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Tag: lagos

  • Patronise us, Lagos artisans, technicians beg govts 

    Patronise us, Lagos artisans, technicians beg govts 

    The Association of Lagos Artisans and Technicians (ASLAT) have pleaded with the Federal and state government to patronise its members as they are competent and professionals in their fields.

     They made the call yesterday during the ASLAT mid-year thanksgiving celebration and award ceremony held in Lagos.

     President of the association, Lawrence Ajayi, said government’s support is needed to help the young ones grow and to sustain the older ones.

     The support, he emphasised, is by engaging their services for government projects.

     Ajayi also encouraged youths to embrace technical training and ‘hand-work’’ despite the presence of white collar jobs. He added that the association is willing and ready to welcome new members, saying ‘you can call on us, and we will show you the way’.

     General Secretary of ASLAT and National Coordinator of Nigerian Artisans and Technicians, Adeshina Akinyemi, emphasised that an autonomous agency for artisans and technicians should be created and managed by them. He recalled that the Lagos State government came up with a programme in 2001, where artisans were trained and retrained and empowered with grants and machinery. President Bola Tinubu was governor then. He, however, said the efforts would be futile without sufficient patronage.

    Read Also: Ex-Appeal Court justice to Fed Govt: get more Nigerians into farming

     “When you empower and train, and don’t patronise, how do we make money? How do we get back what we invested in our trades? And that is the problem,” he lamented.

     Akinyemi urged the government to get closer to the association so they can chart a new course for themselves and move forward. “Patronise our products and services and we are okay,” he reiterated.

     Secretary of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and elder statesman, Ayo Opadokun, who received a Special Recognition Award, described artisans and technicians as the core of any country. He, therefore, urged the Federal and state governments to utilise the strength in their numbers to propel the growth of Nigeria’s economy.

     Opadokun also called for recognition of ASLAT as a national union, saying it is capable of attaining national recognition.

     The NADECO chieftain noted that in developed economies, artisans and technicians are constantly being engaged and included in policy-making, thereby enabling them to contribute their quota to humanity.

    Leadership Excellence Award was also presented to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, while Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa received a Community Service Award.

     There were also presentation of certificates of dedication to the 17 clusters which make up ASLAT.

  • Clogged drains in Lagos to get attention

    Clogged drains in Lagos to get attention

    Clogged up drains in Lagos State are to get attention, Environment and Water Resources Commissioner, Tokunbo Wahab said yesterday when he visited drainage projects and channels.

      He was accopmpanied by Special Adviser on Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, with two permanent secretaries – Lekan Shodeinde (Drainage/Water Resources) and Gaji Omobolaji (Environmental Services).

    Addressing reporters at Ilubirin Housing Estate, Wahab   urged residents to desist from dumping refuse in canals and drainage channels.

    He said while the state would find solutions to flooding, he noted Lagos is a coastal city bound to experience flash flooding.

    He appealed to residents to take ownership of these canals and drains, reiterating that they should  desist from encroaching on canals and drainages right of way.

    Reesponding to a question on completion date for the mega pump station at Ilubirin expected to drain water from Ojo Giwa, Oroyinyin and Idumagbo, Wahab said he would ensure the project was ready soon.

    Read Also: Tribunal: Labour Party vows to appeal judgement on Governor Mbah

    Wahab assured residents of Akinola Aboru in Alimosho  he would address their complaints on major channel construction.

    He said the tour was to ascertain the state of the canals and drains as well as identifying problems.

     Rotimi-Akodu said the ministry will work with other organs to ensure infrastructural deficits are renewed.

    He appealed to Lagosians, especially market women, to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse, saying  their actions portend danger to everyone.

     Shodeinde noted rain is delaying the 10km Aboru-Akinola canal project, which is 40 per cent complete.

    He added the project, which runs through four local governments, would save residents from perennial flooding and loss of property.

    Shodeinde said Ojo Giwa and Oroyinyin end of Lagos Island is low lying and lacks energy to drive water into the lagoon; this necessitated pushing water out through pumping from Ilubirin Estate.

  • Lagos Assembly names standing committees, chairmen

    Lagos Assembly names standing committees, chairmen

    Lagos Assembly has named its standing committees for the 10th Assembly.

    Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, during plenary on Thursday, listed names of 40 members as heads of different committees.

    He urged them to see the position as a call to serve the people.

