Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday began screening of the remaining 18 commissioner-nominees sent by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for confirmation.
About 11 of them were screened. They included former commissioners Gbenga Omotoso, Prof. Akin Abayomi, Sam Egube and Mrs. Cecila Dada.
Omotoso, Abayomi and Dada were asked to take a bow.
There was, however, a mild drama when former Commissioner for Energy, Lere Odusote, was grilled over some financial transactions during the first term in office.
The screening continues today and the committee is expected to report back to the general House tomorrow.
Governor Sanwo-Olu sent another list containing 18 names to the House after 17 of the 39 names he sent initially were rejected. Five names were replaced in the new list and one new name added to make up the 18 names.
The Lagos State House of Assembly will on Tuesday, September 5, commence the screening of the second batch of nominees sent by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The Nation reports that Governor Sanwo-Olu on Monday, September 4, sent the list of new commissioner nominees to the Assembly.
The Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, urged the screening committee led by Hon. Fatai Mojeed to ensure a thorough screening process and report to the House on Thursday.
The Clerk of the House, Barrister Olalekan Onafeko, read the letter from the governor listing the names presented.
Sanwo-Olu in the letter which was titled: ‘Forwarding of Official List of Nominees for Appointment as Commissioners and Special Advisers’, thanked the speaker and members of the House for their diligence and commitment in relation to the recent screening and confirmation of 22 nominees.
Sanwo-Olu said: “Your rigorous assessment of these nominees in adherence to your constitutional obligations demonstrates your dedication to ensuring a competent and effective council.”
The governor said after careful consideration of the 17 names that were rejected, “I have decided to represent a list of nominees which includes a balanced selection of previously presented and new individuals.
He added in the letter: “This list represents a broad political spectrum and diverse backgrounds reflective of the rich diversity of our lovely state.”
Sanwo-Olu said he is confident that the new nominees would bring fresh ideas that would help the growth and progress of Lagos.
He urged the House to screen the nominees for clearance.
Both public and private schools within Alimosho, Agege and Ikeja areas experienced very low turnout of students as schools resume the 2023/2024 academic session in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who visited some schools observed that there were few students for resumption and few parents came to drop off their children.
NAN reports that students and pupils were not seen as it used to be on resumption days on the streets, in uniform going to school.
Some of the schools visited in Alimosho Local Government Area are Alimosho Junior and Senior High School, Rauf Aregbesola Primary School, African Nursery and Primary School, Ikeja High School, Pentavillle Montessori School, Sophem High School, Krisbetel College and Adegoke High School.
Principals and teachers in the public schools directed NAN to the Lagos State Ministry of Education, Alausa, for any question, while proprietors of some private schools declined comments.
Mr Akintoye Hassan, Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos Chapter, also said that there was low turnout in two schools he went to within Ikeja environs.
Hassan said that teachers were physically on ground in their various schools but the turnout of the students was poor.
“The low turnout of students can be attributed to two factors, the first is that across the South West region, it is only Lagos State that has resumed even states that vacated on the same day are yet to resume till Sept.18.
“With this early resumption, Lagos State has allotted 16 weeks for first term activities to schools, which we believe is too long especially with the economic challenges.
“At the end of the day students and parents in line with the current economic situation might be affected.
“We are currently discussing with the leaders in the education sector in the state for a resolution to shorten the 16weeks academic activities for first term.
“The reality is that schools have resumed today, but within Lagos it was not noticeable that schools have resumed,” he said.
Hassan advised the teachers to remain focused , make themselves available at in their schools and continue to be nation builders.
Mr Yomi Otubela, National President, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), also urged all private schools to concentrate mainly on viable and valuable projects and programmes that would project their schools positively.
Otubela also the proprietor of a school, advised that as schools navigate through the challenging business environment.
“Let us ensure that we embrace cost-cutting strategies.
“It will help us to keep our businesses afloat.
“As schools in Lagos resume today and schools in other states are preparing to resume, it is imperative to remind us that the safety and well-being of our students and staff members are sacrosanct and should be highly prioritised.
“We must ensure that the security staff members are adequately trained and equipped to ensure that schools are secure for the safety of students, staffers and others within the school premises.
