The Ajowa Owners and Lorry Drivers Association of Nigeria ( AJOWA ), Agbado Chapter, has appealed to the Federal Government to repair all bad roads across the country to enhance dividends of democracy to the people.
The Chairman of the Association, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Tomori, made the appeal in an interview on Tuesday in Lagos.
According to him, deplorable state of roads in the country has been a major challenge confronting the association from carrying out its activities.
Tomori also attributed rising the rate of auto crashes in the country to the bad roads.
”There are sometimes that the drivers will be trying to avoid potholes and in the process cause accident, “he said.
He said that the deplorable state of the nation’s roads also damaged vehicles; a development he noted made the drivers to spend unnecessary money in repairing their vehicles.
Tomori also said the bad roads were the major causes of gridlocks in the country, saying there was an urgent need to address the problem before getting out of hand.
He, however, commended Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State and Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun toward providing good roads for the people.
”But we urge them to do more because that is the only way the people can enjoy the dividends of democracy.”
Lagos State House of Assembly at plenary on Tuesday passed a regulations on Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption (Fiscalization) designed to ensure that hotels and event centers remit due taxes to the state government.
The regulation will also guide against the evasion of taxes by these business concerns thereby boosting the revenue of the state.
The Regulations includes the registration of electronic fiscal devices, installation of fiscalization software and hardware, power to enter and inspect notifications of points of sale in the hotels and restaurant amongst others.
The Chairman of the 5-man Ad hoc Committee on Finance, Hon. Oluyinka Ogundimu who said he held series of meetings with the Commissioner for Finance and Chairman, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service stated that the regulations will bring about increase in the revenue accruable to the State and the installation of software and hardware for effective monitoring of sale transactions in hotels, restaurants and event centres.
Ogundimu said the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Ashade said the importance of the regulation is to have the backing of law for easy implementation
and also to help the State get the revenue as at when due, including the introduction of the fiscal electronic device which was due to the non-remittance of consumption tax by hotels.
“Chairman, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Subair who corroborated the position of the Mr. Ashade stated that the State Government is losing heavily in the area of consumption tax because of non-introduction of electronic device. He added that lots of advocacy and enlightenment programs will be needed to achieve the desired result.
The Speaker the Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa directed the Clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Sanni to forward the approval of the Regulations to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday called on Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode to direct the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Adebimpe Akinsola, make effort to preserve the state’s historical centres and cultural heritage.
This, according to the lawmakers, is necessary to promote tourism. The call followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader of the House, Mr Sanai Agunbiade.
Agunbiade’s motion centered on the need for the government to list all historical centres and monuments in the state, with a view to preserving them.
He particularly noted that Epetedo in Lagos Island, where the acclaimed winner of the June 12 presidential election, Chief Moshood Abiola, made his self-declaration as president should be given attention.
Agunbiade divided the historical centres and monuments into three grades – A, B and C.
According to him, Grade A would include all centres that the government would list and take over.
Grade B, he said, is to include those centres for which the state government would compensate the family of the owners.
He said that Grade C would be listed and marked without any compensation to the owners.
Several lawmakers, who took turns to support the motion, listed centres such as first storey building in Nigeria located in Badagry, Carter
Bridge and other similar sites as monuments to be preserved.
The lawmakers said that such preservation had become important for future generations and for economic value.
One of them, Abiodun Tobun, representing Epe Constituency I at the Assembly, said preservation of monuments is beneficial.
“If such monuments are listed and preserved, it will enhance our value; it will enhance economic benefits,’’ Tobun said.
The Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Muyiwa Jimoh, added: “If we don’t know our history, we won’t know where we are coming from.
“Herbert Macaulay’s statue fell down but people don’t think of re-erecting it.
“If we don’t preserve our collective patrimony, it does not show we are humans,’’ Jimoh, representing Apapa Constituency II said.
Also speaking, Mr Bisi Yusuff, representing Alimosho Constituency, reiterated the need to preserve the Epetedo centre.
Yusuff, who noted that the state could not continue to abandon its important monuments, said that the late Abiola paid the supreme
sacrifice to defend democracy.
Meanwhile, the Assembly summoned the Managing Director of the Lagos State Building Investment Company (LBIC) Mrs. Folasade Folivi to
appear before it on Thursday.
The Acting Chairman of the House Committee on Urban and Physical Planning, Mr Setonji David, had accused the MD of disrespecting the committee.
