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  • Commissioner: intending pilgrims abort pregnancies for hajj

    Some intending pilgrims aborted their pregnancies in order to participate in this year’s hajj, Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef said yesterday.

    He said at the Hajj Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Ikeja, that 18 intending pilgrims were barred from travelling because they failed medical and pregnancy tests.

    The state, he said, had concluded medical screening for the intending pilgrims.

    He, however, regretted that some of the women, who tested positive to pregnancy tests, aborted their pregnancies in order to make the Hajj.

    Hajj, he said, was not a do or die.

    Abortion, he said, is a condemnable act.

    The commissioner said: “You should not kill a soul because of hajj. It is unfortunate that some of the intending pilgrims, who earlier tested positive for pregnancy, later came back during the second medical check and tested negative to the same pregnancy test. There are some pilgrims that are due to deliver in September, but were discovered hiding their pregnancies. This is not good. “

    The hajj operation will begin on August 4 at the airport. Some 6,047 pilgrims will be airlifted from the Lagos Zone.

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) also yesterday said all facilities for a hitch-free hajj have been put in place by the government.

    National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Southwest Commissioner Imam Faud Adeyemi, said two airlines – Med-View from Nigeria and Fliners from Saudi Arabia would airlift the pilgrims from Lagos to Saudi Arabia.

    The Lagos Zone comprises pilgrims from Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ogun and Edo states and the Armed Forces.

    Breakdowns of the pilgrims are Lagos, 2316, Edo, 294, Oyo, 1100, Ogun, 1000; Osun, 962 and Armed Forces, 375.

    He said majority of the pilgrims would be airlifted by Med-View; the Saudi Arabian carrier will airlift those from Ogun and the Armed Forces.

    Med-View, he said, would begin operation on August 4; the Saudi Arabian carrier August 6.

    Adeyemi enjoined security operatives to be at alert during the exercise, promising, that NAHCON would make the exercise enjoyable for the pilgrims.

  • Ajimobi sacks commissioner

    Ajimobi sacks commissioner

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday sacked the Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Mudathir Abdulganiyu, sparking fears of a shake-up in the State Executive Council (Exco).

    A source told The Nation that the commissioner got his sack letter after resuming for the day’s business.

    He quickly packed his belongings and left the office.

    Announcing the sack on his Facebook page, Abdulganiyu thanked his friends for their prayers and support during his short stint as commissioner.

    The post reads: “Alhamdulilah! Alhamdulilah!! Alhamdulilah Rabil-Alameen. Dear friends, I wish to let you know that I have finished my tour of duty as Oyo State Commissioner for Special Duties. I thank you all for your prayers and support while it lasted. God bless you all!”

    Abdulganiyu was appointed in June, last year.

    A source close to the ministry, who pleaded anonymity, said the former editor with Nigerian Tribune did not disclose the reason for his sack to anyone before leaving the ministry.

    Contacted on phone for comment, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, told The Nation he was not aware of the development.

    As at press time, the government had not made an official statement on the commissioner’s sack.

    Another source said Abdulganiyu was sacked for alleged lack of performance in Ajimobi’s estimation.

    Following the commemoration of the sixth anniversary of the Ajimobi administration, fear had gripped many commissioners and other aides over possible Exco shake-up.

     

  • No Lassa fever in Ogun, says commissioner

    Ogun State Health Commissioner Dr Babatunde Ipaye has said the state’s Disease Surveillance Officers (DSOs) in the 20 local government areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) have been strengthened and put on the alert to control any outbreak of disease or epidemic in any part of the state.

    Ipaye addressed reporters yesterday at his office in Abeokuta, the state capital, on the possible spread of Lassa fever in the state, following a reported case of the disease in neighbouring Ondo State.

    The commissioner said there was no reported case of Lassa fever in Ogun State.

    He said the Ibikunle Amosun administration had adopted the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard to take precautions at hospitals as well as communities.

    Ipaye said the ministry was also educating the public on the mode of transmission of the virus and need for proper hygiene and environmental sanitation to prevent an outbreak of the disease.

    The commissioner added that surveillance offices across the state had been mobilised, since a case was recorded in neighbouring Ondo State.

    According to him, the Ipokia, Oja-Odan, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun-Waterside and other surveillance offices had been reactivated for a likely outbreak of any disease or epidemic.

    He said: “As I am talking to you now, all our diseases notification and surveillance officers and mechanisms have been reactivated to curtail any spread of diseases in the state. So, for now, there is no case of any Lassa fever in Ogun State…

    “Lassa fever is a severe and often fatal haemorrhagic illness caused by Lassa virus. Since its original discovery in 1969 in Nigeria, there have been countless cases of high magnitude and severity across West Africa, not Nigeria alone. But due to scarce resources to diagnose the illness as well as inadequate surveillance, many cases remain unaccounted for.”

