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Tag: Lagos government

  • Eld-el-kabir: Lagos to commence sales of lake rice on Thursday

    Eld-el-kabir: Lagos to commence sales of lake rice on Thursday

    In preparation for the forthcoming Eid-El-Kabir celebration, the Lagos Government is commencing sales of  lake rice on Thursday, August 24 in various centre across the state.

    The Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon Oluwatoyin Suarau, who disclosed in his office in the  Alausa Ikeja, states that  the Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwumi Ambode has approved  some centres for the distribution and sales of the rice. These include the 57 Local Government and Local Council Development Areas; the Agricultural Development Area Complex, Oko-oba, Agege; LTV Blue Roof Complex, Agidingbi, Ikeja, and other designated centers across the state.

    He    restated that the prices remained the same as N12,000 for 50kg bag, N6,000 for 25kg , and N2,500 for 10kg.

    According to the   commissioner, the rice is for all Lagosians, irrespective of their religion or tribes.

    He reiterated   that the present administration will continue to ensure adequate production and a fair distribution of the rice across the state as it will be made available to the masses in the various accredited centers in the state.

    According to him, the present administration has embarked on policies and programmes that will enhance the availability of food in the state.

     

  • Lagos pays N1.8bn as pension in 1 year

    Lagos pays N1.8bn as pension in 1 year

    Lagos State Government on Monday said that it paid a total of N1, 846, 396, 965.80 as pension from May 31, 2016 to April 30, 2017.

    The state Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pensions, Dr Akintola Benson-Oke, made the disclosure at the 2017 Ministerial Press Briefing to mark Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s two years in office.

    The event held at Alausa, Ikeja.

    According to Benson-Oke, the population of pensioners in the state’s main stream public service as at February was 8,512.

    He said that the Mr Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration was determined to ensure that pensioners were paid their entitlements as and when due.

    ”In the last one year, the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) has been ensuring effective regulation, supervision and administration of pension matters in the state’s public service.

    ”We have recorded continued significant reduction in backlog of entitlements of retired employees.

    ”The Lagos State Government through LASPEC has paid a total sum of N1, 846, 396, 965.80 as pension from May 31, 2016 to April 30, 2017.

    ”This administration has been able to maintain the trend of paying entitlements of retired employees monthly since August 2015, ” he said.

    Benson-Oke said that the state government made provisions in its 2017 Budget for the ministry to carry out 78 training programmes for civil servants before the end of the year.

    According to him, the training will deepen civil servants’ knowledge of public service ethos and values as well as develop their leadership and management skills.

  • Court strikes out Lagos bid to suspend hijab use

    The Court of Appeal Lagos Division on Tuesday dismissed an application by the Lagos State Government to suspend hijab use by female Muslim pupils in public schools in the state.

    A three-man panel of the court comprising Justices M. L. Garba (presiding), J. S. Ikyegh and U. Ogakwu, gave the ruling because of a pending appeal by the state at the Supreme Court.

    The panel agreed with the state that the apex court was the proper place for the application to be heard.

    A special five-man panel of the appellate court on July 21 last year voided the 2014 verdict of a Lagos High Court, which outlawed the wearing of hijab by the pupils.

    The state in September 16 last year filed an application at the Court of Appeal, seeking an injunction for a stay of the judgment, pending the determination of an appeal it had filed at the Supreme Court.

    Counsel for the state, Mr. Hameed Oyenuga of the Directorate of Civil Litigation Department, told the court on Tuesday that the injunction was applied for before the state appealed the judgment at the apex court.

    He applied that the application be forwarded to the Supreme Court so that it could be heard alongside the appeal.

     

    “We are asking that the application be forwarded or transmitted to the Supreme Court. We have forwarded our return argument to the Supreme Court, but we are yet to ascertain whether it has been entered,” Oyenuga said.

    Counsel for the first, second and third respondents, Mr. H. T. Fajimite did not object to the request.

    The court agreed that the Supreme Court should hear the application, but observed that for that to happen, the application had to be withdrawn or struck out at the appellate court.

  • 1,536 criminal cases prosecuted in one year – Lagos

    1,536 criminal cases prosecuted in one year – Lagos

    The Lagos State Government on Friday said that it prosecuted a total of 1, 536 criminal cases in all courts in the last one year through the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).