He spoke while presenting a report on a petition written by the residents of Ijaiye Low and Medium Housing Estate.
The residents of the estate had petitioned the House over a plan by LBIC to demolish the illegal structures in the estate.
Setonji said that the MD went ahead to demolish the structures, even when the committee had called for a stay of action on the demolition.
What has fallen us again this time? Not the winter but a night set to ditch out awards to sports men and women who have been excellent and consistent in the course of the year. It is no other than the Nigerian Sports Awards ( NSA ).
Last year’s edition’s glamour was stolen by the Paralympic athletes – as the duo of Kehinde Paul and Lucy Ejike, who were gold medalist at the Rio Paralympic Games against all odds emerged as the Sports Man and Woman respectively.
And ahead of the sixth edition of the biggest sporting award in the country which has been billed for Friday, November 17, 2017 in Lagos, and with no iota of disrespect to other award categories that even include both Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State and Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom who will be battling it out for the Governor of the year, we take a look at who deserves the Sportsman of the year between Basketball star, Ike Dihogu, 2017 ITTF Polish Open Champion – Aruna Qadri and Super Eagles star – Victor Moses.
Ike Dihogu
Ike Dihogu
The Jiangsu Monkey King of China power forward display at the last FIBA AfroBasket Championship in Tunisia was a testament to the fact that ‘age could at times be a number.’ Dihogu, who is D’Tigers’ captain was the only member of the 2015 AfroBasket squad invited for the title defence in Tunisia.
Though unable to lead a title defence, – as D’Tigers lost out to host nation Tunisia in the final 77-65, Dihogu was still able to manage a game high of 20 points in the final.
Asides record game high points in the final, the veteran recorded a tournament high 22 points per game and averaged 8.7 rebounds per game and it was by no chance or surprise when at the end, Dihogu emerged as the 2017 FIBA AfroBasket Tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
With a total of 132 points and Nigeria’s highest point scorer in four of the six games, Dihogu also emerged as the Tourney’s highest scorer and was also named on the All-Tournament Team.
Does Ike Dihogu deserve the Sportsman of the year award?
Aruna Quadri
The 2014 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Star Player of the Year is a household name when it comes to Nigeria Sports Award. The 29-year-old won the 2013 and 2014 Ball Sports Personality, the same category he has also been nominated for asides the Sportsman of the year for 2017 edition.
The 2016 Olympic quarter-finalist had a disastrous campaign at the ITTF Nigeria Open as he was defeated 4-3 by Bode Abiodun in the quarter-final of the championship. Undeterred by the upset and ignominious campaign at the Nigeria Open, Quadri righty predicted that the future is still his.
“It’s the strongest open so far – it wasn’t as expected. I gave all my best but it was a very good game for Bode Abiodun but I strongly believe the future is mine.” Quadri said.
Less than three months after the prediction, Quadri against all odds and expectations became the First African to win an ITTF open outside the shores of the continent. He defeated Japan’s Kali Yoshida in six sets (11-7, 11-13, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8, 14-12).
Quadri’s feet both on the African continent and outside made ITTF describe him as a record setter.
ITTF publication editor, Ian Marshall wrote after Quadri’s feet at the Polish Open: “At the Liebherr 2014 Men’s World Cup in Dusseldorf, Quadri Aruna became the first player from Africa to reach the quarter-final stage of the prestigious tournament.
“Just over one year ago in the Men’s single event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, he replicated the feat. Against all expectation he reached the round of the last eight.”
Also fellow Nigerian table tennis star, Omotayo Olajide sees Quadri as a great leader.
He wrote this on his facebook timeline after Quadri’s Polish Open triumph: “Continue paving way for us and may God continue to empower you … You are a great leader #respect# Aruna senior.”
With the remarkable feet at the Polish Open, Quadri joined Omar Assar as the only African players that represented the continent at the Men’s ITTF World Cup that held in Liege, Belgium.
Should the Sportsman of the year award go to Aruna Quadri?
Victor Moses
Victor Moses
The 2013 Nigeria Sports Award Footballer of the year has been one of the most consistent and if not the most important player for Nigeria in the year 2017.
His contributions to the National team was vital in the quest for the country qualifying for her sixth World Cup billed for next year in Russia.