  • Agitations over commissioner-nominees list in Ondo

    Agitations over commissioner-nominees list in Ondo

    As politicians and supporters of prospective commissioner-nominees are eagerly awaiting the list to be submitted to the State Assembly by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, agitations and scheming overwhelmed observers in the state over the weekend.

    Initially, it was learnt that the governor would settle for a compact cabinet but political stakeholders were said to have convinced him on the need to reflect representation of the entire 18 local governments in his cabinet as commissioners.

    Sources hinted that any moment from now the list would be forwarded to the Assembly for screening and approval to facilitate their inauguration.

  • No case of Lassa fever in Ogun – says commissioner

    No case of Lassa fever in Ogun – says commissioner

    The Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, says its Diseases Surveillance Officer (DSO), across the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas, has been strengthened and on red alert to combat any forms of disease outbreak or epidemic in the state.

    Ipaye made this known while fielding questions from journalists in his office in Abeokuta, on the possible spread of Lassa fever in Ogun as it has been reported in the neighbouring state of Ondo.

    He stressed that there was no case of Lassa fever in Ogun, as the state government had adopted the standard of World Health Organisation (WHO) in following proper standard precautions in hospitals as well as communities and educating the public on the mode of transmission of the virus, and need for proper hygiene and environmental sanisation.

     

  • Commissioner blames parents, teachers for pupils’ failure

    There is erosion of the once- noble roles played by parents and teachers in the lives of children and, therefore, militating against their quest for values, integrity and greatness, the Lagos State Commissioner of Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson, has said.

    He spoke during the yearly leadership lecture of Dansol High School, Lagos. It had as theme: “Becoming an uncompromising leader of positive impact of values and integrity.”

    According to him, one of the  challenges for parents and teachers is to properly guide the children  before their minds were tainted.

    Akintola said: “This year’s theme bears a very relevant message for the society.

    “We seem to be bereft of leaders to whom our youths can look up to.

    “The best of our leaders is tainted with deeds and failings that do not encourage our youths to appreciate the place of values and integrity in an individual’s character and in the society as a whole. I urge our youths to choose the path of integrity as they pursue their life’s journey.”

    He listed seven lessons that would assist children and youths as they embark on the road to becoming world changers.

    He urged them not to forget that life is a test, noting that they should not underestimate the value of experience and wise counsel.

    “Indeed, if our youths will resolve to inculcate the noble values of integrity and patiently consistent hard work, they will become impactful leaders of your generation,” Akintola added.

     

  • INEC commissioner urges Nigerians to embrace Continuous Voters Registration

    INEC commissioner urges Nigerians to embrace Continuous Voters Registration

    THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Commissioner in charge of Lagos, Ogun and Ondo states, Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola, has reiterated the importance of the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR), saying that all eligible voters whose names are not in the voters’ register should take advantage of the opportunity provided by the commission. He said without the registration they would not be able to vote in future elections.

    Ogunmola, who made the remark during the kick off of the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) in Surulere, Lagos said the registration applies to Nigerians who are 18 years and above, who have not registered before and those who have registered but their names are not in the voters’ register.

    He urged the eligible voters to present themselves at the commission’s offices in all local government areas between 9am and 3pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays), to participate in the exercise, adding that Temporary Voters Card (TVC) will be issued to registrants at the point of the day.

    The commissioner said the CVR represents an important milestone in the commission’s mandate to consolidate democracy in the country, by delivering free, fair and credible elections.

    He said: “The primary aim of this event is to register eligible voters who have just matured into the voting age of 18 years and those who for one reason or the other could not register previously, so they can participate in the forthcoming general elections.

    “Related to this aim is the update of the voters’ register, to reflect transfers and deaths in accordance with Section 10 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), which requires the commission to update the Voters’ Register and make it available to every political party within 60 days after each year of registration.”

    Ogunmola said the period of the CVR is also an opportunity for those who have registered, but have not collected their Permanent Voters Card (PVC), to do so.

    He said the exercise will equally take care of other cases, such as: “A person who has registered before, but his/her name, photograph and/or fingerprints was/were not captured; this category of person must provide his/her Temporary Voter’s Card (TVC). A person who has a PVC or TVC, but his/her name is not on the register of voters”.

    The commissioner also urged eligible voters that have moved to a different location to seize the opportunity to transfer their registration.