“On behalf of the association, we would like to wish member schools throughout the states of the federation a hitch-free 2023/2024 academic session,”he said.
Otubela said that in their school they were excited to welcome all students back for the new academic session.
“Parents and guardians, we appreciate your unwavering support and trust in us.
“Together, we will continue to nurture the bright minds of our children and guide them towards a future filled with promises and opportunities ,” he said.
Mrs Ibironke Ajayi, a parent and business woman, said that her children did not resume today because the school would only be conducting the registration of the students.
Ajayi also added that her children were not resuming this week because of inability to pay the fees.
“They will resume next week by God’s Grace.”
Another parent, Mr Chuks Anaedum, said that schools should be patient with parents, to enable them pay school fees, buy books and other essentials.
Anaedum said that his children would be resuming next week when he could afford to pay for the essential school needs. (NAN)
Lagos State Government has stressed the need for workplaces to train their personnel in adherence to safety regulations, especially in electricity
The Director-General of Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, said this during a day stakeholders’ training in electricity safety causes, in conjunction with BIMSUL ventures, in Alausa, Ikeja.
He said once a particular mistake was committed by a worker, there was probability that such might affect the whole and entire factory, hence the need for the workers to take precautionary measures to avoid making the mistake and let all hands be on deck “to ensure safety at all times in our workplace.”
Mojola said: “Safety is everybody’s business, hence the need for all of us to take safety as a collective responsibility, do away with complacency at the workplace, learn new ways and involve in a consistent training workshop that will assist to make our personnel better equipped.
“We need to take issues of safety very important because the statistics are glaring; there are 2.3 million accidents in a year, 6,300 a day and 260 an hour. We will like workplaces to ensure that they follow these regulatory processes and obtain their safety clearance certificate and ensure their safety officers are registered appropriately.”
A safety expert, Mr. Ojetokun Oluwole, presented a paper on ‘Safe work processing standard operating procedures (SOP) and identification of hazard in equipment, power tools and portable hands tools’.
He urged workers to ensure their work environment is safe at all times and anytime they notice any error in their work equipment, it should be reported and get immediate solution.
Another guest speaker, Mr. Adebiyi Adeyinka, who lectured on electrical safety and solution in the manufacturing sector, said 80 per cent of hazards at the workplace was usually as a result of human error, adding that all hands must be on deck to avert incessant occurrence.
Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Sunday, September 3, kicked off distribution of foodstuff palliatives for vulnerable Lagosians.
This forms part of earlier ones announced by the governor.
The governor had earlier announced a 50 per cent cut in the BRT, as well as free healthcare for expectant mothers.
The distribution was done under the Lagos Food Bank Programme. About 500,000 vulnerable households are expected to benefit from the initiative.
The distribution will also be done in phases across the state’s five divisions of Lagos Island, Ikeja, Badagry, Epe and Ikorodu. It will be monitored by committees drawn from the various benefitting groups.
Sanwo-Olu urged the representatives to be truthful in sharing the palliatives to ensure equity and justice.
He said: “The strategic goal of this programme is to reach 500,000 vulnerable households in the state with staple food items using two methodologies – bulk food items (50kg Rice, 50kg Garri and 100kg Beans) for groups, and food boxes (10kg Rice, 5kg Garri, and 5kg Beans) for individual vulnerable households.
“The distribution to vulnerable households will be done through groups, institutions, Non-Governmental Organisations, Community Development Committees, People Living with Disability and Social Protection Department in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, using the Social Register of vulnerable persons in the state.
“To ensure transparency in the implementation of this intervention, a monitoring committee with members drawn from religious groups, trade unions, People with Disability, Civil Society/Non-Governmental organisations, Youth Group, Community Development Councils and representatives of the Lagos State House of Assembly will be constituted.
“This distribution will be phased among the various beneficiary groups for ease of the distribution process. In line with this plan, each group will be duly informed of the date for collection.
“Overall, this initiative will directly impact 500,000 benefitting households, over 2,500 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises involved in bag manufacturing, food aggregation, packaging, and logistics, while over 25,000 employees of the MSMEs will be indirectly impacted. “Let me assure all Lagosians that we acknowledge the economic challenges being experience at this time.
