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Tag: Lagos State government

  • Lagos objects to suit on lottery, gaming regulation

    Lagos objects to suit on lottery, gaming regulation

    Lagos State Government Thursday urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to dismiss a suit challenging its powers to regulate lottery and gaming business.

    It said the court lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate on the issue as it bordered on taxation.

    The state said only the Lagos State High Court has jurisdiction to adjudicate issues relating to taxation of businesses operating in the state.

    Arguing a preliminary objection, state counsel Mr O. K. Akerele said Lagos reserved the right to tax lottery and gaming businesses.

    “The suit as presently constituted is outside the jurisdictional issues my lord can entertain. We urge my lord to strike out the matter,” he said.

    The plaintiff, Mobile Lottery Nigeria Limited, is praying the court to hold that the state lacks powers to regulate lottery operations.

    Its counsel Mark Anata said only the Federal Government through the National Lottery Commission can register and regulate lottery businesses.

    Anata said despite being issued an operating license by the Federal Government through the commission, officials of the Lagos State Government had been obstructing its operations through various demands on the basis of the Lagos State Lottery Law of 2004.

    The plaintiff is, therefore, challenging the state’s powers to enact laws on lottery regulation, adding that such matters are covered by Item 62 (A) of the Exclusive Legislative List of the 1999 Constitution.

    According to Anata, the court has jurisdiction to entertain the suit since it involves a federal agency.

    Replying on points of law, Akerele said state High Courts were not precluded from interpreting constitutional issues.

    Justice Babs Kuewumi adjourned till January 30 next year for ruling.

  • Lagos trains adult teachers

    The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to improving adult literacy rate from 87 to 95 per cent by 2019.

    The Director, Agency for Mass Education in Lagos State, Mrs Oluwakemi Kalesanwo, said this during the opening ceremony of the Training of Facilitators for Adult Learners (Batch 2) last Friday at the LCCI building, Alausa.

    Mrs Kalesanwo said Governor Akinwumi Ambode was passionate about the adult literacy rate in Lagos, so, he gave a mandate to reduce illiteracy.

    “For us to do that, we will have to train about 1,000 facilitators who will in turn open 1,000 new literacy centres to add to the existing ones that we have, which is about 575. So, in January, we trained 250 facilitators that was the first batch. Today, we are training the second batch, which is another 250, who will keep on increasing the literacy rate so eventually we will meet up our target,” she said.

    Mrs Kalesanwo reiterated that the programme is free for the learners. A minimum of 25 learners are expected to be trained in each literacy centre. She said the minimum education to qualify the facilitators is the Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE).

    The Special Adviser on Education, Mr Obafela Bank-Olemoh, urged the agency and the media to monitor the new facilitators to ensure they do their work.

    “The work of Agency of Mass Education is to monitor these facilitators.  We have a director who is focused on this; they do it 24/7,” he said, imploring the media to let the government know areas they are not doing well.

    The facilitators are to write their reports monthly while the coordinators of Mass Education assess them with those reports.

     

  • Lagos restates commitment to rights of girl-child

    Lagos restates commitment to rights of girl-child

    Lagos State Government has restated its commitment to the promotion and defence of the rights of the girl-child.

    Director of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs Clara Adenike Mustapha made this known at this year’s celebration of the International Day of the Girl-Child, organised by Teenseed Foundation, Ladder and Hope Inspired Foundation at the American Corner, CcHub, Yaba, Lagos.

    Mrs. Mustapha said the government, while acknowledging the vulnerable place of the girl-child would continue to defend the rights of the girl-child and meet with stiff penalties any predators that would violate and abuse them.

    As part of the government’s continued innovative support for the plight of the girl-child, Mrs. Mustapha said the state has established a specialised hospital for women and the girl-child, urging them to avail themselves of the facility.

    “In acknowledgement of the fact that many women and girls usually preferred to be attended to by women medical personnel, the Lagos State Government have established a medical centre for women. It does not have only medical personnel; there are also counsellors, psychologists and others. They are available to give you quality advice on any issues, even those you can’t even discuss with your parents,” Mrs Mustapha said.

    Speaking on this year’s theme “The Power of the Adolescent Girl: Vision 2020, Mrs Mustapha said each adolescent girl has the potential to be great asset to her generation, adding that each of them must be willing to internalise and personalise all the 16 SDGs, as they hold the key to a credible life.

    Earlier, the founder, Hope Inspired Foundation, Miss Ejiro Okotie, said the idea behind the celebration was to remind the girl-child of the potential inherent in them, adding that her organisation has been busy going from school to school, building the capacity of the girls to be the best they could.