The 27-year-old former Crystal Palace footballer has also been one of the most vital players in the Chelsea’s dressing room – raking up 40 appearances for Chelsea last season. With 28 starts and five substitution appearances in the English Premier League last season, Moses became the Nigerian with the most appearances for a title winning team.
With loans to Liverpool and West-ham, Moses, last season became one of Conte’s most trusted and loyal disciples.
His contributions has been vital for the Blues as many including club legend, Frank Lampard, who believes Chelsea’s struggle prior to the Blues 1-0 victory over Manchester United last two Sunday was as a result of the unavailability of the Nigerian due to a hamstring injury.
Asides his nomination for Nigeria Sports Award, Victor Moses has been nominated for BBC African Footballer of the Year award and as well in contention to win the Confederation of African Football’s player of the Year award.
On his recent nominations, Moses, in an interview with Goal.com said his teammates and Manager have been vital for his recent nominations. According to him, he wants to be the best player not just in Nigeria but Africa.
“I am pleased with the position I am in today, Moses said. “My manger and teammates helped me and encouraged me. It shows how hard I worked last year but it isn’t about being nominated but winning.
“Whatever the outcome is, I know that I have had a great year at the club and with the national team as well.
“I was part of the first African team to qualify for the World Cup as well which was good for us. Every season I want to be the best I can be to be Africa’s best player. I will do the best I can.”
With enviable records and statistics set by the trio of Ike Dihogu, Aruna Quadri and Victor Moses in 2017, it is a disrespect if any of them should win the award at the expense of the other two. But the truth is, one person must go home with the award.
With what the duo of Dihogu and Quadri have achieved this year, one do not need a soothsayer to know that Victor Moses will emerge victorious.
No disrespect to Dihogu and Quadri feats, but the fact that basketball and table tennis are not as popular as football in Nigeria might give Moses the edge.
Regardless, Dihogu or Quadri are still darlings of Nigerian sports fans, and have equal probabilities of winning. The media, especially, social media will definitely be agog this with reports, predictions and celebration for whoever among the three excellent sportsmen wins the award.
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday urged Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode to work with security agencies to check the spate of fake job advertisements in the state.
The call followed a motion moved by Mr Abiodun Tobun (APC-Epe I) at the Assembly on the security challenges emanating from such fake adverts that were pasted on street walls in the state.
Tobun prayed the House to call on Ambode to direct the Commissioner of Police, Department of State Security ( DSS ) and the State Neighborhood Safety Corps to curb the activities of scammers who defraud job seekers.
“This motion is borne out of conviction. If you go around Lagos, you will be amazed seeing the number of adverts of jobs that are non-existent with a view to luring unsuspected youth into their dens,” he said.
According to him, some victims are kidnapped, raped or even die in the process.
“Ritual killers also use that as a strategy. It is time to track down this and ensure that it is nipped in the bud,“ Tobun, Acting Chairman, House Committee on Works and Infrastructure said.
Contributing, the Acting Chairman, House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Rotimi Olowo said: “When population is moving geometrically and job is growing arithmetically, there is going to be vacuum.
“They come up with strategy to recruit and maim and kill. I am worried as a politician because 2019 is around the corner, people will believe the politicians are the ones who need human parts.’’
Olowo said that the Lagos State Signage and Advertisements Agency ( LASAA ) must ensure scammers are detected.
Also speaking, Mr Segun Olulade (APC-Epe II) called on the newly established Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps to do more in terms of intelligence gathering.
“We have seen a lot of advertisements on walls in the streets claiming what they are not,’’ he said.
Mr Yinka Ogundimu, on his part, said that emphasis should be laid on publicity and enlightenment.
Ogundimu called for the sustenance of the state’s Employment Trust Fund, aimed at providing loans for small scale businesses.
Mr Rasheed Makinde (APC-Ifako-Ijaiye II) in the House, who noted that he had once been a victim of such sharp practices, said that Lagos State was working assiduously to provide jobs.
He urged the Federal Government to do the same to curb influx of unemployed youth into the state.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa said: “it is not out of place to seek for jobs but the situation has turned upside down.
“I strongly believe that the neighborhood safety corps is not doing enough in this aspect.’’
Obasa called on the corps to verify claims on adverts placed on walls and liaise with the police in intelligence gathering to address the trend.
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Tuesday swore in Mrs Folashade Adesoye as the 20th Head of Service, charging her to hit the ground running.