“The policies being implemented right now by the Federal Government are difficult but necessary measures that must be taken to reposition our economy on the path of sustainable development and prosperity for all citizens. I, therefore, appeal for the continued understanding of all Lagosians, with the assurance that we will do everything within our capacity to implement measures that will cushion this temporary pain as we continue to initiate programmes and projects that will uplift our people and provide quality living conditions to all.”
The governor also announced the official commencement of commercial operations on the Blue Line Rail Mass Transit tomorrow.
He added that the 50 per cent reduction in BRT fare also applies to the train since the cowry card is used to access the service. Sanwo-Olu will take the inaugural ride.
Vice Chairman of Persons Living with Disability in the state, Mrs. Josephine Omolola, thanked the governor for always remembering them.
“Thank you for being a father with a golden heart, for giving referece and regards to our community. We are grateful,” she said.
Benefitting groups include Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), religious bodies (Christian, Muslim and traditionalists), Persons Living with Disability (PLWDs), Joint Negotiating Council, among others.
Lagos State has paid N2 billion as pension arrears to another 644 retirees during its 101st retirement bond certificate presentation.
Director-General of the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC), Babalola Obilana, described the certificates as more than just financial rewards. “They represent the trust and confidence we have in our retirees. They are a testament to the lasting impact you have made. Your dedication has been the bedrock of the goal of a Greater Lagos, and your hard work has set a high standard for those who will carry the state forward”, he added.
Obilana also reiterated the government’s commitment to paying the backlog of pension arrears.
He said: “We have just paid for 2022 and so we are just one year behind. If we continue at this rate, we should soon be up to date with payment, latest by the middle of next year. The governor has shown intention to pay and he will fulfill his word.
“It is also instructive for the retirees to decide which investment options best suits them. They should decide whether they want program withdrawal or annuity by considering their circumstance and finding what best suits their purpose. They should be extra careful with whatever investment proposal that comes their way.”
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Establishment and Training, Mr. Olawale Musa, stressed the government’s readiness to offset the backlogs of pension. She also urged retirees to keep a balanced lifestyle and manage, knowing well that life in retirement is different from life during service.
She said: “We’ve been contending with these backlogs and so we promise to clear them very soon. We also want to ensure that retirees get their benefits within one or two weeks of retirement.
A beneficiary, Mrs. Abimbola Owolabi, the retired principal of Babs Fafunwa Millennium Secondary School thanked the government for honoring its word. “I appreciate God almighty for giving us the opportunity to be part of this presentation. Many started with us but not all are collecting today. I just want to thank everyone who worked to make this a reality,” she said.
• Most labels on sachet, bottled water fraudulent – Nutritionist
• We’re already supplying potable water to parts of Lagos Island – LWC
For ages, many parts of Lagos Island have lacked access to potable water in spite of being surrounded by the sea and the lagoon. Manufacturers of myriads of sachet and bottled water are said to be feasting on this by flooding the area with their products. Tanker drivers whose source of water and hygiene of their tanks cannot be ascertained are also not left out. They are all ‘cashing out’ on the communities where clean water is gold. Experts are of the view that water sold in the area should frequently be subjected to tests to save the people from being exposed to needless health crises, INNOCENT DURU reports.
Bassey, a resident of Lagos Island has a challenge getting clean water from his borehole. The water from the borehole, like many others in the area, contains large quantity of iron. He cannot use it in its natural form for any of his domestic needs.
After some time of growing grey hair over the challenge, he devised a means to get around the problem.
Explaining the strategy that he adopted, Bassey said: “I have what I call a ground tank. I pump water into a ground tank and leave it for a day for it to settle.
“When it settles, I will pump it into the tank at the top. With that, I would have clean water.
“With that system in place, I have been able to live in the place for about eight years without having challenges with water.”
Good as his strategy appears, Bassey can only use the water to cook. “I can’t drink it,” he said. “We take bottled water in the house to avoid water borne diseases.”
