The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southwest

  • Schools come alive in Ondo community

    Schools come alive in Ondo community

    Bothered about the deplorable state of some public schools in Ondo State, the Senator representing Ondo Central District, Chief Tayo Alasoadura has inaugurated blocks of renovated classrooms at St Patrick’s Primary School and Baptist High School, both in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State as part of his constituency projects.

    Besides, the lawmaker has launched the construction of multi-purpose hall in the town.

    Idanre is one of the six local government areas in the Central District. Others are Akure South, Ifedore, Akure North, Ondo East and Ondo West.

    Alasoadura apologised for his inability to organise the quarterly Town Hall meeting he promised since his assumption of office.

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) said the enormity of work in the Senate and particularly the Committee where he is the Chairman and his resolve to break the jinx of numerous years over the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) were largely responsible.

    He, however, expressed delight that the jinx was finally broken when the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) was passed on the floor of the Senate.

    This development, he said, generated accolades of fulfilment despite what it cost his constituent, promising that the Town Hall meeting would commence without delay.

    Alasoadura noted that despite the overwhelming legislative/committee activities he is saddled with, he had been able to facilitate some projects for the Senatorial District while also executing some personally in fulfilment of his campaign promises.

    The former commissioner noted that having observed that most of the facilities in the primary and secondary schools were in deplorable condition, he decided to renovate them within the available resources.

    He recalled that on December 22, last year, he organised a women/youth empowerment programme in Akure South for three out of the six local government areas within the Senatorial District where he distributed empowerment materials that included cars, motorcycles, manual sewing machines and grinding machine.

    He also added that cash empowerment was given to over 60 beneficiaries across the three local government areas, noting that the empowerment programme for the three other local government areas will hold later this year.

    Residents and management of the schools praised the efforts of Senator Alasoadura in enhancing the living conditions of members of Idanre community.

    Dignitaries who attended the event were the lawmaker representing Akure North/South Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Afe Olowookere, Caretaker Chairman, Akure North Local Government Area, Segun Oluyede and traditional rulers, among others.

  • Fed Govt urged to adopt national conference report

    The Anglican Church has said adopting the report of the Sovereign National Conference is panacea to the nation’s myriad of socio-economic and political upheavals.

    The church said the Federal Government is free to convoke another conference if it is not comfortable with the recommendations made by the National Conference under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The church also said true federalism is ideal for the ‘growth and development’ of the country, adding that states should be allowed to develop at their own pace.

    This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 5th Synod of the Diocese of Badagry held at the Cathedral Church of St Thomas, Badagry Lagos State.

    Anglican Communion also lamented the perennial lack of power supply under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. To address this national challenge, the Synod advised the Federal Government to decentralise Power, Housing and Works ministries under Babatunde Fashola with the aim of splitting them for optimal performance.

    “The comatose position of the power sector after two years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration negates the promised change,” the communique said.

    The document signed by the Diocesan Bishop and Secretary Rt Rev Babatunde Adeyemi and Olubunmi Ajimo Akindiba respectively, urged the Federal Government to also look into alternative sources of power such as solar, coal and wind so as to reduce the total dependence on the national grid for electricity supply.

    While commending government in its fight against corruption, Synod advises government to set up special courts to try corrupt officials.

    “Innovative measures should be taken in the fight against corruption such as the establishment of special courts to try corrupt persons. A blueprint for students should equally be developed to sensitise them to dangers inherent in corrupt practices.

    “The Synod is also saddened at the increasing state of crime such as kidnapping, cultism, terrorism, and herdsmen’s attacks which still remain recurring menace. The Synod therefore urges government to provide adequate structures to arrest this trend,” the statement added.

    Adeyemi, who sought special status for Badagry in Lagos State, explained that though Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration is trying, more of government’s presence is still needed in Badagry.

    While acknowledging various efforts of the government in sustaining the economy, it also recommended that further efforts be made in pursuing other sources of revenue such as agriculture, solids minerals and tourism and others.

