Tag: lagos

The Lagos state government on Sunday, July 21, said it will continue with the sanitation advocacy campaigns until residents imbibe good environmental and hygiene practices.

Special Adviser to the governor on the environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, while addressing traders at the Alamutu Market, Idi-Oro, Mushin, said maintaining a clean environment is a must for all residents to keep disease at bay.

He earlier engaged in desilting the drainage on Agege Motor Road while a waste truck carried the dirt away.

The governor’s aide explained that the clean-up is a follow-up to Mr. Governor’s pronouncement on community-based sanitation, saying the environment must be clean and food handled hygienically to ensure the socio-economic well-being of residents.

Rotimi-Akodu also reminded traders that the Alamutu market was shut last year due to unsanitary habits.

He advised them to regularly clean the market and environs, clear the refuse heaps immediately, and desist from street trading.

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He added: “As we all know all diseases are spread through contaminated water, poorly-made food and poor sanitation habits, such as open defecation, poor waste management among others. As such, our sanitation should be an everyday practice and not only on Thursdays.

“This community sanitation advocacy is a continuous exercise that will move across the 57 LGs/LCDAs as well as public spaces, among others, to spread the message of sustainable sanitation practices among the people.

“The government is doing this to ensure the people voluntarily continue with the culture, and if there are no changes, the government may consider reintroducing the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.”

Permanent Secretary (Environmental Services) in the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Omobolaji Gaji, said the exercise was to create awareness among the residents on the importance of sanitation practices as a veritable means of controlling and preventing communicable diseases.

He said: “If we deal with the environment properly, the environment will also treat us right and our life span will surely be increased.”

He charged all residents to take charge of their environment by cleaning it always and blowing the whistle when their neighbours engage in unsanitary behaviours as the government cannot be everywhere.

Managing Director of LAWMA, Muyiwa Gbadegeshin noted that the exercise is also to ensure that every house in Lagos owns a waste bin, while he admonished residents to always patronise the PSP operators and not cart pushers.

Areas visited include Agege Motor Road; Alamatu Market, Labinjo Street; Adeyanju Street, and Makinde Street all in the Mushin Local Government Area.

•Unveils new Hijrah 1446 AH calendar

The Lagos Central Mosque has commemorated the 1446AH Hijrah with a call on the state government to emulate other states in declaring a public holiday for subsequent celebrations of the new Islamic year.

The Baba Adinni of Lagos State and Executive Chairman of Lagos Central Mosque, Alhaji Sikiru Alabi-Macfoy, urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to emulate Oyo, Ogun and Osun states in declaring every Muharram 1, as a public holiday.

The event, held at the Lagos Central Mosque, Idumota, was well-attended by the representatives of the divisional Imams, scholars, leaders of various Muslim associations, women groups, students from Arabic and Islamic institutions, among others.

Alhaji Alabi-Macfoy described the hijrah as a significant event in the history of Islam.

He urged Nigerians to imbibe the lessons of hijrah by moving away from sinful acts and turn a new leaf.

Chairman on the Occasion, Major-General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (retd) enjoined Muslims to always maintain peaceful coexistence with their neighbours.

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The former Minister of Communications described the Hijrah as a milestone in the prophethood of Prophet Muhammad, as it marked the beginning of liberation for the believers.

“Hijrah is an established event in Islam that happened some 1446 years ago when the Holy Prophet migrated from Makkah to Madinah. It was a sacrifice on the part of the people of yesterday, which has become the ease the Muslims of today enjoy,” he said.

A major highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the 1446 Hijrah Calendar by the Lagos Central Mosque.

The guest lecturer/Chief Imam of Oluwole Ogba Central Mosque, Sheikh Sa’adullah Bello, said Hijrah, by implication, goes beyond the migration of Prophet Muhammad and his companions from Makkah to Madinah, saying it also includes eschewing bad deeds for good deeds, and promoting what is right always against the wrong.

Sheikh Bello urged leadership of the Muslim Ummah to always be role models to young ones.

“The Lagos Central Mosque has served the purpose of settling disputes. We have had instances where constitutional courts referred cases to the Lagos Central Mosque. At our council level, we have prevented crises and brought about lasting peace, even in cases of land disputes,” he said.

“The Prophet established harmonious relationship between Muslims and other people in the community, including the Christians, Jews and pagans,” he added.

The guest lecturer warned Muslims against hypocrisy, saying it destroys one’s good deeds.

According to him, “The atmosphere where hypocrisy operates does not yield positive things.”

He enjoined Muslim leaders to learn patience as a virtue for effective leadership.

Lagos State government has inaugurated a 26-member Social Protection Steering Committee to ensure that the state’s effort to improve lives with the Single Social Register is achieved.

The committee is chaired by Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget Ope George.

George, while inaugurating the committee, said: “Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has emphasised his commitment to positively impacting the lives of Lagosians, with over 20 socio-functional MDAs, 90 social interventions, and N140 billion in budgetary allocations, there is a clear need for coordinated social protection efforts.

“The state’s commitment includes a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Government and World Bank for the $800 million National Social Safety-Nets Project Scale-Up NASSP-SU, which provides financial support to vulnerable households.