    Miss Okotie, a 33-year-old visually-impaired woman, said the idea behind the celebration was to celebrate the uniqueness of the girl-child; especially the adolescent, and make them to realise that they can break the glass ceiling and the stereotypes capable of holding them down.

    Miss Precious Ozemeya, founder Ladder, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) involved in gathering data on adolescents and teenagers for all-inclusive governance, said with appropriate data that include all classes of the society; including all those with physical disabilities.

    Miss Ozemeya, who started her organisation earlier this year, said the lack of data has hampered a robust development of programmes that could benefit the disabled and vulnerable adolescents, especially the girl-child, adding that Ladder is out to bridge the gap.

    Founder, Teens Economic and Social Development (Teenseed) Foundation Mrs Oge Ezeokoli who described the girl-child as the backbone of the society, said the essence of the celebration was to bring all adolescent school girls together to share ideas on the challenges they all face as girls in the society and how they have been able to overcome them.

    “The idea is to inspire others to learn from the challenges and problems of others to avoid falling into the same pitfalls,” she said.

    Mrs Ezeokoli praised all schools who attended the programme for giving their best, even as she challenged the girls to look beyond their fear, challenge stereotypes, and face their studies, adding that education is the tool against oppression, poverty and backwardness.

    Earlier Miss Fortoumata Zebro and Queen of Nigeria World (2017/2018), Miss Chidera Ugwueze, urged the girls to resist peer pressure, shun drugs, and be determined to succeed.

    Miss Zebro, who came from Burkina Faso, said: “Success and failure are no respecter of any gender. To succeed, you must dream, but much more, you must work extra hard on your dream. I want you all to remember, you cannot feature in a future you cannot envision.”

    Among schools that attended the event were Queens College, which came with its Special Children Centre, Layole College, and eight others.

    There were poetry presentations, short speeches, and sign language recitation of the National Anthem, among others.

  • Evans, others re-arraigned on amended charge

    Evans, others re-arraigned on amended charge

    Lagos state government Thursday re-arraigned notorious and billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, a.k.a. Evans, before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court for alleged kidnapping of one Dunu Donatus.

    In the amended charge, the defendants are again facing a two count charge offence bordering on conspiracy and kidnapping against them.

    Evans and co-defendants changed their guilty plea to not guilty after the amended charge was read to them.

    Evans was re-arraigned alongside five other suspected members of his gang which included a woman, Ogechi Uchechukwu, the third defendant.

    Others are  Uche Amadi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Chukwunonso Aduba, second, fourth, fifth and sixth defendants respectively.

    They have been in Police custody since June 10.

    In the former charge, the defendants were charged under Sections 411 and 271(3) Criminal Law Cap C17 Laws of Lagos State 2015.

    Count one in the amended charge bordered on “Conspiracy to commit a felony to wit kidnapping contrary to Section 411, Kidnapping Criminal Law. Cap C17, Laws of Lagos State 2015”.

    The second count bordered primarily on “Kidnapping contrary to Section 2(1) of the Kidnapping Prohibition Law, No 13, Laws of Lagos State 2017”.

    According to the particulars of the offence, the defendants were alleged to have “conspired to commit a felony to wit Kidnapping” on February 14, 2017 at about 7.45 p.m. along Obokun Street, Ilupeju, Lagos.

    They were also alleged to have sometimes between February 14 and April 12, 2017 along same street in Ilupeju “while armed with guns and other weapons capture and detain one Dunu Donatus against his will and collected a ransom of Euros 223,000.

    Unlike the State Criminal Law 2015 which prescribed 21 years for convicts, the Kidnapping Prohibition Law, No 13, Laws of Lagos State 2017 prescribed death sentence if victims die in the custody of kidnappers.

    At resumed proceedings yesterday, the prosecution led by the Director, Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), Titilayo Shitta-Bey informed the court that they have filed an amended charge against the defendants and served their counsels.

    Shitta-Bey said they were ready to commence trial.

    But the defence counsels opposed the prosecution saying that the prosecution served them the amended charge only yesterday morninh in court.

    They prayed the court for adjournment to enable them confer with their clients and response to the amended charge.

    They also told the court that they all have different applications pending before court which they argued will be overtaken by events if trial should commence.

    The counsel to first and second defendants was Olukoya Ogungbeje, that of third defendant was Joseph Otogblu, Olanrewaju Ajanaku for the fourth defendants, A.A. Ozogbu for the fifth defendant while the sixth defendant was represented by Emmanuel Ochai.