  • Group praises Fed Govt over vaccine production

    The Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Group (PMG-MAN) has commended Federal Government’s efforts in supporting local manufacturing, especially to access high quality and affordable drugs.

    A statement made available to Southwest Report by the Executive Secretary of PMG-MAN, Dr Obi Peter Adigwe, said their commendation was based on the fact that local production of vaccines will ameliorate some health challenges the citizens go through which is one of the ultimate goals of any nation.

    He said the partnership with May and Baker will revitalise the production of local vaccines. This, he said, will guarantee the most sustainable and effective approach to national security and self-sufficiency in this critical area.

    He said: “Manufacturers of local medicines in Nigeria have long been associated with the production of high quality, affordable medicines. It is on record that Nigeria still has the biggest cluster of World Health Organisation (WHO) certified companies in Africa, and incidentally, May and Baker is one of those companies.

    “Manufacturers of local medicines are also at the forefront of innovative and contextual solutions to local health care issues, such as this commendable partnership that you have initiated. This is evidenced by our robust and comprehensive engagement with a wide range of policy-makers and stakeholders.”

    Adigwe further canvassed the Expedited Medicines’ Access Programme (E-MAP), a proposed collaborative contractual partnership between Ministry of Health and local manufacturers.

    The PMG-MAN, Executive Secretary said the E-MAP is in line with the vision and aspirations of the current administration that aim at providing affordable, high quality medicines for the public in a sustainable and cost-efficient manner.

    Explaining further, he said the programme design involves combining innovative manufacturing practices with contextual logistics and supply chain management that will, in turn, achieve effective, cost-efficient and timely provision of high quality medicines across the country.

    Calling the attention of Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole to the Acting President, Prof. ‘Yemi Osinbajo’s Executive Order on Local Content in Public Procurement mandates to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to grant procurement preference to local manufacturers, he stressed that Osinbajo expressly specified locally manufactured medicines in Section 4F and the need to patronise them extensively as against imported ones.

    He reiterated his association’s appeal to the Ministry of Health to begin the relevant processes for the implementation of the E-MAP. He added that the implementation of the policy guideline will not only grow the capacities of local manufacturers but will also help in jobs creation.

    Recall that the proposed vaccine production has been on hold since 1991 but was re-activated and upgraded to establish a company called Bio-vaccines Limited which will be jointly owned by the Federal Government and May and Baker Plc.

    At the signing ceremony between the Federal Government and May and Baker Plc, last month the minister said it would further secure the lives of Nigerians since the production of vaccines is now considered a security issue.

    He said:  “We have considered vaccines as a security issue. It is not only health but we need to consider the security of all Nigerians, particularly our children. So, with this agreement, we will be able to produce those command vaccines. Beginning from 2021, every other vaccine that is necessary will also be out on board for administration to Nigerians.”

  • Organisation fetes kids

    Bond FM 92.9 radio station has held a three-day event for children at its premises in Ikeja GRA, Lagos.

    The programme was aimed at uplifting the kids to discover their vision. Children within one and 12 years, from various parts of Lagos and other states, attended the event.

    An outfit, Empire Academy of Performing Arts, organised the competition for the children in various areas such as Talent Hunt. The finalists were expected to be trained at the Academy on scholarship.

    The station’s General Manager, Bamidele Dada said: “This is not the first programme we have held.’’ Since he assumed duties, he said he had been strategising on programmes which would boost the image of the station.

    “In every season, such as New Year, Easter, Eid-el-fitri, Eid-el-Kabir, Independence Day, Christmas and others, the station comes up with a programme to attract and sensitise the public during such period.

    “There are still other programmes planned for the rest of the year, which are still in suspense. When it is appropriate for the programme to be held in any season, it will be aired,” he said.

    Some of the programmes featured were swimming pool, bouncing castle, horses, trampoline, toy craft and other skills.

    Others were heating massage for parents and different machines to keep their bodies fit.

    Dada urged parents to bring their children in the way of the Lord, adding that they should not leave them only for the teachers because charity begins from the home.