    The committee chairmen are: Majority Leader Noheem Adams (Business Rules); Chief Whip Fatai Mojeed (Ethics Protocol & Privileges);

    Tijani Suraju (House Services); Kehinde Joseph (PAC State); Akinsanya Nureni (PAC Local); Lukmon Orelope (Civic Engagement); Stephen Ogundipe (Information Strategy & Security); Olootu Emmanuel (Agriculture); Saad Olumoh (Economic Planning & Budget); Mosunmola Sangodara (Education Ministry & Agency); Ajani Owolabi (Education Institution); Seyi Lawal (Science & Technology); Adebola Shabi (Environment Parastatal); Lanre Afinni (Environment Ministry) and Aro Moshood (Establishment, Training & Pension).

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    They also include Sabur Oluwa (Energy & Mineral Resources); Yishawu Gbolahan (Waterfront Infrastructure Development); Sylvester Ogunkelu (Physical Planning and Urban Development); Temitope Adewale (Transportation); Abiodun Tobun (Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives); Lara Olumegbon (Women Affairs, Poverty Alleviation and Job Creation); Desmond Elliot (Works & Infrastructure); Foluke Osafile (Wealth Creation & Employment); Femi Saheed (Finance); Musbau Aina Lawal (Health); Abdulkareem Jubreel (Home Affairs); Boonu Solomon (Tourism Art and Culture); Biodun Orekoya (Youth and Social Development); Ladi Ajomale (Judiciary, Human Right, Public Petition & LASIEC); and Segun Ege (Housing).

    Others are Oladele Ajayi (CBD); David Olukoya Doherty (Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations); Okanlawon Ganiyu (Local Government Administration and Community Affairs); Setonji David (Compliance Legislative); Samuel Apata (Procurement); Kasunmu Adedamola (Interparliamentary); Yinka Esho (Public Private partnership); Ogunleye Gbolahan (Oversea Investment) and Mudashiru Obasa Selection Committee.

  • Lagos artisans, technicians urge FG, states to patronise local service

    Lagos artisans, technicians urge FG, states to patronise local service

    During the ASLAT mid-year Thanksgiving celebration and award ceremony held in Lagos, the Association of Lagos Artisans and Technicians (ASLAT) pleaded with the federal and state governments to engage their competent and professional members for government projects.

    Lawrence Ajayi, the president of the association, stressed the importance of government support to help young members grow and sustain older ones.

    Ajayi also encouraged youths to embrace technical training and ‘hand-work’’ despite the presence of white-collar jobs. He added that the association is willing and ready to welcome new members, saying ‘You can call on us, and we will show you the way’.

    The general secretary of ASLAT and national coordinator of ASLAT, Adeshina Akinyemi, emphasised that an autonomous agency for artisans and technicians should be created and managed by them.

    He recalled that the Lagos State government came up with a programme in 2001, where artisans were trained and retrained and empowered with grants and machinery. President Bola Tinubu was governor then.

    Akinyemi, however, said the efforts would be futile without sufficient patronage.

    He lamented: “When you empower and train, and don’t patronise, how do we make money? How do we get back what we invested in our trades? And that is the problem.”

    Akinyemi urged the government to get closer to the association so they can chart a new course for themselves and move forward.

    He said: “Patronise our products and services and we are okay.”

    Secretary of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and elder statesman, Ayo Opadokun, who received a Special Recognition Award, described artisans and technicians as the core of any country.

    Read Also: Lagos artisans, tradesmen to be honoured

    He, therefore, urged the Federal and state governments to utilise the strength in their numbers to propel the growth of Nigeria’s economy.

    Opadokun also called for recognition of ASLAT as a national union, saying it is capable of attaining national recognition.

    The NADECO chieftain noted that in developed economies, artisans and technicians are constantly being engaged and included in policy-making, thereby enabling them to contribute their quota to humanity.

    Leadership Excellence Award was also presented to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, while Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa received a Community Service Award.

    There were also presentation of certificates of dedication to the 17 clusters which make up ASLAT.

  • Lagos NSCDC hands over suspected smugglers to Customs

    Lagos NSCDC hands over suspected smugglers to Customs

    Lagos State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Usman Alfadarai, on Thursday, September 21, handed over three suspected rice smugglers to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

    The suspects were arrested on Monday, September 18, by the Commandant-General’s Marine Monitoring Unit (Western Command) at the Eleko Eleko Beach axis in Lagos State. 

    They allegedly smuggled 292 bags of rice into the country from the Republic of Benin. The items were hidden in three wooden boats.

    Read Also: NSCDC, NDLEA vow to curb drug abuse in Rivers

    The handover was done by Commander of the Marine Monitoring, Emmanuel Oloyede, to the representative of the NSC from Tin Can, Superintendent of Customs Magaji.