    However, counsel to fourth defendant, Olanrewaju Ajanaku differed and said he was ready for trial.

    But the DPP in her response opposed the defence counsels.

    Shitta-Bey urged the court to allow the charges to be read and for the defendants to take their fresh plea.

    According to her, there was no material change in the nature of the charge against the defendants.

    “The particulars of the offence are the same. Only the law in count two that deals with punishment of the offence is changed.

    “The application for adjournment by the defence counsels before plea is taken is calculated to derail trial before the court”, she argued.

    At this stage, Justice Oshodi stood the matter down for 45minutes to enable counsels confer with defendants.

    On resumption, the court conducted a house screening of the various applications of defence counsels after which they were all struck out.

    After this, all the defence counsels urged the court for adjournment to enable them respond to the amended charge served on them in court Thursday.

    Justice Oshodi, citing section 36 of the Constitution granted their prayer and adjourned the matter till November 3 for trial.

     

  • NPS endorses plea bargain for inmates – Lagos Controller

    NPS endorses plea bargain for inmates – Lagos Controller

    The Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) would cooperate with the Lagos State Government on its adoption of plea bargain to reduce prison congestion, state Controller of Prisons, Tunde Ladipo, has said.

    Ladipo told the NAN on Friday that the NPS was ready to partner with stakeholders in the legal sector on the initiative.

    The controller spoke to NAN on the side line of a musical concert for inmates of Kirikiri Prisons in Lagos.
    “The NPS is ever ready to partner with the government and stakeholders on the initiative as part of ongoing prison reforms.

    The plea bargain initiative by Lagos State Government aims to decongest the prisons in the state, “ Ladipo said.
    He said that a team of lawyers from Lagos State Ministry of Justice had visited all the prisons in the state to sensitise inmates on the availability of the plea bargain option for inmates facing criminal trials.

    Ladipo thanked the Lagos State Government for its commitment towards prison decongestion.

    NAN reports that Lagos State Attorney General, Adeniji Kazeem, last month urged stakeholders in the legal sector to embrace ‘Plea and Sentence Bargain’ when presiding over litigations for prison decongestion.

    Launching the Plea Bargain Manual in Lagos, Kazeem urged the judicial sector to embrace it to decongest prisons, considering the length of time awaiting trial inmates remained in prison custody due to lengthy court proceedings.

    “My hope is that the formal presentation of this manual would trigger a change of attitude from our “don’t plead guilty” approach even in the face of overwhelming evidence against the defendant.

    “This would go a long way in decongesting not only the courts but also the prisons which are already groaning under the burden of the population in their care.”

    He lamented that though the plea bargain theory had been part of the criminal justice system for over a decade in Lagos State, yet it’s applicability has been poorly utilized by lawyers. (NAN)

  • Lagos boat mishap: Police arrest crew members

    Lagos boat mishap: Police arrest crew members

    Managing Director of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Mr Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, has disclosed that the crew members of the ill-fated SEALINK Boat that capsized on Tuesday at Oworonshoki end of Third Mainland Bridge area of the Lagos State have already been taken into police custody as the investigation is still ongoing.

    Emmanuel, who confirmed the mishap in a statement, said that 19 persons were rescued alive by the agency, while one of the passengers on board the boat was unfortunately lost.

    The passenger boat identified as SEALINK was said to be travelling from Ikorodu to CMS when the incident occurred at about 9:30 am in Oworonshoki after hitting a submerged object.

    While confirming the incident, Emmanuel said the 19 persons rescued have already been taken to Ebute Ero Jetty from where they were transferred to the hospital, while further investigations on the cause of the accident were still ongoing.

                   Related: One die, 19 rescued in Lagos boat mishap

    He said: “A passenger boat named SEALINK with 20 passengers and two crew onboard coming from Ikorodu to CMS ran over a submerged wooden boat close to Third Mainland Bridge. 19 passengers were carried to safety to Ebute Ero Jetty.

    “The LASWA emergency response team recovered a female body (identified as a police officer attached to Zone Two police station) and handed over the corpse to the Marine Police. Her husband is an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

    “The submerged SEALINK Boat has been salvaged and towed to a secure location off the waterways. Salvaging Operations is also taking place to get the submerged wooden boat off the navigable channel,” the LASWA boss said.

    While commiserating with the family of the deceased, Emmanuel assured that the State Government would not relent in coming up with policies and programmes aimed at ensuring safety on the waterways.