  • Alumnae renovate, equip lab for alma mater

    Worried by the deplorable state of facilities in their alma mater, the 1970-74 Alumnae set of Queen’s School Ibadan have renovated and handed over an equipped block of biology laboratory to the students and management of the school.

    The project, which held as part of the Queen School Old Girls’ Association’s (QSOGA) mission to “Pass on the Torch”, entails re-roofing of the block, installing laboratory equipment such as test tubes, microscopes, teaching aids, chemicals and practical tools among others, which cost the group about N2 million.

    President of the 1974 set, Mrs. Modupe Ehirim recalled that the death of Dr. Stella Adadevoh, an Old Girl, who died to prevent the spread of Ebola virus in Nigeria, was the first event that brought some of the old girls together since after leaving school over 40 years ago.

    She said the sad event afforded some of the old girls the opportunity to re-unite and build a network through the social media, adding that the group’s relationship received a boost when some of them visited the school to see the possibility of giving back to the institution that had impacted so much on them.

    According to Ehirim, who was also the Head Girl QSI 70-74 set, the old girls were very challenged after listening to the report on the state of the school and expressed willingness to change the situation.

    She added that the report was a source of shame to the old girls, particularly when a delegation visited the school to inspect the biology laboratory of “our school which used to be the benchmark for standard in the whole country in those days”.

    The Chairman, QSI Governing Board, Mrs. Ronke Azeez who is also a 1974 set of the school said the point where the project was almost stalled as a result of dearth of fund was the exact time the school’s Principal told the Governing Board that the students have been going to another school to learn biology practicals.

    She said the report inspired the 1974 set to fix and equip the biology laboratory for the use of the students, assuring that the lab has been adopted by the set as their pet project since biology is a subject every student of the school must study before graduation.

    She urged the students to manage the facility well and let the donation challenge them to pass on the torch too.

    While accepting the donation on behalf of the management and students of the school, the school Principal, Mrs. Babalola Fatoba commended the old girls for the gesture, even as she assured them that the facilities would be managed well to ensure that they are put to good and productive use by the present and future sets of students.

  • Lagos is my success story, says AVM Martins

    Lagos at 50 is still basking in the euphoria of success. The celebration received encomiums and commendations from distinguished personalities; one of them is Air Vice-Marshal (AVM) Olufunso Martins (rtd), the Chairman of Domart Group.

    He said Lagos is the only state in Nigeria where people feel free to pursue their aspirations, irrespective of their backgrounds.

    He expressed satisfaction with the way the state leaped forward in the past 50 years of its creation as a geographical entity. The frontline philanthropist urged Lagosians to reciprocate government’s efforts by performing their civic responsibilities with dedication.

    In retrospect, he explained that the Centre of Excellence contributed to his success story, adding that the state has clement temperament for all those who want to earn their living legitimately.

    Martins, who was born seven decades ago at Ebute Metta, Lagos to the Ekunsemi Martins family of Lafiaji in Isale-Eko, Lagos Island said Lagos is a pathfinder for many.

    He attended African Church Primary School, Ebute Metta and proceeded afterwards to African Church Grammar School, Abeokuta and later completed his secondary education at Methodist Boys’ High School, Lagos.

    After his secondary education, he proceeded to the Obafemi Awolowo University, where he studied Electronics/Telecommunications Engineering. He worked briefly for the British Petroleum as a Clerical Officer before he was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna as an Officer Cadet in 1970.

    He later passed through several specialist courses at home and abroad and rose through the ranks to AVM in 1999. He was the Commandant of the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Oshodi from where he voluntarily retired in 2003; having served his fatherland meritoriously.

    During his military career, AVM Martins was seconded to Lagos State on the request of the then Military Governor. He was subsequently appointed the Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Transport Corporation (LSTC) where he took charge of over 300 buses at the inception of the Federal Government Mass Transit Programme.

    AVM Martins introduced the Graduate Driver Scheme at the LSTC, where graduates were employed to propel the scheme known as Civil Servant Graduate Drivers. At present, some of them have risen to become directors and permanent secretaries.