But the bottled water brand that Bassey prides to be very safe may not be safe after all. A water facility operated by a woman suspected to be an agent of the manufacturer of the bottled water was recently found to be adulterating the product.
She was said to be refilling dispenser bottles of the product with content from public sources.
Lagos State officials who visited the facility on inspection mission discovered that there was no proper storage system for the water, adding that the products were also displayed outside in an unfavourable condition.
Many of such adulterated packaged water are feared to have found their ways to the Island where clean water is a great treasure.
“We really have a huge problem with clean water. At times, some water may be clean but it would not be drinkable. So, bottled water is what we consider as truly drinkable here,” Lizzy, another resident said.
“We take bottled water in my house to stay away from water borne diseases, but the truth is that you don’t know how good the so-called bottled water is.
“It is just that you at least have some hope that it is better than consuming the confirmed polluted groundwater.”
Asked if she fears some top brands of bottled water could be adulterated, Lizzy said: “Nothing is impossible in Nigeria, especially here in Lagos. One cannot vouch for all these things they sell all over the place as safe bottled water.
“It is just that many people believe that bottled water is rarely adulterated unlike pure water that anyone can do at the back of his house.
“That is why you find that the bottle water business is thriving here. Some people buy tens of packs to keep in their houses because the water they have in their houses is not drinkable.
“Some are not even fit for cooking. They are only good for flushing the toilet and for some other uses.”
Mike Owhoko, publisher of Media Issues, an online newspaper, in a recent write up, raised the alarm about how Lekki and its environs have been flooded with myriads of bottled and sachet water, some of which he said have predisposed the people to diseases.
His words: “Lekki residents are exposed to water-related diseases engendered by sub-standard and unregulated sources of water supply.
“Increasing cases of dysentery and diarrhoea-induced pathogenic bacteria infections have sparked concerns on public health in the area.
“By Lekki, I mean the geographical area straddling between Tollgate and Victoria Garden City (VGC).
“Despite its aquatic location bordered by the sea and the lagoon, clean water is hard to find due to its peculiar topography.”
Regrettably, Owhoko said, “This has encouraged all manner of water merchants, using boreholes, tanker trucks and bottled water with questionable hygiene conditions lacking the capacity to pass purity test, to flood the area with their products.
“Ajah, an area adjacent to Lekki, has a good water table with a thick protective layer.
“This has led to the emergence of water vendors who use trucks/tanks to deliver and sell water to Lekki residents.
“Notwithstanding, there are concerns about hygiene.
“These tanker trucks are seldom washed and are prone to contamination. Some of these trucks have been in operation for over 10 years, yet operators do not deem it fit to wash them, thereby exposing residents to infections.
“Besides, in the course of dispensing water, tanker trucks pollute the environment through the generation of noise and carbon monoxide, causing health hazards.
“This leaves Lekki residents helpless, confining them to bottled water, which they believe are reliable. But they are wrong!
“The risk of contamination in bottled and sachet water is also high due to adulteration and imitation fueled by greed.”
Continuing, he said: “There are so many bottled water brands in circulation, all contending to capture the Lekki market share. “Those who believe their brands lack the capacity to compete resort to producing counterfeit by faking notable brands already enjoying market patronage. That is why at party venues in Lekki, empty bottles of consumed water of big brands are quickly taken away by quacks for recycle.
“Despite a lack of full-proof purity, Lekki residents believe they are better off with bottled water than drinking directly from boreholes and tanker trucks. This desperation to consume any water in bottle has exposed residents to unprepared risk.
In what appears to be a corroboration of Owhoko’s remarks, Nollywood actor, Uti Nwachukwu, not too long ago took to his social media handle to narrate his ordeal after consuming some bottled water.
Uti said he started stooling after consuming the water and blamed his incessant stooling on the amount of chemical contained in the table water.
Writing on his twitter handle, the actor said: “Dear bottled water companies, please what have you started adding to your water? If I wanted to projectile poop six-seven times a day, I’d have bought slimming tea!
“What’s all this? It can’t be only me! And it’s the biggest brands! Two of them now! Fix it so that I don’t call your names!
“I knew there was a problem when I was pooping steady and it was smelling of chemicals, like sanitizer, or alum or something! I stopped the first one and the stooling ceased.