  • NAICOM, others to lead discussions at NAIPCO 2017 conference

    NAICOM, others to lead discussions at NAIPCO 2017 conference

    The National Insurance Commission ( NAICOM ), National Pension Commission ( PenCom ) and Lagos State Government are to lead discussions on burning industry issues at the Insurance and Pension Correspondents 2017 Conference on Oct. 25.

    The National Association of Insurance and Pension Correspondents ( NAIPCO ), which disclosed this in a statement signed by its President, Mrs Omobola Tolu-Kusimo, said the conference would be held in Lagos.

    Tolu-Kusimo said that the theme of the conference would be “Legislation of Pensions, Intrigues, Interest, Governance and the People”.

    She said that the keynote address at the conference would be delivered by the Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode.

    The NAIPCO president said that solutions would be proffered to challenges facing the sector to enhance its contributions to economic growth.

    “The stakeholders will discuss legislations in the sectors and impact on Nigerians at large.

    “An investor and Industrialist, Chief Dele Fajemirokun, will chair the occasion, while the Iyaloja of Lagos, Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, is expected to lead the market women and traders to the conference.

    “The 3-in-1 event will also accommodate the launch of the Association’s Quarterly Journal named “NAIPCO Trumpet”, and awards for deserving legendaries in the insurance and pension sectors.

    “At the event, 21 individuals and companies have been slated for awards for their outstanding services and performance,” Tolu-Kusimo said.

    She said that the lead paper of the conference on  “Insurance Legislation: Beyond Lawmaking” would be delivered by the Managing Director, Leadway Assurance Ltd., Mr Oye Hassan-Odukale.

    “Another paper on ‘Insurance Consumption: The Apathy and Unknown Secret,’ will be delivered by the Deputy Commissioner, NAICOM, Mr Sunday Olorundare Thomas.

    “The Director General, Lagos State Pensions Commission (LASPEC), Mrs. Folashade Onanuga, will speak on ‘Boosting Customer Service Relations between Insurance and Pension Operators’.

    “A paper titled: ‘An Overview of Pension Administration in Nigeria’, is expected to be delivered by the Chairman, Pension Funds Operators’ Association of Nigeria (PenOp), Mr Lounge Eguarekhide,” the NAIPCO president said.

    NAN

  • Why all states should copy Lagos State ‘Ready Set Work’

    The first time I heard about the Lagos State Government ‘Ready Set Work (RSW)’ initiative, I felt reluctant to go ahead with the application because of the negative mentality that is attached to all government related programmes, slow, ineffective and most times a complete waste of time.

    How wrong was I! RSW is a super brilliant initiative which the Lagos state Government, courtesy of Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, has pioneered. It is the exact opposite of everything bad most government programmes are renowned for. The 13-week initiative created for select final year students drawn from higher institutions of learning across Lagos State is designed to impart the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to fit into the workplace and become successful entrepreneurs in their chosen fields.

    The initiative was set up on the premise that an overwhelming percentage of graduates are half baked and not fit materials for the workplace. While they learn the relevant academic knowledge needed to obtain their various degrees, they lack the requisite skills to excel in the workplace. To this end, the RSW initiative was designed to plug this gap through a carefully put together syllabus which takes into account different topics and practicals which are focused on preparing graduates for the workplace. Some of the skills taught include communication, pitching, goal setting, CV and cover letter writing, relationship management among others.

    The structure at RSW constantly helps the participants to think positively, think outside the box and move out of their comfort zone. It helps participants to discover themselves and identify their areas of strengths and weaknesses so as to become better people. Participants are trained to make the best of every opportunity they have with a ‘DIE THERE’ and the ‘never slam a door, close the door gently in life’ mentality. In addition, they are made to understand that their backgrounds have nothing to do with their future, rather should be propellant to build a brighter and better future.

    This initiative leaves participants beyond having a paradigm shift; the initiative causes a seismic shift in thinking and attitude – from learning a new dress sense, how to address people, and being punctual, to renewing their self-confidence and self-discipline.

    There is a constant push to always be a better person and to always be in tune with the developments around the world so as to be prepared to take on the weekly global challenge and assignments. The initiative is laced with confidence-boosting pep talks delivered in the simplest possible way by renowned experts and industry leaders who are rare to come by and highly sought after.

    I cannot help but think of the unbelievable impact that will be achieved if the remaining 35 states can adopt the RSW initiative. It would massively scale up the grooming of graduates across the country. Clichés like “We have untrained graduates” will quickly become a thing of the past. I can boldly state that within the next 10 years Nigeria will be unstoppable in every aspect as the leaders of tomorrow will be adequately equipped with all the necessary skills to take on the challenges of tomorrow – ready to build a better Nigeria and a better world.