    He introduced 13th month salary to motivate workers in the agency, even as he developed a befitting headquarter building for the agency which is now being used as LASTMA headquarters.

    Comparing how life was at Ebute-Metta in those days to the Lagos of today, the resourceful and hardworking Martins said: “We had about 100 tenants in a compound named ‘’Ebami Dupe’’ compound at 30 Griffith Street, Ebute-Metta and we all lived together in peace. There was nothing like someone having the idea of kidnapping or poisoning my children and there was nothing like religious differences or intolerance.

    “Then, children ate together and we were our brothers’ keeper. Neighbours could correct any child that did anything wrong. But these days, it is sad that the reverse is the case. I look forward to a Lagos of one big family.”

    On the development that has taken place in the state since its creation 50 years ago, the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) said: “Lagos State being the former federal capital of Nigeria has Federal Government inputs such as the Second and Third Mainland Bridges and other infrastructure. Aside this, each of the governors of the state contributed immensely to the development of the state.

    “The state is a cosmopolitan city and urban development is increasing. I must say that each administration has kept to the vision of making Lagos State one of the mega cities of attraction in the world. In terms of infrastructural development, however, Lagos is still developing.”

     

  • Furore over Olubadan chieftaincy review

    Furore over Olubadan chieftaincy review

    The proposed review of the Olubadan Chieftaincy Law has pitched Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi against some leading lights of the ancient town. The matter is now in court. But one of the parties, High Chief Lekan Balogun has withdrawn from the case. BISI OLADELE takes a look at the issue and traces how Ajimobi has been wading through such storm in the past six years.

    When Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi inaugurated a judicial commission of inquiry on the proposed review the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration on May 19, all hell were let loose. Mnay criticised him for delving into an institution regarded as untouchable. Some believed the governor was over reaching himself, arguing that members of the Olubadan-in-Council, elders and others interested would take him on it.

    Indeed, two members of the council, High Chiefs Lekan Balogun and Rashidi Ladoja, sued the governor and the panel, arguing that they do not have the power to intervene in traditional chieftaincy matters. But at every turn, Ajimobi reiterated that he has no hidden agenda over the matter.

    The institution of the court case coincided with the celebration of Ajimobi’s sixth anniversary. As he moved round the state inaugurating projects, the governor emphasised that those opposing his move were only playing politics. He said he did not plan to prevent anyone from moving to the next rank on the Olubadan ladder.

    He insisted that his administration was working on the possibility of producing some beaded crown-wearing Obas in the city to add more honour and influence to the throne of the Olubadan.

    Last Wednesday, Ajimobi cart the carpet under the feet of those against the review.

    Earlier, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) said it would not oppose the review if it does not demean the Olubadan throne. Its President, Chief Wole Akinwande, made the council’s stand known in an interview.

    During a visit by members of the Olubadan-in-Council to the governor in his office on Wednesday, something dramatic happened. The team was led by the Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji. But Ladoja was not with them.

    Members of the council at the meeting were the Otun Olubadan High Chief Lekan Balogun, Ashipa Olubadan High Chief Eddy Oyewole, Ekerin Olubadn High Chief Abiodun Daisi and Ekarun Olubadan, High Chief Hamidu Ajibade.

    Others were Balogun of Ibadan land High Chief Owolabi Olakulehin, Otun Balogun High Chief Olufemi Olaifa, Osi  Balogun High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola, Ashipa Balogun, High Chief Lati Gbadamosi and the Ekarun Balogun High Chief Kola Adegbola.

    After the meeting, the monarch told reporters he was in full supported the review because he has confidence in Ajimobi’s ability to take steps that would bring credibility to the chieftaincy positions of Olubadan and its council members.

    Oba Adetunji said: “Our visit today is to put paid to the rumours and misgivings about the review of the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration.

    “We have come to show our sincere support to the governor and to let him know that we are on the same page with him as the review is for the progress of Ibadan and its people.’’

