and partnership with security agencies working round the clock to keep the community safe and peaceful.

    “Epe is known to be one of the most peaceful councils in Lagos state and in a bid to sustain this feat, the present administration deemed it fit to donate the vehicles to the police to strengthen its security mechanism.

    “There is no way the council would have enjoyed this level of peace without the police, and I am convinced that the force deserves more support for them to continue to achieve the desired results. These patrol vans will further fortify the police in patrolling notorious routes as well as nooks and crannies where nefarious activities are rampant with a view to nipping such in the bud,” she said.

    Responding, the Commander of the Tactical Team, CSP Nosa Igbineweka, expressed appreciation for the timely and strategic intervention, describing it as a rare benevolence, especially at a time when there is shortage of fund everywhere.

  • Lagos to monitor training of council health workers

    Lagos to monitor training of council health workers

    The Lagos State Government has announced plans to strengthen the monitoring and continuous training of frontline health workers in local government health facilities under Lagos State Health District IV, as part of efforts to improve primary healthcare delivery.

    The plan was made known at the Annual Management Retreat of Health District IV held in Lagos.

    Read Also: Nigeria can earn $10bn yearly from cashew industry, says NCAN

    The retreat brought together senior officials, including permanent secretaries, heads of departments, medical officers of health from local governments and local council development areas, unit heads and other members of staff, to review strategies for improving service delivery at the grassroots.

    Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, said effective healthcare delivery depends largely on the performance of frontline workers at local government level, stressing the need for regular monitoring and structured training.

  • Agboyi-Ketu launches welfare programme

    Agboyi-Ketu launches welfare programme

    The Chairman of Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Adetola Abubakar, has reaffirmed her commitment to people-centred governance with the launch of four major intervention programmes aimed at improving welfare, security and service delivery across the council.

    The programmes are the Adetola Food Bank for widows, the elderly and the less privileged; the We Care (WICARE) Initiative to support residents with health, education and emergency needs; a cash intervention scheme for indigent residents; and the provision of patrol and utility vehicles to security agencies, religious bodies and key local government departments.

    Abubakar said the interventions were to prioritise the needs of residents and ensure that governance is felt at the grassroots.

    “Everything we are doing is about the people. Governance must go beyond policies; it must translate to real support that touches lives,” she said.

    She explained that the Adetola Food Bank was designed to provide immediate relief to vulnerable residents across communities.

    On the We Care initiative, the chairman said the programme would serve as a safety net for residents facing health, educational and emergency challenges.

    Abubakar said “We did not sit in the office to compile names. We went into the communities, engaged stakeholders and identified those who genuinely need food support. Today, 500 beneficiaries are going home with rice, beans, yam and other essential food items to ease the burden of daily living.

    “There are people who need urgent surgeries, students with excellent results who have gained admission but lack sponsorship, and families whose houses have been demolished. Under We Care, the local government is giving them a shoulder to lean on. Once a request is verified and found genuine, we will stand firmly by our people.”

    Read Also: 2027: Tinubu has stabilised Nigeria’s economy, says group

    Abubakar said 500 residents benefited from the cash intervention scheme, each receiving N100,000 as economic support to help stabilise their livelihoods.

    She added that the council provided patrol and utility vehicles to strengthen security and improve service delivery.

    “For transparency’s sake, the money went directly from the local government’s account into the beneficiaries’ personal accounts. There was no middleman, no manipulation, and people received their alerts right here during the programme.”

    “We provided patrol vehicles to security agencies to support their work and keep our communities safe. We also provided utility vehicles to religious organisations such as CAN and the League of Imams, as well as key departments of the local government, to enhance community engagement, project monitoring and revenue generation,” she said.

    Lagos State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Cornelius Ojelabi, commended Abubakar’s performance, describing her first 100 days in office as impactful and people-oriented.

    “From what we have seen and the documents before us, the number of roads under construction and the efforts to lift people out of poverty by supporting their businesses are commendable.

  • Lawmaker empowers 250 women

    Lawmaker empowers 250 women

    By Azeezat Adeshola

    The councilor, representing Baale Ward in Coker-Aguda Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Olaiya Musbau has empowered 250 women with N20,000 each during the  annual end-of-the-year fiesta.

    The event, held at Cana Primary School, Coker-Aguda, was to recognise women who contributed to community mobilisation and supported political activities in the ward.

    Musbau said the initiative was meant to reward women for their role in mobilising voters during the last election.

    “When I looked back during the election, I saw my mothers and sisters working day and night for the success of our party. This programme is my own way of appreciating them,” he said.

    Olaiya added that beneficiaries were selected through community development associations (CDAs), churches, mosques and artisan groups to ensure transparency and fairness.