Ambode during the ceremony at the Lagos House, Alausa, told Adesoye that all eyes were on her to provide leadership and direction to the over 100,000 public servants in the state.
Adesoye’s appointment followed the statutory retirement of the former head of service, Mrs Olabowale Ademola.
Adesoye was first appointed into the Lagos State Civil Service on Dec 28, 1983 as an Accountant and has served in several ministries.
Until her appointment as HoS, she was the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.
Ambode said concerted efforts had been made to place the state civil service on a sound footing for proactive, innovative, selfless and technology-driven service delivery.
He urged Adesoye to use her office to galvanise civil servants to build on the gains already recorded.
“The success of your tenure will be assessed not by the efforts you are able to put in, but the tangible outcome in terms of improvements in the outlook and deliverables of the entire workforce.
“You are inheriting a public service that has, to a large extent, keyed into the vision and uncompromising principles of good governance of this administration.
“As one who is fully aware of our vision and policies, some of which you have helped to translate and implement, I expect that you will hit the ground running and make your mark,” Ambode said.
He expressed confidence in the ability of the appointee to add value to the public service and governance in general.
The governor said the appointment was another confirmation of the dynamic quality of both the service and civil servants in the state.
According to him, the minimum standard now acceptable is selfless service to the state and the people.
“You hold a strategic position to bring out the best in everyone from the Body of Permanent Secretaries down the ladder to the junior staff,” Ambode said.
Responding, Adesoye thanked Ambode for the opportunity given to her to serve, assuring that the public service, under her watch, would redouble efforts in ensuring speedy, efficient and effective implementation of government policies and initiatives.
She pledged total commitment to the duties and responsibilities of the new office, promising that she would do everything within her capacity to justify the confidence reposed in her.
The Lagos State House of Assembly has passed into law, a bill for the establishment of Lagos State Cooperative College to further enhance economic development of the state.
The Assembly passed the bill after Third Reading on the floor of the House on Monday.
The lawmakers took turns to perfect some corrections in the 31-section bill before it was finally passed by the House.
The Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, conducted a voice vote on each of the sections of the bill before passage by the House.
Obasa said: “Having considered the Third Reading for a bill to establish the Lagos State Cooperative College and for Connected Purposes, the bill is hereby passed into law.’’
The speaker directed the Clerk of the House, Mr Azeez Sanni, to forward a clean copy of the bill to Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode for his assent.
NAN reports that the House, however, stepped down, until further notice, report of its Committee on Transportation on Lagos State Waterways Authority Regulation 2017 over some inadequacies.
The report was laid by the Acting Chairman of the committee, Mr Mojeed Fatai representing Ibeju-Lekki I.
Over 2,000 final year students from six tertiary institutions have benefited from the second edition of ReadySetWork employability and entrepreneurship programme organized by Lagos State Government in partnership with an education consult, Meadow Hall Consult held recently at Landmark Event Center, Lagos.
The three weeks programme featured teaching and mentoring of students from Lagos State University, Adeniran Ogunsayan College of Education, Lagos State College of Health Technology, University of Lagos, and others by 118 facilitators across various industries and sectors.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule said that ReadySetWork was developed as a result of the complaints of the private sector organizations about the unemployability of Nigerian graduates.
He said that the programme is targeted at final year students and it will enable successful students to get internship placements in high ranking corporate organizations arranged by us. At the end of the programme, those with best business ideas will get linked to major investors and the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund.”
Also representing the heads of tertiary institutions in Lagos State, the Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University, Prof. Lanre Fagbohun, reiterated that ReadySetWork has helped participants develop skills such as critical thinking, clear communications, and complex problem solving
In his words, CEO of Meadow Hall Group, Mrs. Kehinde Nwani, said that of the 2,000 graduates, 200 were adopted for the Teachers’ Track programme facilitated by Meadow Hall Consult. The State Government appointed Meadow Hall Consult as a training partner based on the company’s advocacy for quality education; constantly championing raising the standards for teachers’ training, and a track record of excellence in previous projects such as the Eko Project, Inner City Mission School, Finishing School for Teachers, Graduate Teachers Trainee Programme, Educamp, SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria amongst others.