    The Otun Olubadan, High Chief Balogun, who joined Ladoja in the legal battle option, made a U-turn. He said the review was a welcome development, adding that his decision to choose the legal action was as a result of communication gap.

    His words: “Change is the only constant thing in life. There is nothing that is above change. The entire furore which had resulted from government’s move was due to communication gap but that has been resolved now.

    “Life is dialectical; things must be changing and we must all be growing with it. The government is quite right to have set up machinery to look into the law and see how it can be made better.

    “We believe it is a welcome development, especially with the kind of governor we have who is keenly interested in the growth and development of Ibadan land.”

    In the six years of Ajimobi as governor, he has dabbled into similar matters that are considered delicate.

    First was his intervention in the crisis that engulfed the Oyo State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) which had snowballed into full scale violence; claiming lives regularly and casting Ibadan and Oyo State in the mound of a state of thugs and political hoodlums.

    The two immediate predecessors of Ajimobi failed in taming members of the union, a situation that made them look untouchable. Their factional leaders-Alhaji Lateef Akinsola (aka Tokyo), Mukaila Lamidi (aka Auxilliary) and Alhaji Lateef (aka Eleweomo) operated like heads of a republic within a larger republic. Popular motor parks such as Iwo Road, Gate, Molete and Beere usually recorded bloodbaths.

    But when a reprisal attack on a faction in Iwo Road on the night of June 4, 2011 led to the killing of many innocent commuters, including a final-year medical student, Ajimobi wielded the weight of executive power by banning activities of the union. He boxed the union into a limbo and went after the three dreaded leaders.

    Many residents and observers treated his reaction with disdain but Ajimobi stood by his decisions. He backed up law enforcement agents and ensured that none of the three factional leaders was able to perform his enterprise again. After the intervention of the national leadership of the union in 2012, the governor went for a neutral person in Alhaji Taofeek Oyernde (aka Fele) with a stern warning against any form of violence. His move finally sealed the much-needed peace within the union in Ibadan, the capital city since then.

    After removing the much-feared Tokyo and banning him, the latter made frantic efforts to return to the seat but Ajimobi prevailed. Auxiliary was later arrested and jailed for a criminal offence.

    In 2012, Ajimobi also challenged popular sentiment by forcing traders and commercial vehicles out of roadsides and unapproved locations to pave way for his urban renewal project. As expected, hues and cries pervaded the entire state, with traders and their sympathisers vowing to end the governor’s political career in 2015. They moved against him from several fronts, using the media and community channels.

    They described him as an enemy of progress, arguing that traders operate in such locations even in developed countries.

    Ibadan, the state capital, where the policy was most impactful, embarked on campaigns against Ajimobi and his urban renewal policy. Opposition politicians cashed in on the move and celebrated people’s ‘opposition’ to the governor.

    But Ajimobi remained resolute. He, however, built modern markets for traders and modern parks for commercial drivers to ensure they do not return to the roadside, causing traffic and tainting the city’s supposed beautiful landscape.  He sustained his policy as he battled sentiments left and right.

    In the end, he succeeded, though his support in the city plummeted as shown in the result of the 2015 election. Ajimobi only managed to defeat Ladoja with about 3,500 votes, only a fraction of what his wide lead in the 2011 election. Today, however, the city has come to realise and appreciate the importance and beauty of the policy.

    If there is any other sensitive decision Ajimobi has taken, it was the reform of education which saw each public secondary school have its own School Governing Board (SGB).

    When the governor started the move for the reform last year, teachers, students and other stakeholders opposed him. They even staged violent protests, saying the governor wanted to sell public schools to his cronies. Teachers went on strike. School pulpits became hoodlums of a sort. Some opinion leaders bought into the sentiment and joined them to criticise Ajimobi. They asked him to back down but Ajimobi was unmoved. He went on with the policy with the argument that government alone could no longer fund public schools effectively.

    Today, all stakeholders are hailing the new policy which creates a better future for public schools.

