The Nation Newspaper

Tag: lagos

  • Lagos deploys drones to health sector

    The Lagos State government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Zipline International Inc, operators of drones, to offer a drone-enabled supply chain solution in the health sector.

    The Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Hakeem Fahm, who spoke during the signing of the deal at the weekend, said the deal was based on the health care initiatives of the Governor Akinwumi Ambode.

    He said the partnership would leverage technology to improve the supply chain of critical medical supplies, reduce waste and save lives.

    According to him, the drones will be used to ensure secured, reliable and timely deliveries of essential health care products to publicly-owned hospitals and other health facilities in the State

    “Lagos Sate has started a process that will allow us to deliver critical medical needs of every publicly-owned hospital in the state within a short period when needed.

    “Zipline services will complement Lagos State’s medical supply chain by responding in minutes to request for cold chain products, unexpected stock outs and emergencies’, the commissioner added.

    Also, the Representative of Zipline Mr. Diekoye  Oyeyinka  who signed the MoU for his company, he said Lagos will be the first mega city in the world to have an autonomous instant delivery system, when it is fully deployed.

    Zipline is a robotics airplane manufacturer based in California, United States, focusing on delivering medical supplies to undeveloped and underdeveloped areas.

    They work to improve access to healthcare and save lives.

     

     

  • NiMet predicts thunderstorms, rains, cloudy weather for Monday

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted morning thunderstorms over cities in the Central States of the country such as Ilorin, Minna, Abuja, Jos, Lafia and Bauchi on Monday morning.

    NiMet’s Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office in Abuja on Sunday also predicted day and night temperatures in the range of 25 to 33 and 18 to 23 degrees Celsius respectively.

    It added that there were chances of thunderstorms over Gombe, Lafia, Jos, Kaduna, Abuja, Makurdi and Lokoja axis later in the day.

    The agency predicted that southern states would experience prospect of cloudy morning with chances of rains over places like Awka, Ikom, Abakaliki, Obudu, Ogoja, Port Harcourt, Eket, Warri, Calabar, Ijebu-Ode and Lagos.

    It also predicted chances of thunderstorms and rains over most parts of the region with day and night temperatures of 27 to 31 and 21 to 24 degrees Celsius respectively.

    According to NiMet, Northern States will experience cloudy condition over the Inland of the south west with possibility of light rains over the remaining parts of the region in the morning.

    It also predicted thunderstorms and rains over the entire region with day and night temperatures in the range of 27 to 32 and 20 to 25 degrees Celsius respectively.

    “Cloudy conditions with prospects of thunderstorms and rain in varying intensities are anticipated over the country within the next 24 hours” NiMet predicts.

  • Two adults confirmed dead in train-commercial bus accident

    The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has confirmed the death of two male adults, when a train hit a commercial bus, at Pen Cinema in Agege, Lagos.

    The General Manager of LASEMA, Mr Adesina Tiamiyu in a statement on Friday in Lagos, said that the agency received a distress call at 8.57a.m via the emergency toll free number.

    Tiamiyu said that the call was pertaining to a passenger train that hit a parked commercial bus.

    He said that the accident forced three of the hanging passengers to fell off the moving train.

    ”Unfortunately, two adult male lost their lives and were taken to the mortuary by the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SHEMU).

    ”One adult sustained injuries and was transferred to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH),” the LASEMA boss said.

    Read Also: Four die in Ogun road accidents

    He said that other agencies that responded at the scene of the accident include the Nigeria Police force (Railway Police Division), the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

    Others are the Civil Defence Corps, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), LASG Task force, LASG Fire Service (AGEGE Division), Nigerian Armed Forces (NAF) OPS, MESA and the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO).

    Tiamiyu urged passengers to abide by the overall safety measures put in place before boarding a train.

    He also urged residents to desist from hanging on a moving train to avoid unnecessary loss of lives in the state.

    NAN

  • Two dead, one injured as train averts bus collusion (Updated)

    At least two persons have been confirmed dead and one injured after a train averted a collusion with an abandoned commercial bus.

    The incident occurred Friday morning at Pen Cinema, Agege, Lagos Mainland.

    It was gathered that the three victims were sitting atop the train when it veered upon sighting the bus from afar.

    Witnesses said the deceased fell on the rail line and was shredded by the moving train, while the other two fell by the bus, losing some body parts.

    The train was said to have continued its journey, oblivious of the casualties.

    Irked by the incident, hoodlums, it was gathered, set the bus ablaze as onlookers rushed the injured to nearby Orile-Agege General Hospital.
    Confirming the incident, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Adesina Tiamiyu, who was at the scene, said the wreckage of the bus had been removed.

    He said: “It is true there was an accident there but untrue that many people died. The bus was empty and packed on the side.

    “The three victims were hanging on top of the train. One of them died, while the other two sustained injuries.

    They were taken to a nearby hospital but we are going there now to see them, assess their condition and relocate them if necessary.

    We have appealed to residents so many times to stop handing on moving objects. Sitting on top of a moving train is dangerous. It is deadly. People should value their lives.”