“Took the second one and there were no issues. I bought a small bottle and it was worse! This one came with abdominal discomfort, acid reflux, and yes, watery stool with that same chemical/alum aroma.
“So now, I can only vouch for one brand that’s currently safe to consume. Who checks the standards of these things we put in our bodies?
“Reputable brands like these are causing harm! Who even knows the effects on our organs? I’m tired!”
Some respondents to his tweet are of the opinion that the actor might have taken adulterated bottled water.
“Maybe one … has started making the adulterated version. Who knows,” a Nairaland user who identified himself as SportsHD said.
Our reporter, who spent some time in a hotel at Jakande area, said apart from drinking purpose, he was compelled to get a bottled water pack to brush his mouth because he couldn’t manage the water in the hotel.
He said: “When I entered the hotel, I went to use the restroom. I was shocked at what I saw. The water in the toilet was brownish and I thought someone used it and did not flush.
“I decided to flush it, but what came out was not different from what I thought was urine.
“It was at that time that it dawned on me that that could be the nature of the water in the environment.
“I was more dazed when I tried to brush and bathe. The water that came from the tap was smelly and I quickly turned off the tap.
“I rushed to the reception to complain but all that the front desk person could do was to apologise. She said it was not their fault that that is how their water is.
“I had to ask them to get me better water to bathe because there was no way I could have bathed with the smelly water.
“To save himself from a health crisis, I went to buy a pack of bottled water. It was brisk business in the area. Everybody in the hotel was going to get bottled water even for brushing.
“Nobody cared about the brand as long as it was bottled. The other alternatives you have are to either buy pure water or get a keg to buy from the community.”
Banana Island is the least place one would expect to hear that unsafe water is obtainable. This is owing to the class of people residing in the neighbourhood. But there, the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LSWRC), also recently sealed the Banana Island Property Owners Resident Association (BIPORAL) Water Treatment Plant for failing to meet the required safety and quality standards.
Tests conducted by the LSWRC revealed that the water quality of the plant was unsafe for consumption and required improved treatment.
There are feelings that water could easily have been packaged by any manufacturer for the public on mere assumption that water from such an environment will always be hygienic.
Tanker driver, sachet water merchants also ‘cashing out’
Aside from bottled water manufacturers, sachet water producers and people vending water with tankers are also having a good share of business in the area.
James, a resident of First Gate area of Jakande, said he buys water from water tankers but the hygiene and quality of the water cannot be ascertained.
“We don’t have good water at all. Our water is not drinkable. We don’t even use it to cook,” James began the chat with our correspondent on note of lamentation.
“We can only use it to wash and flush the toilet. The water ordinarily stains the toilet but we always use strong toilet soaps to keep it clean. We can’t use it to wash white clothes,” he added.
Asked where he gets water to attend to other needs, James said: “We buy water from vendors most often. They hawk the water in tanks. That is the kind of water we use to cook. A Jerry can of 25 litres is N200.
“I have a big drum that I fill with water worth N2,000. I do this every week. Our water here in Jakande, as bad as it is, is far better than what some people have in their areas. “The water in some communities is so bad that even if you put alum in it, the quality will not improve.”
Godonu, a resident of Oke Ira, told our correspondent that he uses pure water to cook because the water around him is smelly.
“The water smells, and many atimes, I buy sachet water to cook. If there is no money to buy sachet water, we would go to Oke Ira Nla to buy water.
“We always manage the water we buy for cooking and drinking while we use the smelly one for bathing.
“We don’t feel comfortable using such water to bathe, but since we don’t have an alternative, we have to manage what is available.
“We always endure the foul smell.”
Godonu’s neigbour, Elizabeth, spoke of how the polluted water they were using before caused the children to have rashes.
“The place we were fetching water from before has spoilt. The water was always brown and also causing rashes for the children.
“If you saw the bodies of our children before now, you would wonder where they came about rashes. The water was responsible for it.
“The water that we are using now is clean but it is smelly. We only use it to bathe.
“Before we use the water to bathe, we would fetch it into a container for some time for fresh air to blow the horrible smell away. You just have to do that if you want to at least manage to enjoy your bath.
