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Tag: commissioner

  • Lagos Speaker, Commissioner, others preach harmony in Ramadan

    LAGOS State House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, has urged Nigerians to ensure peace and harmony in the season of Ramadan and beyond. Obasa said this at The Blue Roof, St. Peter’s Primary School in Orile Agege, Lagos, during the 15th annual Sabaco Ramadan lecture, organised by the Lagos State Comisssioner for Waterfront Insfrastructure Development, Samuel Adejare. Obasa urged Nigerians to live as one and share in the joy of Ramadan.

    He described Adejare’s gesture as commendable, more so that it is coming from someone that is a Christian. “For a Christian to do something for Muslims, it is an attitude we all should imbibe so that both religions can live in peaceable harmony with each other.” According to him, Ramadan is a period to pray and seek for forgiveness. “This is also a time to have positive impact in the lives of others.

    We are to ensure peace and harmony. Let us use this season to serve God and we will reap the good fruits,” he said Speaking at the event, Adejare said Ramadan is a season for fasting, looking up to God for his mercy and grace, and for reaching out to the needy. He added that it is a season to look back at what we have done and what we should have done to make amends. “It is a season that we must look and care for our neighbours. This is why this program has been put together to give to others. We have also given out generators to the Mosque in this community so that no Mosque will be in darkness during the hours of prayers.

  • Police recruitment: Commissioner decries certificate forgery, age falsification

    A commissioner in Police Service Commission (PSC), Comfort Obi, representing the Southeast and the media on the commission has decried the rate of certificate forgery and age falsification among shortlisted candidates in the nationwide screening for Police Constables.

    Obi, while speaking with our correspondent at the Police Officers Mess in Umuahia, Abia State, said that over 40percent of those who applied for the police constable’s job in the state would have been cooling off in police cells if they were to strictly follow the guidelines of the recruitment exercise.

    “If we are very strict, at least, 40percent of them would have been locked up in the cell by now. Very unfortunate that you will find the youths who are coming to apply for police job are falsifying their age. You will see somebody that was born in 1986 going to swear an affidavit in the court lying on oath that they were born in 1995/1996.

    “I think that our people, we really need some enlightenment and reorientation for them to know that what they are doing is perjury. It is a crime and it carries three years imprisonment. Our children unfortunately don’t know that.

    “We have also seen those that have forged results. We have seen a lot of them here since we started that can barely speak good English or write their names correctly even with high credits in English in their results. We have also seen some married women coming to apply for the job.

    “What we are doing all through this week is just screening; looking at their certificates, checking their heights and chest. The main exam which will be conducted for the Police Service Commission by JAMB because we want the result to come out immediately will take place on May 24. Then those that have scaled through, the result will be pasted the next day and on June 6, they will start their training.”

    She added that out of 1,098 persons shortlisted in Abia, only 119 of seven candidates across the 17 local government areas in the state would be selected to the May, 24 exam which would be conducted by JAMB. This is even as she lamented mobile network and power fluctuation as setbacks to the exercise.

  • Blue Line rail 95% completed, says Commissioner

    THE Lagos State Government  has achieved 95 per cent completion of the ongoing Blue Line rail construction covering Mile 2  to Marina, Commissioner for Transportation Ladi Lawanson said yesterday.

    He spoke at the ongoing ministerial briefing in Alausa, Ikeja.

    The construction, he said, had been focused on the National Theatre-Marina segment which has attained 65 per cent completion.

    “We have achieved 95 per cent completion of the blue line rail in Lagos State and currently we are focusing on National Theatre-Marina segment.

    “Ongoing works include boring of piles, construction of pile caps, pre-inspection of pier positions to determine underground utilities as well as boring of piles across the Lagoon,” Lawanson said.

    According to him, all bailey beams have been completed at Marina while fabrication of steel cages and casing, painting of reinforcement with anti-rust, seawall strengthening and the removal of shipwrecks in the lagoon are on course.

    The commissioner said the state through Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transportation Agency (LAMATA) had procured a Single Electric Unit (EMU) rolling stick of 2T+2M.

    This, he said, was in line with the current thinking of the environment, adding the EMU is already on site awaiting final testing and certification.

    Lawanson said the state had received the Right of Way approval from the Federal Government for the 37-km Agbado-Marina rail routes.

     

  • Commissioner inaugurates police post

    Lagos State Police Commissioner Edgal Imohimi yesterday inaugurated a police post built by traders at the main Tejuosho Shopping Complex in Surulere, Lagos.

    He hailed the Iya Oloja, Alhaja Iyabode Amish, traders and other stakeholders for providing land and money to build the post.

    Edgal said the post was one of the measures to bring policing to the people, increase police presence and create opportunity for traders to partner the police to fight crime.

     

  • Cholera, Lassa fever kill 14 in Bauchi —Commissioner

    BAUCHI State Commissioner for Health, Zuwaira Hassan, on Friday, confirmed that 14 people died in the state following outbreak of cholera and Lassa fever. Hassan made this known while briefing newsmen at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) Bauchi during her visit to the cholera quarantine ward. According to her, nine people died as a result of cholera outbreak, while Lassa fever claimed five lives. She said “since the outbreak of these epidemics, we have had a total of 324 cases of cholera and recorded nine deaths. “Right now, the cholera isolation centre is active and we have about 26 patients on admission who are being treated.”