    The procedure for the transfer of registration, he added, could be summarised in the following four steps: “The person seeking to transfer their registration should make an application to the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the state he/she is resident in through his/her Electoral Officer; a Registration Area Officer (RAO) will issue a form, Application for Transfer of a Registered Voter (ECTF), to the registered voter applying for the transfer for approval by the Resident Electoral Officer; once the REC has confirmed that the applicant is resident in the area, the application will be approved and the applicant’s details will be transferred to his/her new location; and the transfer will be accordingly effected on our server.”

    The Sole Administrator, Surulere Local Government, Hon. Sheriff Balogun, said he was happy that the area was chosen for the kick off in Lagos. He urged the people to come out and register, so that they could vote in subsequent elections.

    He said the high turn-out for the kick off suggests that the council had made adequate effort to inform the people about the importance of exercise. He added: “But, since it is a continuous exercise, we will not relent; we will continue to pass across the necessary information to the people, through relevant departments of the local government, to make that all residents of Surulere gets to know about this programme. To assist INEC, we will ensure that posters advertising this registration is displayed all over Surulere and that the leaflets are distributed to the people.

  • Our scorecard, by housing commissioner

    Our scorecard, by housing commissioner

    How has the Lagos State Ministry of Housing fared in the last two years? It has done well, says Commissioner Gbolahan Lawal. MUYIWA LUCAS reports

    Last Monday, Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Gbolahan Lawal, presented his mid-term scord.

    The event was the yearly ministerial briefing in Alausa, Ikeja. He said to boost supply, his ministry has prioritised the completion of its housing estates and entered into a deal with the private sector to do so.

    He said the government had introduced the Rent-to-Own and rental housing policies, to make housing affordable and accessible to the citizenry. The policies, Lawal said, are targeted at low and middle income earners.

     

    Rent-to-own Policy

    On Thursday, December 8, last year, he said, Ambode launched the Rent-To-Own and Rental housing Policies aimed at ensuring that  Lagosians irrespective of status, income and affiliations have access to decent shelter to improve their quality of life. Under the scheme, individuals are required to make a deposit of five per cent of the cost of the housing unit they wish to apply for as the commitment fee and the balance is spread over 10 years. This policy allows allottees to live in the property while paying towards ownership at a fixed rent over the 10 year period.

    To kickstart the scheme, the government dedicated a total of  5008 housing units in 12 housing estates spread across the state’s three Senatorial Districts. The Estates includes Sir Michael Otedola Estate, Odoragunshin, Epe,  336 units;  Chois City, Agbowa, 400 units; Alhaja Adetoun Mustapha Estate, Ojokoro, 32 units; Hon. Olaitan Mustapha Estate, Ojokoro, 48 units; Oba Adeboruwa Estate, Igbogbo- Ikorodu                256 units; Egan Igando Housing Estate, Alimosho, 684 units; Igando gardens, Igando Alimosho, 492 units; Igbogbo IIB Housing Estate, Igbogbo Ikorodu, 360units; Odo- Onosa/ Ayandelu,      660 units; Iponri Estate, Surulere, 132 units; Sangotedo Estate, Sangotedo, Eti- Osa, 1,188  units, and Ajara Estate, Badagry, 420 units. At present, about 500 Lagosians have benefited from this scheme.

    Lawal explained that the policy is not just about provision of shelter, it is also about economic stimulation and empowerment. “The new homes provided will require furniture and home gadgets such as electrical/ electronic appliances etc. The increase in demand for these items is expected to stimulate production and consequently economic growth,” he explained.

    The commissioner said the Rent-To-Own  programme is the cheapest and the easiest means of becoming a property owner in the state. Over 12,000 applications have been received, while 1,420 applicants from sectors, such as the public service; construction; banking and finance and informal sector have been pre-qualified.

    Lawal called for the support of the allottees, urging them to assume responsibility for the estates and its facilities. He admonished them to cooperate with the facilities managers appointed by Government in ensuring that the facilities are put to good use.

    “Efforts should be geared towards ensuring that the environments are kept clean always. The allottees are to ensure that they pay their rent as at when due and embrace maintenance culture. The Ministry has also taken over all abandoned Estates and working towards their completion so as to meet the need of the Rent-To-Own Policy,” he said.

    To ensure the sustainability of government housing estates, the Ministry has appointed facility managers for some of its estates while other estates are expected to have facility managers soon. This is to arrest deterioration of the estates.

     

    Rental housing policy

    This policy, Lawal said, allows the tenants to occupy government houses, paying monthly rents after an initial one month deposit. This policy is targeted at those with regular source of income who may be more interested in rental housing than home ownership. He said for this scheme, 20 per cent of the housing units dedicated to the Rent-to- Own policy were reserved for rental housing.