    State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem who disclosed this during the ongoing ministerial press briefing to herald the one year anniversary of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration, said that out of the total number of cases being prosecuted, judgments were delivered in 15 of the matters being handled by the Directorate.

    He said out of the 1,536 cases, 1,375 cases are currently being prosecuted at the Federal and State High Courts as well as 122 and 38 respectively at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

    Kazeem said that in addition to the 1,536 active criminal prosecution files, the DPP’s office was also handling 137 applications for enforcement of Fundamental Rights.

    “With regards to criminal prosecutions, our Directorate of Public Prosecutions is committed to ensuring that all offenders are brought to book, thereby discouraging impunity in our society.
    The Directorate is also committed to speedy trails, especially so that suspects are not detained for too long awaiting trial.

    “The truism ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ is one of our guiding principles, especially in criminal justice administration. Both the victims of a crime and the alleged offender deserve to have their case resolved at the earliest possible time,” he said.

    He said the Legal Advisory Unit which focuses exclusively on the review of criminal case files, containing reports of investigation submitted by the Police and issuance of legal advice has been able to hasten considerably the speed of criminal prosecutions by reducing the time spent on issuing legal advice.

    “In the period under review, out of 1,209 police investigation files sent to the DPP’s office for legal advice, the Unit has already completed work on 940 while the rest are still being processed, many requiring additional information or further investigation by the Police or other relevant agency,” the Commissioner said.

    Kazeem said the government has always taken the lead in legislation and law reform initiatives just as he assured of the present administration’s commitment to continue ensuring that every citizens of Lagos State has access to justice.

    He said the State Government in order to ensure that its laws are kept updated and readily accessible to the general public has completed a new compilation of the Lagos Laws, which includes all amendment and additions.

    He said, “In line with the direction of His Excellency,  the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, the 2015  Revised Laws of Lagos State are now accessible online to the general  public, which provides access to all the Laws that have operated in the state since inception in 1967”.

    “The landmark achievement within the past one year are indicative of the people-oriented theme of the governor’s agenda, which includes establishment of mobile courts, access to justice, fight against domestic and sexual violence as enactment of laws that provided the springboard for improving  and promoting socio-economic activities,” Kazeem said.

     

  • Lagos saves N5.9bn in TSA

    Lagos State Government on Wednesday said it has so far saved N5.990 billion using the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

    The state’s commissioner for Finance Dr. Mustapha Akinkunmi, said this while addressing journalists at the ongoing ministerial briefing in Alausa, Ikeja.

    He said implementation of the TSA has helped to enhanced transparency and efficiency, adding that it also helped increased Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) through seamless revenue generation and collection and improved cash management in the state.

    The commissioner said, “The present administration has successfully re-engineered the state’s outstanding internal loans to reduce burden on IGR and technically saved N3.8 billion per month.

    “This was achieved by re-negotiating interest rates from an average of 18 per cent monthly (N5.35 billion monthly payment) to 12.5 per cent (N1.52 billion monthly payment). The state restructured its outstanding bonds from bullet payment to amortising payment to reduce debt service resulting in huge savings recorded from this initiative.

    “Through this we have also achieved savings of over N500 million in monthly contributions to Consolidated Debt Service Account (CDSA) and over N40 billion saved in interest payments over the lifetime of the instruments.”

     

     

  • Why we demolished Oshodi market – Lagos

    Why we demolished Oshodi market – Lagos

    The Lagos State Government says the demolition of Owonifari Market in Oshodi area of the state was done to further ensure security and bring sanity to the area.

    The state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, gave the explanation at a news conference on Thursday while clarifying issues involved in the demolition exercise.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the State Government on Tuesday shut the market and ordered relocation of affected traders and shop owners to the newly built Isopakodowo market stalls at Bolade in the area.

    The market was demolished from Tuesday night till the early hours of Wednesday.

    Ayorinde said that the traders were formally served a quit notice on Dec.21 before the demolition exercise, through the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

    “It is important to be informed that the issue of that market had been on for nothing less than 10 years.
    “The state government had been engaging with the leadership of the market to say that we could no longer continue with the manner in which that area of the market was being used.

    “So, for 10 years, there has been back and forth engagement between the government and the leadership of the market,” he said.