    Another delicate issue Ajimobi dabbled into was the implementation of the creation of local council development areas (LCDA). The LCDAs were created by the Lam Adesina administration in 2002 but the idea was abandoned due to the stance of the Federal Government at the time over federal allocation issues surrounding the idea.

    Successive administrations never ventured into the LCDA project until Ajimobi assumed office. Convinced that the project would expedite development at the grassroots, he went for it but drew the flak of opposing forces that included politicians and traditional rulers.

    But Ajimobi had his way at the end.

    Currently, there are 54 local governments and LCDAs in Oyo State instead of the original 33. This number excludes the LCDAs created in Oyo land over which government and traditional rulers are trying to find a lasting solution.

     

     

  • Association seeks safe meat handling practice

    Association seeks safe meat handling practice

    The Lagos chapter of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) has identified raw meat as a source of health concern. According to the group, unhygienic preparation of raw meat is a source of parasites and bacteria that result in food-borne and environmental diseases.

    As the members move from their secretariat situated inside Johnson Agiri Complex, Oko Oba, Agege to the Abattoir, they sensitised consumers to the effects of poorly-processed or packaged meat that can cause illness. Examples of these diseases, they said, include Tuberculosis, Brucellosis and Leptospirosis Salmonellosis (typhoid fever), among others.

    The President, Dr Alao Mobolaji said there is a global standard on how animals should be slaughtered and packaged as this can affect consumers’ health.

    “Parasites and bacteria tend to come from an animal’s gut, an animal’s intestines. Any harmful micro-organism released could contaminate all the meat the butcher is preparing. Anything harmful lives on the surface of the meat, not inside the muscle.

    “When meat is displayed in the open, flies will perch on it; potential buyers touch same without being mindful of the state of their hands in transmitting all sorts of pathogens. Then buyers move straight on to buy other things not giving thought to their hands and may even test garri, and some others edibles in the open market thereby ingesting the pathogens in them. Eventually, they get home, and as bacteria and others are still on the surface of the meat ill health is inevitable in all this.

    “We are not asking Nigerians to jump into the change in meat handling but let all be aware that it is doable.  Public health remains a major tool in promoting healthy living conditions among people and also ensuring human productivity and longevity.

    “As public health officers, veterinarians play a key role in ensuring a comprehensive public health package for any community. As a result, we have decided to embark on what we have tagged ‘Meat Hygiene Awareness Campaign’, with the purpose of educating members of the public on the health dangers of unclean meat processing and meat products,” he said.

    Dr Mobolaji said of all the diseases causing pathogens known to man, 61 per cent of them are known to affect both man and animals.

    “These diseases are what we refer to as zoonotic diseases. Currently, Nigeria is ranked 4th in the world (behind India, Indonesia and China) with the highest cases of tuberculosis based on last year’s report of the World Health Organisation (WHO).”

    According to the National TB and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP), over 600,000 new cases of tuberculosis occurred in Nigeria from a global report conducted in 2014. Brucellosis which is caused by Brucella abortus, an organism that is common in cattle, is a common occurrence in herdsmen and abattoir workers who have shown higher antibody titres for this organism.

    This occurs via the illicit handling of aborted foetuses by herdsmen or evacuated foetuses from slaughtered cows at abattoirs. The disease in man often comes with undulating fever and sweating which is often mistaken for malaria. It is also a cause of infertility.

    Salmonella disease, also known as typhoid fever, is known to affect 21.5 million people every year globally with majority from poor and under-developed nations. Typhoid fever is a growing monster in Nigeria with significant morbidity and human mortality. The organism can be found in meat, egg and milk.

    The Vice-President, Dr Obafemi Adeniran said all of the aforementioned diseases can be easily contacted from unhygienic meat and meat products. It is on this premise that the NVMA Lagos, has decided to embark on this all-important meat hygiene awareness campaign with the purpose of, “educating members of the public on the health dangers of consuming unhygienically meat and meat products.

    By sensitising butchers and meat sellers alike to the dangers of unwholesome practices in their slaughtering processes and sales of meat and meat products; to encourage members of the public to insist on buying only hygienically processed and packaged meat and meat products.”