    Read Also: 2027: Tinubu has stabilised Nigeria’s economy, says group

    The Deputy Apex Leader,  Ademola Dadanla, described the initiative as the first of its kind in Orile, urging other councillors within the LCDA to implement similar programmes.

    Mrs Peace Sunday, one of the beneficiaries, said she was surprised because such a programme had never occurred in the ward, adding that she initially thought she would not be selected.

    “I am very happy, and I will tell the people of my community how Olaiya is impacting lives,” she said.

    Another beneficiary, Mrs Seyi Ajibola, said the grant was unexpected and would help her with household needs.

  • Iba presents N11.5b budget

    Iba presents N11.5b budget

    By Ummusalamoh Kamorudeen

    The Chairman of Iba Local Council Development Area, Jubril Yisa, has presented N11,527,098,722.17 budget proposal  to the Legislative Arm.

    He described it as budget of infrastructural continuity.

    According to hi, the budget prioritises road rehabilitation and construction to improve connectivity within the communities.

    The council helmsman further stated that the budget was carefully prepared with prudence, accountability and transparency in mind and it aligns with available resources.

    Read Also: Nigerian Tax Acts: Benefits beyond the rhetoric

    Leader of the House, Mustapha Hassan hailed the council boss for all the developmental projects and provisions of welfare programs across the wards for the benefits of our people.

    He assured that the lawmakers will do everything possible to pass the budget within few weeks so as to give way for its implementation.

    Hassan assured all stakeholders that the legislative arm would scrutinise the budget proposal in the interest of the council.

    Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, representing Ojo Constituency 1, Olusegun Ege, appreciated the 5th Legislative Arm of Iba for their support towards the 6th Legislative.

    The Deputy Leader, Olusoji Agbawi, gave the closing remarks.

  • Apapa-Iganmu distributes food items, cash to residents

    Apapa-Iganmu distributes food items, cash to residents

    By Azeezat Adeshola and Kowiyat Dada

    The Chairman of Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Jimoh Saliu, has commenced the first phase of the Ounje Olugbani Food Support and Owo Irorun cash assistance initiative, targeting about 13,000 households across the council.

    Saliu said the initiative was aimed at cushioning the economic hardship faced by residents, particularly during the festive season.

    He explained that each beneficiary would receive a food pack comprising garri, rice, semovita, beans, vegetable oil, salt, seasoning cubes and spaghetti, alongside a cash support of N5,000.

    According to him, the items were packaged to ensure that families could prepare more than a single meal from the support received.

    “This is not something a family will finish in one meal. The volume is enough to cater for households,” he said.

    Saliu said the initiative was inspired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s call on leaders to prioritise food security and ensure food reaches Nigerians.

    Read Also: 2027: Tinubu has stabilised Nigeria’s economy, says group

    He described the exercise as the first edition of the programme, adding that subsequent editions would be implemented during major festive periods such as Ramadan, Easter and Salah.

    He said his administration initially focused on infrastructure development during its first 100 days in office, but was now shifting attention to social welfare and human development.

     To ensure transparency, the council boss said the distribution process was coordinated through community stakeholders, including councillors, ward leaders, community development associations (CDAs), youth leaders and landlords, to ensure the items reached its intended beneficiaries. He added that house enumeration and ticketing were carried out across wards to prevent diversion and duplication.

    He added that the council had trained over 1,000 youths in various vocational skills, noting that equipment would be distributed to beneficiaries in the coming weeks as part of its empowerment drive.

    He assured residents that his administration would sustain programmes targeted at improving living standards across the council.

  • Jakande lifts 250 students with bursary

    Jakande lifts 250 students with bursary

    By Sherifdeen Amusa

    The Chairman of Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Jimoh Saliu, has commenced the first phase of the Ounje Olugbani Food Support and Owo Irorun cash assistance initiative, targeting about 13,000 households across the council.

    Saliu said the initiative was aimed at cushioning the economic hardship faced by residents, particularly during the festive season.

    He explained that each beneficiary would receive a food pack comprising garri, rice, semovita, beans, vegetable oil, salt, seasoning cubes and spaghetti, alongside a cash support of N5,000.

    According to him, the items were packaged to ensure that families could prepare more than a single meal from the support received.

    Read Also: NCDMB, Innovius Nigeria train youth on AI, Data Analytics, Machine Learning

    “This is not something a family will finish in one meal. The volume is enough to cater for households,” he said.

    Saliu said the initiative was inspired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s call on leaders to prioritise food security and ensure food reaches Nigerians.

    He described the exercise as the first edition of the programme, adding that subsequent editions would be implemented during major festive periods such as Ramadan, Easter and Salah.

    He said his administration initially focused on infrastructure development during its first 100 days in office, but was now shifting attention to social welfare and human development.