  • Lagos drills workers on fire safety

    The exercise is part of measures to curb incessant fire in private and public places.

    The Ministry of the Special Duties and Inter governmental Relations Permanent Secretary, Dr Jemilade Longe, who flagged off the exercise, reiterated the government’s commitment to safety.

    The sensitisation, he said, was timely considering the increasing incidence of fire.

    Acting Director, Lagos Fire Service Rasaki Musibau said the yearly event exposed public servants to measures to take in handling emergencies and ensuring that safety equipment were in good condition.

    According to him, effective knowledge of fire safety information would help reduce fatalities, injuries and destruction of property.

    He advised the public not to underestimate any fire no matter how small.

    He urged the trainees to share the knowledge acquired with their friends and families for the safety of all.

    The trainees were exposed to proper handling of fire safety tools, importance of roll call during emergencies (to ascertain that all heads are counted), use of emergency exit and many more.

  • Lagos reiterates zero tolerance to street begging

    Worried by the alarming rate of street begging and its negative impact within the state, Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development Agboola Dabiri has reiterated the stance for zero tolerance on street begging.

    Agboola said this at a meeting held with Stakeholders on curbing the menace of street begging in Lagos.

    According to him available, statistics indicates that despite the law enforcement agencies’ efforts at curbing the menace, beggars had become recalcitrant and they sometimes engage in criminal activities while parading as beggars.

    According to him, the facilities which the government built to serve as transit home for rescued beggars and destitute is over stretched, hence, the urgent need for stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the problem.

    Justice Kazeem Alogba said there is need to amend the law that prohibits street begging, whereby the givers and beggars as well as their suspected godfathers are made to face a stiffer penalty if caught.

    The judge pointed out that begging is not accepted even in the Holy Quran, as people who want money should work for it.

    Spokesperson of the Arewa Community, Alhaji Kabiru thanked the State Government for her warmth reception since their settlement in the state 173 years ago.

    Alhaji Kabiru said the community would ensure strict compliance and live within the laws of Lagos State.

  • Lagos seeks federal intervention on Apapa gridlock

    •Govt sympathises with residents, commuters

    The Lagos State Government yesterday sought the intervention of the Federal Government in enforcing the rule that all haulage operators must, as a matter of urgency, have designated parks.

    Its Information & Strategy Commissioner Kehinde Bamigbetan who made the assertion, expressed the state government’s sympathy with Lagosians on the chaotic traffic situation on the roads leading to the seaports at Apapa.

    In a statement, Bamigbetan sympathised with the commuters and residents of Apapa and other parts of the state over the lingering gridlock created by trucks and articulated vehicles.

    He expressed sadness over the difficulties faced by motorists and commuters seeking the use of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and other routes leading to the busiest ports in the West African sub-region.

    According to the commissioner, security agencies have been directed to deploy their officers to the trouble spots for traffic control and bring immediate succour to the people.

    Bamigbetan said President Muhammadu Buhari had assured Lagos State that the Federal Government would tackle the matter decisively, noting that the latest hardship made the much-needed intervention extremely imperative.

    He blamed the renewed congestion on the recalcitrance of truck owners and tanker drivers to fully comply with the subsisting directive that restricts their movement within the state.

    Bamigbetan also attributed the worsened situation to the ongoing industrial action by a section of workers at the Apapa ports.

    He said: “This has slowed down the pace of goods clearance as well as the slow pace of repair works on the roads leading to the ports, most of which are federal roads.

    “The recent rehabilitation of the truck park at Orile Iganmu, with capacity to take 3,000 trucks, showed the commitment of the state government to address the enormous traffic challenge.”

    He urged the haulage stakeholders to save residents from the threat of carnage on the highways by adhering to the directive and also invest in truck terminals themselves.

    The commissioner regretted that the ongoing rehabilitation of roads in Apapa and its environs and the efforts toward sanitising truck entry procedures had pushed the trucks to other parts of the city.

    The commissioner said this was all because the haulage operators had continued to illegally turn major roads to parks, thereby using public facilities to increase their private profit.

    Bamigbetan said that the state government would not allow its highways to be turned to death traps, calling for speedy delivery of the roads under reconstruction within the axis.

     

  • Hit-and-run truck kills man in Lagos

    The body of a middle-aged man reportedly killed by a hit-and-run truck was found at Costain area of Lagos on Wednesday, reports the News Agency of Nigeria.

    An eyewitness told NAN that the man, believed to be a tout operating in Apapa area, was killed while trying to extort money from a trailer coming from the port.

    “The trailer was coming from Apapa, after passing through Ijora, the man made attempt to collect money from the driver of the truck.

    “They were still arguing while the truck was moving, when they got to Costain after National Theatre Iganmu gate, the man fell off the truck and another truck coming behind ran over him.

    Read Also: Police arrest Borno guber aspirant in Maiduguri

    “The truck ran over him before 7 a.m. today and he died immediately,’’ the said.

    NAN reports that the corpse was removed from the scene near the entrance of National Theatre at 2 p.m. on Wednesday.