    On Lassa fever, Hassan said there were 44 suspected cases, nine confirmed cases, while five persons had been confirmed dead so far.

    She stressed the need for proper hygiene and urged residents to avoid open defecation, saying faeces in open places could pass and mix with drinking water which was dangerous to health. She said community volunteers were out on sensitisation to educate the people on hygiene and environmental sanitation, while the state Ministry of Health chlorinated water and decontaminated the environment.

  • House gives commissioner, oba one week to reverse Baale’s installation

    Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday gave  Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs Muslim Folami, and Onibeju of Ibeju-Lekki Rafiu Salami a week to reverse the installation of Mufutau Olamiji as Baale of Okegun, Ladeseso in Ibeju Lekki. The lawmakers will determine their next line of action after the expiration of the one-week deadline.

    The resolution followed the adoption of the report of the House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions and LASIEC on a petition titled: “Complaints against the representation of one Mufutau Olamiji as the Bale of Okegun of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State.” The petition was brought by Ismaila Ogunkoya of Okegun Odofin.

    In the committee’s report, its Chairman, Mrs Adefunmilayo Tejuoso  noted that only Okegun Odofin, Okegun School were genuine, adding that the one  created by the Onibeju known as Okegun Ladeseso to which Olamiji lays claim  was unknown in the original layout of Ibeju-Lekki.

    It said Oba Salami fraudulently installed Olamiji, who was his personal assistant as Bale of Aladeseso to override Ogunkoya.

    The panel said the commissioner connived with the Onibeju to install Olajimi, adding that Folami also proceeded to the tribunal when the  committee was doing its job despite being asked to stay action.

    Speaker Mudashiru Obasa warned Folami and Salami to respect the resolution so as not to incur the lawmakers’ anger.  He directed that the Attorney-General  be officially informed of the resolution.

    “We will give them (Commissioner and Onibeju) the opportunity to rescind. We will use this as a test case and I am sure they will comply. They should ensure sanity in Okegun.

    “There is need to review the law on chieftaincy titles, the remuneration and to regulate the way and manner Obas and Baales emerge in every nook and cranny in Lagos State,” he said.

  • Zamfara killings: Commissioner blames security agencies

    The Zamfara State Commissioner for Commerce, Industries and Investment, Ahmed Maradun, has blamed security agencies for the worsening security situation in the state.

    Maradun spoke when the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Security Infrastructure visited Zamfara.

    A committee member said Maradun spoke when the committee visit the Emir of Maradun.

    Maradun said: “The Federal Government ordered these security agencies to protect the people. The governor, as the chief security officer, is also empowered to give them orders, but when they refuse to take such orders what should he do?

    “Let me go personal with you, there was a time the security agencies were told there would be an attack on one community but despite the tip off, none of them made attempts to counter that attack; so many people were killed.

    “Also, you would have learnt that the President ordered the deployment of some of them. If you must know, they are just there and their presence is not felt. Whenever you give them information about an attack, they always reply that they have not received any order and cannot act. In fact, I think there may be a deliberate plot by these security agencies to undermine the powers of the President.

    “Then again, they talk about not having personnel and equipment, but they have enough to deploy in Benue State because they have the loudest voice; they have enough to deploy in the Niger Delta because there is oil there? I don’t believe in that.

    “As far as I know, the state government is spending a lot on security. Then if you know you cannot guarantee the protection of life and property, why do you take our money and why do you continue to take it.

    “Why do they take our money if they cannot do anything? I think they should return our money.”

     

  • Embark on meaningful projects, commissioner tells LG bosses

    Ogun State  Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Jide Ojuko, has urged the chairmen of the 37 local council development areas (LCDAs) in the state to embark on meaningful projects that would alleviate the suffering of the people at the grassroots.

    He spoke during an assessment tour of LCDAs in the Ogun West Senatorial District as part of his efforts to monitor the LCDAs.

    Chief Ojuko praised the Iju/Atan/Ilogbo LCDA executive and members of staff led by Hon. Jamiu Yakub Ajayi  for its people-oriented projects that have turned around the community in less than 17 months.

    He said the council had performed well by consolidating on what the state government had started by reaching out to public schools in the area and  touching the lives of members of the community through various projects.

    He urged political office holders to support government programmes and policies for the sustainability and enhancement of socio-economic development of the state and improvement of the living standard of their people, adding that that would make rural areas more conducive for people and reduce the rural/urban migration through which the residents  would feel the impact of government.

    ‘’On this note, I urged political office holders, the career officers and indigenes of the local council development areas across the state to complement the efforts of both the state and local government through the projects done,’’ Ojuko said.