    I feel very privileged to have been a part of this programme. As I graduate from the programme three weeks from now, I will be leaving as a different person, empowered and ready to take on the future. Sacrificing 13 weeks to go through this programme has proven to be worth it. I look forward to Saturdays now more than ever. I am excited about learning new things, ready to learn from another industry leader who will be giving us another inspirational Pep talk. I look forward to seeing my friends from the six participating schools (LASU, LASPOTECH, LASCOHET, MOCPED, AOCOED, UNILAG) and our facilitators who are always there for us. Aside nourishing our minds, RSW also never fails to nourish our body with a variety of dishes provided weekly which include The Nigerian Jollof. I also look forward to one of our favourite facilitators, Mayokun Aduwo who constantly reminds me with her actions that even though I am a woman, I am LIMITLESS.

    Indeed, Ready Set Work is a complete deviation from the disappointment associated with government related programmes. The success of the initiative which is already in its second year makes it a relevant model for other states to emulate across the country. I look forward to I and my colleagues having our names in the history books of Nigeria and eventually being among the men and women who built Nigeria like we say in RSW.

    • Mobola Akintola, a participant in the second edition of the Lagos State ‘Ready Set Work’ initiative, is a Final Year student of the Department of Psychology, University of Lagos.

     

  • Lagos takes over UBEC-funded school

    The Lagos State government has taken possession of a boarding school facility in Agunfoye, Igbogbo area of Ikorodu.

    The school was built and equipped by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Abuja to serve as a boarding secondary school for girls, and handed over to Lagos State to run.

    The school, now called Girls Junior Model College, Agunfoye, has buildings for classrooms, ICT laboratory, dining room and hostels, all equipped with requisite facilities to function, including classroom/ICT/dining hall furniture, bunks, mattresses, fans, and the like.

    Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr Adesina Odeyemi, who inspected the school last week with senior officials of the ministry to assess the facilities in readiness for resumption, was told eight teachers had resumed at the school and 21 parents had visited to make enquiries about admission.

    Though the hostels, which have eight rooms each, have been equipped with bunk beds to accommodate 256 pupils (16 per room), the officials observed that the rooms could not accommodate 16 pupils each as it would leave little or no room for movement.

    The Permanent Secretary also noted that the ceiling fans should be replaced with wall fans to avoid injury to pupils, who sleep on the top bunk.  He said about 100 pupils would be admitted as pioneer pupils.  However, a list of admitted pupils pasted close to the school gate had 119 names on it.

  • Lagos offers hope, opportunities, says don

    Lagos offers hope, opportunities, says don

    Lagosians have been advised to support Lagos State government’s efforts in redefining the state’s social and business environment.

    The advice was given by Mr Rasheed Ojikutu, a Professor of Statistics and Dean, Faculty of Business Administration, the University of Lagos.

    He said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had proved that he was a dependable hand for the transformation of the state.

    He revealed that Lagos remains the melting-pot of cultures and traditions of the Nigerian nation, noting that it is a principal state in Nigeria which Africa and the world is proud of.

    The don noted that the state’s socio-demographic indicators are magnets to investors and key world leaders, noting that with the spatial endowment, the state remains one of the largest human settlements in the world after Mumbai and Tokyo.

    “It is a community full of hopes and opportunities for all and sundry. But we must always be conscious of the fact that this can only be sustained on the platform of peace, concord and harmony among the plural ethnic nationalities residing in the state.

    “There should not be deliberate effort to undermine the well-being and welfare of the natives because doing so could engender discontent and unhappiness which would, in turn, have negative effect on the life of the people. I wish to counsel that the natives should not be side-lined in the midst of this abundance.

    “It is not uncommon in large urban centres such as Lagos for the majority who are usually migrants to “swallow” the natives and render them economically and politically prostrate. This attitude, if not checked could pose grave danger to peaceful co-existence either now or in the foreseeable future,” he said.

    He said: “In the next 10 years, I hope to be part of a Lagos where peace and concord would continue to reign among all residents of the state, irrespective of nationality, race or creed. It is within such an amiable environment that investments thrive.

    “Sincerely, the fortunes of Lagos have improved since the advent of democracy in 1999 and I do hope that the next generation of leaders would do all within its powers to increase and improve on these advantages. Look at the extensive achievements of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode within two years. It shows the potential that abound in Lagos in terms of human and other resources. These resources should be harnessed for the well-being of its inhabitants.

    “I wish to see a Lagos that grows to become one of the best states in the world in terms of its economy, politics and social life of its people. A Lagos that would become the pride of Africa,” he said.