Nwani noted that the Teachers’ Track programme was an 8-week bespoke training programme focused on training participants in 21st Century teaching methods, procedures and standards. The Teachers’ Track was introduced during this edition of ReadySetWork to cater for prospective teachers. Participants were trained by exceptional facilitators from Meadow Hall Consult. Some of the participants were also offered internship opportunity at Meadow Hall where they would have the opportunity to practice all they have learned in an enabling environment under the supervision of experienced teachers.
Nwani added that “the synergy between the Lagos State Government and institutions in the private sector to continue to raise the standard of education in Nigeria, and to improve the employability prospects of our final year students in Lagos State is commendable and Meadow Hall is honoured to be a part of this noble initiative”.
The Director of MFM FC of Lagos, Emmanuel Adeyemi on Monday said that the club chose to play its continental matches at Agege Stadium because it has a “fortress” of fans no team will survive.
Adeyemi said in an interview that though the club could play its matches anywhere in Lagos, it remained in Agege to maintain its affinity with their supporters.
“MFM FC can play anywhere in Lagos, it’s just that this is our home ground and this is where we have our fans and we are also used to the facility here.
“Agege fans have been of great support to the team, we want them to enjoy our playing in the continent here, but that does not mean we cannot play anywhere else.
“We are thankful to the Lagos State government for their tremendous support in making this place ready. The support has been so great; Agege remains a fortress,’’ he said.
Adeyemi expressed optimism that CAF would certify the stadium for the continental campaign.
“ I am confident that Agege will get CAF’s approval for our continental campaign, the Lagos State government has committed large sum for its remodelling.
“ With the kind of passion shown to MFM by Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode, we are left with little to do, just to get our players ready.
“For this competition, we are not only representing Lagos State, but we will be flying the national flag.
“The state government has done everything possible in making sure that Agege Stadium gets CAF approval by December, and we will take it up from there,” he said.
Adeyemi reporterd that the team would begin close camping as soon as it completes ongoing recruitment of new players.
“Immediately after we must have done with getting new signings, we will go into closed camping. The coaches and the technical crew have submitted their list and we are looking into it.
“We will strengthen all the departments from defence to the midfield and strikers; we want to add to our pool of talented players.
“For us in MFM, we believe in excellence and we want to effectively represent Lagos and Nigeria at the CAF Champions League, so all hands are on deck.
“We aim to make MFM the toast of many as far as football club is concerned.
“So we are ready to surpass the targets of people with the level of support we have received from the Lagos State Governor,’’the director added.
In the same vein, Sola Coker, a board member of the Lagos State Football Association, (LSFA) said that MFM would get all the support needed from the body.
“We are ready to support MFM to any length. We are happy that Lagos is back on the continent after 16 years in the doldrums.
“We are glad that Ambode gave his support for Agege Stadium to meet CAF’s standard, it’s such a huge investment and a positive development.
“We have worked hard for this since about six years ago during the emergence of MFM till now and we can only hope for the better,’’ the LSFA board member said.
The Lagos State Government on Sunday said it would begin to shut the corporate headquarters of organisations that had defaulted in remitting statutory taxes to the government from Nov. 20.
The Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akinyemi Ashade, who made the disclosure on Sunday in Lagos, said some banks had failed to remit statutory taxes, including withholding taxes on banks’ interests for more than 10 years.
Ashade said that the government had resolved to resort to all lawful means to ensure compliance with statutory tax remittances.
“Any company found to have evaded tax will not be spared.
“It is in the interest of defaulting companies and their management to remit the statutory taxes to the state within the grace period to avoid embarrassment to them and their shareholders.
“All law abiding corporate organisations are advised to adhere to this directive as the state government has given enough grace period for them to remit their taxes.
“The government will on Monday, Nov. 20, commence the process of shutting down the headquarters of corporate organisations, including banks that have failed to remit statutory taxes to government coffers,’’ Ashade said in a statement.
He said that prompt payment of taxes would enable the government to provide the necessary infrastructure and improve the standard of living of the people.
“When people pay their taxes promptly, government is encouraged to do more.
“The administration of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode has shown in the last two and half years that taxes paid are judiciously spent on projects that have impacted positively on the lives of residents,’’ the statement said.
The government had on Nov. 7, lamented that only about 600,000 residents out of a population of over 22 million were up to date in terms of tax compliance.
The government, therefore directed all its revenue agencies to ensure prompt payment of taxes, including land use charges and also commence enforcement of payment by all tax defaulters with immediate effect.