    In their various responses, the Chairman of Imeko-Afon LCDA, Hon. Tosin Adeluyi, Hon. Obafemi Edun of Yewa South Local Government Area and Hon. Rahman Alebiosu of Yewa North Local Government Area appreciated the commitment of Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s government to get dividends of democracy to the nooks and crannies of the state through the creation of LCDAs.

     

  • Ibadan killing probe on course, say police

    Ibadan killing probe on course, say police

    The Oyo State Police Command has said it is investigating last week’s killing of a 30-year-old man, Kehinde Adeleke, during an argument at the car park of Trans Amusement Park in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    Police Commissioner Abiodun Odude described the incident as unfortunate.

    He said it would be thoroughly investigated to unravel the mystery behind the shooting and killing of the man.

    Police spokesman Adekunle Ajisebutu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), quoted the commissioner as saying the suspected killer would soon be charged to court after the conclusion of investigation into the incident.

    He cautioned that since the matter involved life, it would not be proper to rush through the investigation.

    According to him, the police need time to investigate and ascertain the actual killer of the deceased.

    Odude said: “The suspect will be charged to court after the police have concluded investigation into the matter. You know it is a murder case. So, the police will not hurry in their investigation. We will do a thorough investigation so that we will be able to ensure that the actual culprit is apprehended. Then, the case will be charged to court for prosecution.”

    Some witnesses had said a soldier attached to the Oyo State security outfit, Operation Burst, allegedly shot the victim and not the bar owner, Seyi Olusa.

    But Kehinde’s twin brother, Taiwo, accused Olusa of grabbing a gun from a soldier and shooting the victim during a disagreement at the car park of the Trans Amusement Park, where the bar is located.

    Three other witnesses of the shooting, who were regular visitors to the bar, told The Nation that Olusa was not at the car park when the shooting happened.

    They said the Army should produce the soldier who was attached to Operation Burst team on the scene of the shooting.

    One of the witnesses, Alli Akinoso, said Olusa, being a friend of the victim, had no reason to kill him.

    The eyewitness said the bar owner could not have grabbed a gun from a soldier and returned it after killing someone with it.

    Akinoso said: “I was at the car park and witnessed the whole thing. Kehinde’s younger brother, Damola, was having a fight with someone over the parking slot. I tried to talk to him but he did not listen. Then, a soldier came and beat him with a stick. He fell down and we offered him water. But he did not accept it. When Kehinde showed up, Demola stood up and approached the soldier violently.

    “I saw the siblings struggling with the soldier. That was when the shooting began. Kehinde fell to the ground. I tried to resuscitate him but there was nothing I could do. Taiwo was not on the scene; he was at the bar. He only came after the shooting, and I was the first person he saw. He attacked me and tore my clothes. I still have the clothes with the victim’s blood on it.”

    Asked how Olusa was involved in the shooting, Akinoso said the bar owner came out but went back almost immediately he saw that Operation Burst men were there.

    He said: “I saw him on the scene when the fight started. He was trying to mediate but left when the Operation Burst team came. The car park is about 100 metres to the bar. He was not there when the shot was released. It is difficult to snatch a rifle from a soldier and return it after using the same gun to kill someone.”

    In Taiwo’s narration of what happened on the night of the shooting, Olusa was apprehended by his friends but he was let free by men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) attached to Operation Burst.

    Another witness of the shooting, Yinka Fabunmi said he and not Olusa was apprehended by Taiwo and his friends after the shooting.

    Fabunmi said: “I have an office at Trans Amusement Park and I visit the bar regularly. The place became rowdy soon after the shooting. Olusa was with me inside the bar. He wanted to know what happened, after we heard the shooting. Suddenly, Taiwo came in and grabbed him. He said the soldiers who were called to the scene had killed Kehinde.

    “Then, Damola took a bottle and smashed in on my face. I was taken to a vehicle but managed to escape when the soldiers intervened. Olusa was never apprehended. I slept at J. Rapha Hospital at Bodija for treatment…”

    The killing of Kehinde Adeleke took a new twist yesterday as witnesses said a soldier attached to Operation Burst shot the victim and not Olusa.

     

     

     

  • Commissioner to staff: work in unity

    Commissioner to staff: work in unity

    The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Agboola Dabiri has urged the management staff of the ministry to work in unity to achieve its desired goals in the overall interest of the state government.

    Speaking during a retreat organised by the ministry at Pearlworth Hotel, Ikeja, Dabiri said desired goals will remain dreams in mind of management staff of any organisation if harmony does not exist amongst them.

    Dabiri said: ‘’When we are alone, we can only do little, but when we are together, we can achieve a lot and even beyond our expected goals and desires.”

    The Commissioner urged them to remain dedicated, committed and diligent at their respective duties and responsibilities, as the ministry will not relent in setting and achieving great goals.

    The facilitator at the retreat, Adeyinka Adefope advised participants to engage in daily assessment of their activities and results to enable them raise the level of their performance at work.

    Adefope appealed to the management staff to be willing to learn new ways of doing things, unlearn obsolete ways and relearn good strategies.

    According to him, an illiterate is not one who lacks ability to read and write, rather one who is not willing to learn.