“The Lagos State Social Protection Policy, approved in 2020, aims for improved livelihoods, health, education, gender equality, youth employment, and overall human capital development. The council will oversee the implementation of policies and programs for the vulnerable. The newly established Social Protection Coordinating Department will coordinate efforts, recognise the Lagos State Single Social Register as a state asset, ensure resource mobilisation, foster partnerships, monitor initiatives, and advocate for policy reforms.”

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State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Agnes Sessi, also a member of the committee, said: “The governor, in furtherance with his THEMEs+ agenda in ensuring Social Protection for Lagosians, would empower many people in diverse areas, the vulnerable, the elderly, the unemployed, even those in the informal sector.

“With the Social Protection Steering Committee that has been inaugurated today, we will see the roll-out of many of the Social Protection policies and implementation.”

Comrade Sessi, who hailed the governor’s efforts in ameliorating the people’s condition, said it would help in building a better country if other governors can emulate Governor Sanwo-Olu by clearing all pension backlogs.

The Lagos State Taskforce conducted a late-night raid on Sunday, July 14, on Akin Adesola Street and the area opposite Eko Hotel, targeting street traders and homeless individuals who had turned the locations into bustling commercial zones, obstructing pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

Arriving with a heavy truck and more than eight enforcement vehicles, the task force moved swiftly to reclaim the public space.

Despite numerous warnings and prior notifications, the traders and street sleepers continued their activities unchecked, prompting the crackdown.

During the operation, the task force impounded numerous motorcycles (Okada) and confiscated significant goods.

Many individuals were also arrested as part of the enforcement action.

Speaking on the operation, the chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele, emphasized the necessity of the raid.

He said: “The operation is all about enforcement as part of my responsibility to arrest and prosecute street traders and those who have converted public roads for commercial purposes. It is my responsibility to arrest and prosecute them.”

He noted that the task force had issued several warnings and conducted previous arrests, yet the illegal activities persisted.

“We have warned them and also arrested them before now and we are still going to arrest them if they still occupy this place,” he added.

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CSP Akerele urged the public, particularly street traders, to find legitimate business premises.

He added: “My message to the public is that they should go and get a shop. If you must sell in Lagos, go and get a shop for yourself. The road is meant for the public to use, the walkway is not meant for people who are selling to come and convert it for commercial purposes. They should go and get a shop for themselves.”

He assured that the raids would be ongoing until compliance is achieved.

“These raids are ongoing and will be a continuous process until they stop using the public road for commercial purposes,” Akerele concluded.

The director of press & public affairs for the Lagos State taskforce, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, stated that the operation is part of the efforts by the Lagos state government to ensure public safety and orderliness, restoring the intended use of roads and walkways in the city.

Lagos State yesterday restated its commitment to leveraging creative industries to enhance its economy.

Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, spoke during a town hall on Afropolis Lagos 2024, holding in October 26 to November 3.

Mrs. Benson-Awoyinka, accompanied by Special Adviser to governor on Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Idris Aregbe, noted the administration’s investments in the creative sector. She emphasised the ministry’s dedication to supporting and nurturing the industry.

She said: “We have made investments in infrastructure, such as renovating key cultural sites and establishing new venues for arts and performances. These efforts ensure our artists have the platforms to thrive.”

The commissioner described Afropolis 2024 as more than an event, ‘but a celebration of the rich cultural heritage, creativity, and innovation of Lagos’.

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“It is a platform where African creatives can showcase their talents, exchange ideas, and collaborate on projects. This festival is a testament to our continent’s vibrant and dynamic spirit. Lagos, as host city, is proud to be in the forefront of this cultural revolution,” she added.

Founder and Artistic Director of Afropolis, Qudus Onikeku, said the cultural carnival would attract tourists.

He said Made Kuti, grandson of the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti, with other artists from Nigeria and abroad, will perform at the festival.

Prof Akin Abayomi, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, says the state health sector is deficient by 30,000 medical doctors to service its health needs.

Abayomi made the disclosure on Wednesday at the ongoing 2024 Clean-Air Forum in Lagos.

According to him, the dearth of medical doctors in the state has continued to overstretch the available officials in bridging the gap to available doctor to patient ratio.

The commissioner said that brain drain contributed to the personnel deficient.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event is to arouse public consciousness on air quality and the impact of pollution.

The event, which has “Advancing Collaborations and Multi-regional Partnerships for Clean Air Actions in African Cities” as its theme, was organised by the University of Lagos, AirQo, the Makerelere University, Uganda with support from the Lagos government.

Speaking on the forum’s theme, the commissioner decried the negative impact of air pollution and its bearing on the health sector.

He said the state has been facilitating inter-agency collaborations to mitigate the crisis

According to him, the state is in dire need of medical doctors to cater for the increasing medicare of the smart city.

“Lagos annual population growth rate of six to eight per cent comes with huge challenges and the health sector not exception.

“Lagos because of its daily increasing population has a complex tuberculosis index and the state is making a whole lot of impact in this area to mitigate its spread.

“The promotion of air quality and the need to halt environmental pollution in the state is where the collaborative efforts of the agencies are needed.

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“As a government, the state will continue to support every effort to sanitise the air in the city in order to reduce rate of air born, water diseases that bear negative on the health of the residents.’’

He said that the shortage of bed spaces in the state health centres had been a concern to the public, adding that the state has been working to tackle it headlong to give patients’ relief.

He said that with the construction of modern facilities across the state and the establishment of its medical research institution, the state would bridge the gap within 18 months to give the public desired service.

(NAN)