    The police spokesman in Lagos State, Chike Oti, told NAN at 1.05 p.m. that the command was yet to be informed of the incident and promised to contact the police division in the area for update.

  • Lagos seeks cover for children against abuse

    •Parents urged to prevent sexual abuse, rape, others

    The Lagos State government yesterday called on Lagosians, especially, parents and child caregivers to take note of children’s molestation, sexual abuse, rape and child predators.

    Its Youth & Social Development Commissioner Agboola Dabiri spoke at the stakeholders meeting with all owners/administrators of daycare and crèches in the state.

    Discussions were held on ‘Towards achieving best practices in early childhood care in Lagos State’ at the meeting hosted by the Sports ministry.

    According to Dabiri, parents must give extra attention on care for children, be extra careful and know where their children or wards are per time.

    He urged them to always leave their wards with respectable and reasonable adults, urging them to secure and ensure safety measures in and around the house.

    Besides, he advised parents to be vigilant and ensure that their children, especially, young girls, wear modest and descent clothes.

    Dabiri said: “Watch your teenagers get closer to your children and wards, embrace, pray and play with them.”

    He noted the meeting was crucial for reasons including, the need for proper registration and capturing of all information regarding the operators of Day Care Centers/ Crèches in the Data bank of the state and to ensure/enforce standardisation of best practices in Child care services across all Day Care Centers in the state.

    “There is also the need for operators of Day Care to imbibe and implement the principles and content of the state Child Rights Law in their operations as government shall continually update operators on all current regulatory policies of the state.

    “This meeting is also to emphasise that all necessary safety measures are put in place in Child care services and to let the stakeholders know that we are going to checkmate the practice of different operators of Day Care Centers and Crèches, to know those who have been carrying g out their duties in an unprofessional manner thereby posing threat to the activities of trained and certified operators informer to give a chance to certified and trained operators.”

    The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Hakeem Muri-Olunola, urged the stakeholders to corporate with the state government on how best to protect children from all forms of abuses or unwholesome practices.

    “The state government regards you as partners in progress and thus requires your cooperation and support in the way and manner you carry out your activities. In the light of this, it has not become necessary nor to only monitor but to also streamline the operators in the profession.”

    He urged the stakeholders to see the profession not just as business, but as a calling and a way of rendering humanitarian services to fellow human being and the society at large.

    The Director-General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Hakeem Dickson, stressed the need for both Day Care Centers/Crèches, and the entire state to be safe.

     

  • Lagos assures residents of safety

    Lagos State Government has assured residents that the on-going flood abatement and ocean shore protection measures in the state will not harm them.

    Commissioner for Information and Strategy Kehinde Bamigbetan, in a statement yesterday said the government has already commenced the maintenance of all primary, secondary and tertiary drainage channels under the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI).

    “Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration is mindful of the terrain and geographical location of the state being very close to the coast which makes it relatively prone to flooding and as such has come up with the global best practices through the engagement of reputable and competent contractors for all year schedule maintenance of all primary, secondary and tertiary drainage channels in the five divisions of the State,” Bamigbetan said.

    He listed the areas currently undergoing dredging and cleaning to include: Adetokunbo Ademola collector drain; 1004 collector drain – 1004 – Bishop Aboyade Cole to IGI; Idejo collector drain – Idejo – Adeola Odeku to Ozumba Mbadiwe; Billy collector drain, Epe; Beecroft/Simpson collector drain Lagos Island; Jankara/Adeniji Adele/Dolphin Estate Channel, Lagos Island; Ashimowu/Bakere Channel, Mushin; Ladipo Trape Zoidal channel, Mushin; Kehinde/Eta-oko collector drain, satellite Town, Amuwo-Odofin and dredging of Ketu-Alapere channel.

    Others, according to the Commissioner are dredging of 3.50km long Ketu-Alapere Drainage Channel, Kosofe LGA; 2.07km long Lakowe Drainage Channel, Lakowe, Ibeju Lekki; NTA 7 Tejuosho/Alaka Channel, Surulere; Osapa/Maiyegun Channel, Eti-Osa; Abeokuta/Egbe/Idimu Channel, Alimosho LGA; Ogombo Channel, Eti-Osa; Aguda/Coker Channel, Surulere and 615m long Kokoro Abu/Adeniran Ogunsanya Drainage Channel, Sabo, Ikorodu.

    He also listed areas being cleaned up under the exercise to include Akibo Savage Collector drain, Church gate collector drain; Agoro Odiyan collector drain; Old Ewu Road collector drain; 5.00km long Ladipo Collector Drain; 1.98km long Alafia Collector Drain; 2.30km long 21 Road Collector Drain; 820m long Amuto/Adeniji Adele Collector Drain; 235.0m long Thomas/Adeniji Adele Collector Drain; 850.00m long Oba Sefiu Adewale Drainage, and 950.0m long Billy Tertiary Drain.

    “In addition, the Lagos State Public works has also commenced the cleaning/clearing of some road drains and inlets capable of causing traffic gridlock during the heavy down pour such as the inlets along Odo-Iya Alaro Bridge,” he said.