“Some people are still complaining that this present water is causing itching for them. But the complaints are not widespread like when we were using the other water.”
Even though the present water is clean, Elizabeth said, they cannot use it to cook. “No, we don’t. It is not good to use smelly water to cook what one eats.
“We always cross to the other side of the road to buy the water that we drink.
“A regular big plastic paint costs N100. I spend an average of N300 on water every day. This is really affecting me financially because in a month, I spend nothing less than N10,000 to buy just water. How much do I make from my petty business in a month?
“If I don’t buy the water to attend to domestic needs, it will have ripple effects on me and the family, and this includes health issues that N10,000 may not be able to take care of.”
Another resident, who gave her name simply as Lydia, said she had rashes all over her body when she newly arrived in the area.
She said: “My body reacted negatively to the water. In fact, I never knew that the water in this area is terribly bad until I came here.
“I resorted to using pure water but the truth is that you cannot ascertain if the water is free of contamination or not. You only use it because they say it is pure water and truly it does not have colour, and does not smell like the ground water.
“Another way out when there is no money to spend on pure water is to buy water in gallons.”
Writing on Quora, an online platform, a dietician and nutritionist, Muhammad Haseeb, said tanker water may be susceptible to contamination from various sources. If the water source or the tanker itself is contaminated, it can introduce harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses or parasites into the hospital’s water supply. These contaminants can cause water borne diseases and infections, particularly in immune-compromised patients.
H added: “Tanker water may carry water borne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid or hepatitis A. These diseases can spread rapidly within a hospital setting, especially if the water is used for drinking, hand hygiene or medical procedures.
“Patients, staff and visitors with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to such infections.
“Tanker water quality may also be compromised by chemical contaminants. Industrial pollutants, pesticides, heavy metals or disinfection byproducts can find their way into the water supply.
“Prolonged exposure to these chemicals can lead to various health problems, including gastrointestinal issues, liver or kidney damage, neurological disorders, or even an increased risk of cancer.”
If inadequately disinfected, the nutritionist said, “tanker water might not undergo adequate disinfection processes compared to the water supplied through a municipal system.
“Insufficient disinfection can lead to the survival of pathogens in the water, increasing the risk of infectious diseases.
“Hospitals require a high level of water quality and disinfection to maintain a safe environment for patients, staff and medical procedures.
“The quality of tanker water may vary depending on the source, transportation and storage conditions.
“Lack of control over the water supply can result in inconsistent quality, making it difficult to ensure reliable and safe water for hospital operations.
“This inconsistency can impact patient care, hygiene practices, and medical equipment maintenance.”
Another nutritionist, Seun Obembe, says relevant government agencies need to conduct regular tests on packaged water “because there is what we call alkaline water and acid water.
“Most of the water labels are just information fraud. I am in Kaduna right now and most of the water I have tested here are apologies.
“That is why there is an epidemic of typhoid and ulcer. The government should test this water and do the right thing.
“Let’s check it clinically. What is chlorine overdose, because they use chlorine inside the water?
“The recommended allowance for water in a day is two litres. How many sachets produce two litres? And then check the content of chlorine in them. That one is detrimental to health.
“All these things have to be regulated. The government needs to do more work. They should encourage more scientists.
“They should bring more dieticians and nutritionists on board. It is when there is an outbreak that they will start looking for researchers to bring out papers.”
On the use of polluted water by the people, Obembe said: “When you say it is contaminated water, then it is detrimental to the health of the users. Even when you use it to bathe, the pores on the skin will definitely open and allow bacteria to go into the body.
“People who are obese are prone to sickness because all these microorganisms hide inside them. So when there are issues in the body, all those pathogens that have been hiding inside the body will come out to strike.
We’re already supplying water to parts of Island – LWC
Regional Business Manager of the Lagos State Water Corporation (LWC), South South Lagos, Mrs Adewumi Folake, said the corporation was working on making clean water available on the Island.
She said: “Presently, water is getting to Adeniji, Idumagbo, and Iduganran. We are working towards building up our pressure so that the supply will get to many more places on the Island.