    Dr Adeniran said NVMA Lagos also “wants butchers to desist from unwholesome means of slaughtering and processing animal meat at the various slaughter houses and abattoirs, especially slaughtering of animals on bare floor.

    “They should rather embrace modern and hygienic process of slaughtering animals. Meat vendors are to stop the sales of meat in open and unhygienic trays and tables, where they are exposed to flies. They should also stop the bare-hand handling of meat to be sold. But rather sell in hygienic selling wares, neatly wrapped in cellophanes and stored in refrigerating systems.”

    Dr Mobolaji added: “Government should speed up the upgrade of existing slaughter facilities to accommodate modern trends and the rapid completion of private abattoirs around the state. Utilisation of rapid penside test kits at our abattoirs to screen cattle to check the presence of tuberculosis or brucellosis in them. It should also engage the services of more veterinarians to conduct the business of meat inspection at our various abattoirs and slaughter houses around the state.

    “Available statistics makes it clear that Lagos State slaughters about 6,000 cattle daily (aside sheep, goats and pigs). But there are just 24 veterinarians in the employ of Lagos State to supervise the slaughtering of these animals and still conduct other duties.

    “For us to effectively cover meat inspection demands of the state, more veterinarians need to be engaged. No community, state or nation can talk about a comprehensive public health package without doing due diligence with its veterinary service care delivery.

     

     

  • Ending extremism tops talks in Lagos

    Ending extremism tops talks in Lagos

    Community and religious leaders, as well as scholars met in Lagos penultimate week to chart paths to countering violent extremism in the Northeast and the Niger Delta.

    The interaction facilitated by UFUK Dialogue, an international non-governmental organisation, also focused on how to end youth restiveness and unemployment.

    Local and international scholars presented papers during the conference whose theme was “Countering Extremism through Peace, Education and Love.”

    Representative of UFUK Dialogue in Lagos, Mehmet Ozleyen, said religious leaders must preach love and peace to their followers and others.

    He said: “The individual who is conscious of divine creation is first of all a hero of affection.

    “Such a person is deeply concerned about every existence; embraces everybody and everything compassionately.

    “With love, he or she sees the existence of other religious beliefs and philosophical views as a reality and constantly seeks ways of living together peacefully with other people with the idea of accepting others in their own place and respecting everybody.”

  • Lagos in the next 50 years

    The last week of April and all of May, this year, was season of prayers in Lagos. People of diverse origin, faith, interest, and class-including even the atheists-, were united in entreaty to God Almighty, to guide and quicken the drive to a Greater Lagos, a Smart City that will rival the best in the Planet.

    Prayers were offered in churches, mosques and shrines, at club houses, social functions, homes and meetings. Prayers soared on the wings of songs, drums, dance, drama and fanfare, exalting the Almighty for His blessings and favours that put Lagos in pole position in the country, kindling hope of improved humanity, affirming durability of concord among groups, showcasing the beauty of multi-ethnic cultural heritage, propagating messages of care and love and restating our determination and commitment to confront present and future challenges.

    During the colourful celebration of 50 years of peaceful co-existence and unprecedented socio-economic progress in the state, Lagosions earnestly requested for more of the same in the journey to Smart city of collective aspirations. Indeed, Lagosians love God.

    God loves Lagosians-this is the bedrock of the people’s faith, imbuing hope, courage and confidence to focus on collective dreams and pursue them with religiousness until they become reality.

    The question is not whether our supplications will be answered, but that the Smart City destiny of Lagos is assured.

    Some skeptics might say western nations have achieved development with little emphasis on religion. While this is a fallacy, as will soon be pointed out, the definition of development will not be complete when the spiritual needs of the people are downplayed or ignored.