    Ayorinde said the leadership of the market, in the last three years, had refused to move.
    “Certified that we have provided a befitting alternative, we started another round of engagement with the leadership of the market.
    “The governor appealed to them through the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs.
    “They met with members of the state executive on Dec. 16, 2015, where the governor reiterated his plans for Oshodi and the need to relocate them.

    “A few of them expressed certain misgivings, but largely, they felt that if their interests were accommodated within the Isopakodowo market that they were willing and ready to move.

    “We advised that discussions should be ongoing, particularly regarding how much they will pay for each stall within the market,” he said.
    Ayorinde said that on Dec. 21, 2015, the governor went on a tour of the market, particularly Isopakodowo Market, where he again met with the leadership of the Owonifari Market.

    According to him, it was eventually agreed that, based on the proposition from the market leaders, what they were willing to pay for each market was N5000 monthly.

    “There is really no market anywhere that you will be paying such an amount in a month for a market.
    “The governor agreed with them and we said we were ready to concede.

    “Along the line, convinced that our New Year project was to relocate them to Isopakodowo Market, we got intelligence reports that as at during the Yuletide, a number of criminal activities were going on there.

    “We also got reports that the place was harbouring criminals and a number of untoward activities.

    “This, of course, necessitated that we should move immediately to safeguard lives, property and to ensure that there was no breech of peace.

    “This was what led to the demolition exercise,” Ayorinde said.

    He said the intention of the government was certainly not to destroy any goods.

    “We believe a good number of the traders, if not all, had moved because they were aware they needed to move.

    “From reports, quite a good chunk of them acknowledged that they were properly served and that they were ready to move; many of them packed their things just before the end of the year.

    “Government, I should say, will not be blackmailed because we have done everything humanly possible.

    “We believe very strongly that Isopakodowo Market is quite ideal, a lot bigger than where they were,” he said.

    Ayorinde said the aim of the government was to ensure that the area of the market conformed with the type of image that it wanted the state to be.

    “It is to return sanity to the place, to beautify the market and construct a world class bus terminus around the place.

    “We also believe the exercise will largely reduce the gridlock that is associated with that area and the criminalities that were rampant in Oshodi.

    “What we have done is in the interest of the generality of residents,” he said.

    Also speaking, the Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Babatunde Adejare, who was present during the demolition exercise, said the Owonifari market had become a den of notorious criminals.

    “I was present during the demolition, the traders had removed their goods; there was only one shop where we met goods and the goods are with us,” he said.

    The Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr. Muslim Folami said a bunker was discovered in the market during the demolition.

  • Yuletide: Lagos warns against use of fireworks, reckless driving

    Yuletide: Lagos warns against use of fireworks, reckless driving

    The Lagos State Government Tuesday warned residents against the use of fireworks popularly known as ‘Biscoe and Banger”’, just as it reiterated the readiness of government to enforce the order preventing the use of the device in the state.

    Briefing journalists at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa Secretariat, Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Seye Oladejo, said the need to caution residents was due to the potential hazard of the device to the people and the environment.

    He recalled the December 26, 2012 fire outbreak caused by storage of fireworks in Lagos Island which led to loss of lives and properties worth millions of naira.

    He said the danger associated with the dropping of cigarette tubs or fireworks indiscriminately, especially at this period of harmattan pose a great challenge which could lead to fire outbreak.

    Oladejo who briefed journalists alongside his counterpart in the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde and other heads of agencies, also reassured residents of the readiness of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration to ensure the yuletide season is devoid of traffic gridlock and criminal activities across the metropolis.

    He said the government was concerned about the menace which petrol tankers and other articulated vehicles have become on Lagos roads, as well as the incessant fire incidents and needless road traffic and accidents which have led to loss of lives and properties.

    To this end, he said the state government has put adequate measures in place to ensure that residents go about their activities with much ease during the festive period including total enforcement of the traffic and safety laws.

    “It is not enough to have safety regulations; they must be enforced and complied with to prevent avoidable loss of lives, properties and injuries.

    “As a government which cares about the safety of lives and properties, nothing short of strict adherence to safety rules will be acceptable, relevant provisions of the law will be applied against erring individuals and organizations,” he said.

    Oladejo also urged residents to be vigilant especially when in a large gathering such as religious programmes, carnivals, clubs, event centres and restaurant,  however assuring that the state remains safe and secure for people living an doing business in the state.