“LWC is working towards that. We have a pipeline network on the Island.
“Our water supply is coming from the Mainland. The Ajiyan and Iju water works are supplying the Island. We are sure that the challenge of clean water will soon come to an end when we complete our works.
Corroborating Mrs Adewumi’s remarks, the Public Relations Officer of LWC, Mrs Kehinde Fashola, said residents of Island and Lagos in general should rest assured that there would be abundant water supply in the state.
“The present MD is doing what one can imagine. He is working towards installing water in every household in Lagos State.
“A lot of rehabilitation is already going on at our mini and macro water works. All hands are on deck to make sure every household has water in Lagos.
Budding singer, producer, and content creator, Silver Emenike, aka International Boy, has teamed up with popular disc jockey, DJ Neptune, for a song entitled, ‘Lagos.’
International Boy, who is signed to Lahor Music, noted that the song is an ode to Lagos, which he described as Africa’s entertainment capital.
Speaking on the inspiration behind the single, the Port Harcourt, Rivers State-born singer, said: “The song has a catchy and feel-good vibe heavily driven by synth, percussion and kicks, while exploiting the amapiano sound. It was produced by South Africa-based Chaffrizzerr, and we had a good time making it.
“On the song, I explore uncharted musical territories. The sound defies classification, transcends cultural confines, and resonates universally. My eyes are set on captivating the world.”
On his part, DJ Neptune stated that he got to know about the singer when the latter made a cover version of his song, ‘Count Your Blessings.’
“After listening to his version of ‘Count Your Blessings’, I knew that he had an incredible talent that the world needs to hear. That was why I was open to working with him,” said DJ Neptune.
Works Minister Dave Umahi announced this when he visited Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun yesterday in Abeokuta, the state capital, as part of his inspection of federal roads in the state.
The minister said the project would be done on the basis of Public Private Partnership (PPP).
He expressed the optimism that in the next two months, work will start on the project to further interconnect states to the federal capital, when completed.
“Let me announce to you that the Lagos proposed Fourth Mainland Bridge is going to tear off with our proposed Super Highway, which will take off along Epe. Majority of it is going to be in Ogun State and it will take us four hours from Lagos to Abuja.
“We had a presentation on that (project) yesterday (Wednesday). It’s going to be on PPP. We are concluding on that. Within the next two months, work will start on that project and that will further interconnect states to the federal capital,” Umahi said.
The former governor of Ebonyi State also proposed a joint rehabilitation of the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta Expressway between the Federal Government and the Ogun State government to bring respite for commuters plying it daily.
Umahi, who was replying to Governor Abiodun’s complaint about the frustration Ogun and Lagos states went through under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to get the road done.
The minister announced that the period of bureaucracy in road construction in the country was over.
He stressed that if the Federal Government was looking for corporate organisations to get involved in road construction and management, state governments should not be denied the same opportunity.
Umahi said: “Let me say something about the frustration you had while you and the Lagos State government wrote to take over the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta road. Let me announce to you that it falls under our new programme, the HDMI, which is the Highway Development Management Initiative. It is a public-private partnership programme.
“People should begin to look at a state as a corporate entity. If you are looking for investors to come and invest on our roads, to construct, to own, to maintain and toll, why shouldn’t a state do that?
“So, on this Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta road, I want us to work together. We’ve done 30 per cent of the work. You can own 60 per cent; we own 40 per cent. You can do your portion of the 60 per cent; you can give it to a contractor of your choice.
“I don’t believe in bureaucracy. We cannot reset the economy with the type of bureaucracy we have.
“If I get your request on this by WhatsApp, I will respond to you immediately. We will handle it under our HDMI.”
The minister also spoke on some other federal roads in the state with some of them under reconstruction.
According to him, the Ikorodu-Sagamu remains about eight kilometres to be completed, with the deadline for its completion set for November.
Other roads are: the Abeokuta-Ajebo road at 21 per cent completed; the overlay of the Ore-Sagamu portion of the Sagamu-Ore-Benin carriageway; and the Papalanto to the Benin Republic border, being done by Dangote through the Tax Credit Scheme.