    Those who had travelled to nations in the Western World, before September 11, 2001, when the World Trade Centre was attacked, could easily come to the conclusion that people there were living in paradise, as they enjoyed state-of-the-art infrastructural facilities, unequalled social and economic advancement, uninterrupted power supply, comprehensive health insurance scheme, superb social safety net, fantastic integrated transportation system, near zero-unemployment level, stable democracy, predictable conveniences, comprehensive health and medical scheme, high level of safety and security and  unfettered freedom and liberty.

    It is thus easy for one to conclude that, these nations must have evolved enduring development templates that other developing nations in quest of progress and good living must adopt to succeed.

    Definitely, these are not models that Lagos should adopt unconditionally. Paying appropriate attention to religious issues and prayers are crucial in the overall state’s development thrust. Religion is not a problem, but a big asset that is being strategically combined with other variables to produce best results.

    In the past 50 years of the existence of Lagos, we have not witnessed any major religious conflict, despite that Lagos, with a population of more than 20 million, harbours far more faith-based groups of varying denominations and far more ethnic groups than anywhere else in the country.

    Indeed, religion and prayers are working for us in Lagos. Religion and government travel in different but parallel tracks. They are most successful and most effective when they protect and encourage one another… (And) too much secularism can lead to moral decadence not good for society,” says Elder Wilfred W. Anderson.

    Something ubiquitous can easily be taken for granted such as air, water, sand and sunshine, yet our Planet Earth cannot sustain lives in the absence of one of them. So, it is becoming a reality with religion.

    From the beginning of human creation, religion has been there with us. From cradle to grave, we are immense in religious rites and experiences, that it has become part of our souls. Hardly can we write the history of a nation or group of people on earth without mentioning their religious experiences; it has become part of human existence and ways of life, and the fact that we have some few people who are atheists, does not diminish the significance of religion and prayer.

    The principle of Strategic Approach is that attention must be given to all variables, which must be combined in systematic manner to produce desired results and outcomes.

    For Lagos to continue to excel and transmit models for other states in the country and beyond, it must continue to benefit from the best of what are available around the globe, and marry them with the best in our clime, to produce results that are appropriate and comprehensive enough to accommodate all the citizens’ needs and aspirations, without destroying our ways, values and cultures.

    Lagosians are religious people. Overwhelmingly, we are either Christians or Muslims; we have some other Lagosians who are traditionalists and some atheists, whose interests have always been factored in development thrusts.

    Lagos State Government has been working hard to protect all religious groups, without preference for one. You cannot see a worship centre within the State Secretariat complex, but across the road, there is a mosque and a church, constructed by the state, but each overseen by a governing council, who may not necessarily be public servants, to take care of spiritual needs of more than 95 per cent of workforce, residents and visitors in Alausa and its environs.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, as are his predecessors, appreciates the importance of religion and prayer in pursuit of avowed objective of Greater Lagos. He has been protecting religious freedom without favouring any group over the others.

    Through the Ministry of Home Affairs, he has been able to sustain harmonious relationship among all faith-based organisations. He has fostered durable peace in the state, and his peace initiative promises to become more comprehensive and self-sustaining when Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), State chapter, is decentralised for ownership at the grassroots.

    In the two consecutive years of Ambode’s administration, Lagos was adjudged as the best in the country in pilgrimage operation to the Holy Lands of Mecca and Jerusalem, with expressed approval and satisfaction of pilgrims.

    The state will continue in that manner to satisfy the spiritual yearnings of its citizens. Kidnapping, which is threatening harmonious existence, is foreign to the state and is being robustly addressed. It will soon become history when more security measures, such as deployment of commissionaires trained by Nigerian Legion (Lagos chapter), construction of watch tower and installation of close-circuit televisions come to fruition in education institutions.

    That Ambode’s administration has been outstanding is because he has been implementing a Lagos Template, which has all the beautiful components of the western version, with important local components that will transform the state from a Mega City to a Smart City.

    Lagosians have faith in the destiny of their state, and confident in the ability of the present government to transform the state to a true Smart City of prosperous and happy citizens. Ambode has his heart set on the task at hands, and will not be distracted.

     

    • Lookman Seriki is Head Public Affairs Lagos Ministry of Home Affairs