    “The State Government is coming out fully to implement all these laws through our relevant government agencies and the security operatives such as the Nigeria Police, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), Task Force on Environmental and Special Offence, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Neighbourhood watch by assisting the government in apprehending defaulters of these laws and be prosecuted accordingly,” he said.

     

     

  • Ebola: Lagos rejects Sierra Leone AFCON tie

    Ebola: Lagos rejects Sierra Leone AFCON tie

    Lagos State Government has withdrew from the hosting of  an African Nations Cup qualifier between Sierra Leone and African champions Cote d’Ivoire slated for Sunday because of concerns over the Ebola scourge.

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) agreed to stage the match after the Sierra Leoneans were banned from hosting international matches because of Ebola, africanFootball.com reports.

    The NFF accordingly received a clearance from the ministry of health for the game to be played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

    “Lagos government is not comfortable for the match to be played in Lagos. The government doesn’t want to take risks. The officials argued that they have lost a lot of money and top personalities on account of the Ebola scourge,” africanFootball.com quoted a Lagos-based sports editor as saying on the matter.

    “So, Lagos will not stage the match between Sierra Leone and Cote d’Ivoire.”

    There are now strong indications the match will now be played in Port Harcourt after the NFF opened discussions with the Rivers State Government.

    “They have opened talks with the Rivers State Government for the match to now be played in Port Harcourt,” an official said.

  • Ebola: FG approves N200m for Lagos

    Ebola: FG approves N200m for Lagos

    The Federal Government has approved the release of N200 million to the Lagos State government towards assisting the government to contain the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

    The Minister of the Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu , disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday.

    He said that the decision by President Goodluck Jonathan to assist the Lagos State government was in line with the commitment of the administration to tackle the Ebola disease and halt its further spread to other parts of the country.

    Chukwu also disclosed that the United States’ government in support of Federal Government’s efforts to check spread of Ebola virus has donated 30 body scanners.

    The scanners that will measure temperature of travellers moving in and out of the country, he said, will soon be deployed to major entry points across the country.

    He said: “Mr. President has approved the release N200 million to Lagos State government as FG’s direct support to the state government’s efforts to fight Ebola virus. Also, the US government has announced the donation of 30 body scanners for measuring temperature to be deployed to points of entry and exist in the country.”

    “As at today Nigeria has had 12 cases of Ebola which include the index case, the Liberian American, Patrick Sawyer and 11 Nigerians who were primary contacts with the one index case. Of this 12, the total number of successful cases who have been discharged stands at five but the number of deaths including the index case stands at five dead.

    “The latest death occurred Tuesday evening and that is the death of the most senior doctor, senior consultant/physician/endrocologist at First Consultant Hospital Lagos, Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh.”

    “Regrettably she lost her life to Ebola virus. Of course she contacted the disease from the Liberian-American who exported the disease to Nigeria.

    “Indeed she had to physically restrain this infected person from escaping from hospital when the later attempted to do so having been communicated that he was Ebola positive.”

     

  • Change of counsel stalls hearing in suit against Lagos government

    Change of counsel on Friday stalled hearing in a suit filed by a community in Badagry, Lagos, seeking N100 billion compensation from the state government over alleged demolition of houses.
    The Atinporome Community is demanding the sum from the state government and some others, which allegedly demolished 1,500 houses in the community.
    24 landlords led by Mr. Charles Adu filed the suit on behalf the community, before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
    The Inspector-General of Police, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Commander of Area `K’ Police Command, Ministry of Police Affairs and Lagos State Task Force on Environment are defendants in the suit.
    The others are the Lagos State Ministry of Physical and Urban Planning, Lagos State Lands Bureau, Attorney-General of Lagos State and Attorney- General of the Federation.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that substantive hearing was to begin in the case on Friday but the new Counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr. Declan Kemdrimi, prayed the court for more time to study the court processes.
    Consequently, Justice Ibrahim Buba adjourned the case till February 10 for hearing.
    In the originating summons, the community asked the court to declare that the fundamental rights of the landlords and 72 other members of the community were violated by their indiscriminate arrest, torture and detention by the defendants.
    It also sought a declaration that the defendants forcefully demolished its members’ property on December 16 and December 17, 2013.
    The community equally sought an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the defendants and their agents from arresting, intimidating, detaining or disturbing its members.