    Magaji thanked the NSCDC for its unity of purpose, and enhancement of collaboration, as one of the best strategies to end economic sabotage and crime.

  • ‘Lagos will continue to seek advice from retired public servants’

    ‘Lagos will continue to seek advice from retired public servants’

    Lagos State will seek advice and guidance from Association of Retired Directors of Finance and Accounting in Lagos Public Service (ARDOFALPS) in policies, Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, has said.

     Okunola recognised and endorsed the association at its inauguration at Lagos State Secretariat, Ikeja.

     He said: “I felicitate you for finding yourselves worthy to be together in retirement and celebrating yourselves in happiness, illnesses, and moments we all want on record in our lives. 

    “I am delighted to be inaugurating this association and this means by extension that you are now recognised by government starting from  Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and others

     Okunola promised that the request for office space would be looked into and asked that they consider extending its membership to include retired auditors”, he said.

    Its Chairman, Mr. Asegere Samuel, said the association was birthed as a result of the loss of their staff after retirement due to ill health and other situations.

    Read Also: Muri-Okunola retires as Lagos Head of Service

     “We discovered not too long after retirement, they become sick and before you know it they are dead. So, we felt something must be done to arrest the situation. We have stated our needs to the head of Service and I know he will work on it.

    ‘’We want to take care of our members as none of us is less than 60 years. We don’t want any of our members to get sick so we have been soliciting support and assistance from government.

    “We had members who were in debt, we have given families N500,000 and take care of their spouses still alive. We need support from government to do more. We need an office where members can go when looking for assistance.”

    Samuel further advised their colleagues who are not yet retired to work meritoriously so that they can be a part of the association after retirement.

    Former Head of Service, Lagos State, Folasade Adesoye urged the retirees to let go of past grudges and forge ahead with an open mindset towards one another.

    She said, “When you retire, you need others. You need their strength, It’s not just about money, you need somebody that you can talk to and relate with.

    “The only advice I can give is that they should come with an open mind. Past grudges, competitions, and whatever happened during the years of service, should be in the past. They should also support the association with money to keep the association alive.”

    Another Former Head of Service, Olabowale Ademola, said, “This association gives me great joy because it is an opportunity for them to meet, assist and be there for each other. Retirements are not an easy thing, so it’s an opportunity for them to sustain friendship and relationships.”

  • Lagos Free Zone will boost foreign investments

    Lagos Free Zone will boost foreign investments

    Lagos Free Zone said Tuesday that it  is investing heavily in the provision of critical infrastructure and ensuring ease of doing business,  to facilitate foreign direct investment into Nigeria

    Prem Krishna – General Manager, Power & Gas, Lagos Free Zone, disclosed this while featuring as a Panelist at the 3rd Edition of the Nigerian Ports and Trade Investment Forum, held in Lagos.

    The event with the theme “Revolutionizing Nigeria’s Ports – Embracing Shifting Landscapes in Technology to Create World-Class Hubs for Trade”, organized by Welcome 2 Africa International, was attended by industry experts and stakeholders in the Maritime Sector to explore new avenues for investment and innovative solutions to persistent challenges.

    Krishna remarked that critical infrastructure such as fire station, compressed gas power plant, truck park, medical facility, broadband networks, warehouses, standard factories, central processing center, helipad, residential tower and security command center are already in place in the zone.

    Read Also: Bridging housing deficit, unemployment with local opportunities

    He noted that the company is presently working on other infrastructure such as Piped Natural Gas, Commercial Tower, and Industrial Training Center.

    He stated that the core strength of the Lagos Free Zone is its seamless integration with Lekki Port, which guarantees companies in the Zone the rapid delivery of cargo and raw materials, typically within 48-72 hours of landing at the port. This port and zone combination is paving the way for a business-friendly environment.

    He said :” The most significant advantage of the Lagos Free Zone is its seamless integration with Lekki Port. This unique combination makes it easier to do business and significantly expedites the process. Companies setting up in the zone can expect their cargo of raw materials to reach them within 48-72 hours of landing at Lekki Port.”

    He said  another innovative feature is the Zone’s single-window digital platform that allows companies to interact with regulators like customs and DSS more efficiently. This system is an intermediary between the zone occupants and various regulatory bodies, significantly enhancing business efficiency.

  • Lagos hits N400b IGR at half year

    Lagos hits N400b IGR at half year

    Lagos has made about N400 billion as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) as at June 2023, it has been learnt.

    Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Ope George, stated this at the 2024 Budget Consultative Forum in Ikeja. The forum is held in the state’s five divisions of Ikorodu, Badagry, Lagos Island, Ikorodu and Ikeja.

    According to George, the government hopes to reach the target before the end of the year.

    The commissioner said it is expedient to increase the target in 2024, especially as it relates to funding the budget, so that more can be done for the people.

    He said: “We have a good credit rating and good IGR which can help us attract the right set of investment and funding. So, we have to be very creative with our funding by ensuring it’s a mix of IGR and all the funding mechanisms. We’re looking at PPP’s, and being able to get nice concessions at the right rates. So I think we’re fortunate because we are going in the right direction and, hopefully, we can continue to build on that to attract the right investments and funding to be able to solo-fund our budgets and our projects.”

    Read Also: Build parliamentary capacity to tackle insecurity, says clerk

    The commissioner also said the government would continue to assist the informal sector, especially the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), with grants and soft loans to keep them afloat and sustain the economy.

    He added: “We have a huge informal sector and we hope to tap into it to get the benefits therein. It is something the state is very keen to exploit. We have the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, which helps the small and medium enterprises with loans and grants, and we will continue to build on that. The SME’s are integral parts of our economy. This is why this consultative forum is important – we hear from the people what they need and we act on it because we are better informed. And when the people know what they are getting, the comply more with paying their taxes and levies promptly.

    Special Adviser to the governor on Economic Planning and Budget, Olalekan Balogun, said the “2024 budget is geared towards the development of the state and its residents through the provision of improved welfare packages that will be commensurate to the present economic landscape, which will focus on adequate and proper distribution of wealth and critical infrastructural development of each division of the state for a more sustainable living.”

  • ‘Lagos rural communities to get priority’

    ‘Lagos rural communities to get priority’

    Lagos State Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Rural Affairs will ensure dividends of democracy gets to the rural areas, the Commissioner, Bolaji Robert, and Special Adviser to the governor, Nurudeen Agbaje, have said at the maiden meeting with staff.

     Robert sid the ministry is ‘saddled with initiating, formulating, executing, monitoring and evaluating policies relating to administration in the 57 local government areas’.

    It also moderates chieftaincy affairs, including relations with Council of Obas and Chiefs, Community Development,” he noted.

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    Agbaje said restoring the Office of Rural Development to  the ministry is a pointer Mr. Governor is interested in development of grassroots’ communities.

     He called on community leaders, Community Development Associations and other stakeholders to key into government programmes.

    Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Kikelomo Bolarinwa, said workers would achieve the goals in line with the ministry’s mandate for implementation of the governor’s THEMES-Plus agenda.

  • Lagos hits N400b IGR in six months

    Lagos hits N400b IGR in six months

    Lagos state government has made about N400 billion as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) as of June 2023.

    The commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Ope George, stated this at the 2024 Budget Consultative Forum in Ikeja.

    The forum was held in the state’s five divisions of Ikorodu, Badagry, Lagos Island, Ikorodu, and Ikeja.

    According to George, the government hopes to reach the target before the end of the year.

    The commissioner noted that it was expedient to increase the target in 2024, especially as it relates to funding the budget so that more can be done for the people.

    He said: “We have a good credit rating and good IGR which can help us attract the right set of investment and funding. So, we have to be very creative with our funding by ensuring it’s a mix of IGR and all the funding mechanisms. We’re looking at PPP’s, and being able to get nice concessions at the right rates. So I think we’re fortunate because we are going in the right direction and, hopefully, we can continue to build on that to attract the right investments and funding to be able to solo-fund our budgets and our projects.”

    Read Also: Flood: Why new commissioners must tour Lagos communities, by Kalejaiye

    The commissioner also said the government will continue to assist the informal sector, especially the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), with grants and soft loans to keep them afloat and sustain the economy.

    He added: “We have a huge informal sector and we hope to tap into it to get the benefits therein. It is something the state is very keen to exploit. We have the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund which helps small and medium enterprises with loans and grants, and we will continue to build on that. The SME’s are integral parts of our economy. That is why this consultative forum is important – we hear from the people what they need and we act on it because we are better informed. And when the people know what they are getting, they comply more with paying their taxes and levies promptly.

    Special Adviser to the governor on Economic Planning and Budget, Olalekan Balogun, said the ‘2024 budget is geared towards the development of the state and its residents through the provision of improved welfare packages that will be commensurate to the present economic landscape, which will focus on the adequate and proper distribution of wealth and critical infrastructural development of each division of the state for a more sustainable living.