     

    Public-Private Partnership (

    The Commissioner said to ensure the sustenance of the Rent-To-Own scheme and meeting up with the high demand for housing units by Lagosians, the government, in partnership with private developers, is constructing 20,000 housing units in the next five years under the Lagos Affordable Public Housing (LAPH).

    Already, the government has approved joint venture partnership with six developers who have already mobilised to sites. The estates to be built under this partnership, will be christened “Jubilee Housing Estates” in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the creation of the state. They are to be sited in the following locations: Ijora Badiya, Imota, Ayobo, Idale (Badagry), Ilamoye-Isolo , Abijo, Tolu (Ajegunle) , Abule Ado, Ikota, Ibeshe, Owutu and Igbogbo.

    Towards the completion of Ilubirin housing estate, approval has been granted for the remodelling of the estate from a hitherto purely residential complex into a mixed development of residential, commercial and leisure through public private partnership (PPP). The commissioner also said that $5 million would be injected into the Illubirin estate within five years.

    “Ilubirin is a work-and-play environment, and the capital to be injected as at the last time, is $5million in five years,” Lawal said.

    He is hopeful that more private developers would be granted approval soon to increase the number of JVs.

     

    The Master Craftsman Project

    In the country, the dearth of skilled workforce made up of masons, carpenters, steel fabricators, plumbers, electricians, painters, and joiners, tillers, has been a major contributor to the problems of housing delivery.

    Stakeholders are worried that the housing and construction industry is becoming more and more dependent on foreigners to fill the skill gap created since indigenous artisans are gradually aging and there are not sufficient new ones being trained to replace them.

    This realisation necessitated the Master Craftsman Project initiative of the present government. Through the Ministry of Housing, the state has been able to create a platform through which artisans and workers in the built environment are trained and re-trained to acquire modern skill and be certified.

    The initiative, Lawal said, is intended to redress the dearth of skilled workers in the building industry. The project is being undertaken in collaboration with relevant professional bodies such as the Nigerian Institute of Builders (NIOB) and Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB).

    Under the programme, artisans were trained for six weeks at LASTVEB Technical  Centres in Ikotun, Ikorodu and Epe. They were trained on new approaches to do their job. Last year, the first set of craftsmen   were trained in masonry, furniture and carpentry, plumbing and pipe-works, electrical installations, painting and decorations. Their syllabus was based on the National Vocational Qualification Framework (NVQF) designed by National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and Nigeria Institute of Building (NIOB).

    The Commissioner said the craftsmen at the end of the programme, were presented with their tools during the graduation  last month. One of them, Mr.  Murtala Kasali, praised the government for the project, saying that it is a platform to learn new ways of doing things.

    The commissioner said the craftsmen would be provided jobs in the various construction sites of the Ministry and also in maintenance works across the Ministry’s housing estates.

    In addition, a database of all certified Lagos State Master Craftsmen  has  been created for ease of reference for all Lagosians.

  • Commissioner orders closure of illegal slaughter slabs

    The Cross River State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Prof. Anthony Eneji, has directed closure of unapproved slaughter slabs.
    Eneji, who gave the directive in Calabar, said the closure became necessary to ensure safe and healthy practices.
    He condemned the rate at which individuals and groups set up slaughter slabs without endorsement by the Ministry’s Veterinary Department.
    ‘’This is unhealthy; people can be exposed to major health risks if such slaughter slabs are allowed to continue to operate,’’ he said.
    The official said the state-owned abattoir, located at Ikot Eneobong, and government-owned slaughter slabs were safe and functional.
    According to him, the slabs have veterinary workers to ascertain the health of animals before their killing.
    The commissioner appealed to individuals to promote safe practices in abattoirs by providing hygienic vehicles to convey meat from the state abattoir to markets.
    He decried transportation of meat from abattoirs in passenger vehicles, saying this could expose meat to disease vectors, such as flies and dust.
    Eneji said it was the responsibility of veterinarians to inspect and certify meat safe for consumption before transportation to markets.
    He said veterinary workers from the ministry had been deployed in slaughter slabs in parts of the state to ensure that dead and infected animals would not be consumed.
    Eneji said tuberculosis and tapeworm infection, among other diseases in animals, could cause food poisoning detrimental to human health.
    He said the ministry was making efforts to acquire a place to set up a goat slaughter house to ensure that meat available in markets would undergo proper inspection.
    The commissioner directed the ministry’s Livestock Department to apprehend operators of illegal slaughter slabs, especially in Calabar.