…Cautions against spreading of unverified news on social media
The Lagos State Government on Thursday denied the unsubstantiated claims being circulated in some sections of the media and on social media of its involvement in the fire incident that took place in Otodo Gbame Community in Lekki area of the State last Wednesday.
The State Government specifically punctured media reports suggesting that it authorized the burning down of the community, saying that the allegation was far from the truth.
The State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, in a statement, said the State Government shared in the painful loss of the residents but explained that from Police reports and evaluation by the government, the waterfront community was razed by the fire incident that happened as a result of the ethic clash that occurred between the Egun and Yoruba residents within the community.
Ayorinde said while the Police succeeded in bringing to a halt the deadly clashes which occurred as a result of continued disagreement over tolling and other sundry issues, the large part of the shanties had already been torched and razed down before the combined team of fire brigade and emergency rescue officers got to the scene on the night of Wednesday, November 9th.
“It is therefore unfortunate that a few aggrieved persons and fifth columnists will choose to blame the government and law enforcement officers that rose to the occasion in ensuring that the clashes did not degenerate further and more importantly that the arson did not spread into Lekki Phase 1,” Ayorinde said.
The Commissioner said while the Otodo Gbame shanties clearly fell within the prime waterfront areas where Lagos State Government would prefer to have better development, befitting of a prime area in a mega city, it was mindful of the fundamental rights of the various residents living in the area.
According to Ayorinde, while government was not unaware of the legal tussle over the areas and the rights of citizens to stage peaceful protests, relevant agencies of government had since been deployed to provide succor and lessen the pains of the displaced people.
The statement warned both local and foreign individuals or groups that may be using the unfortunate incident to perpetrate wrong and unfounded information to desist from taking advantage of an unfortunate development and the plight of the former residents of Otodo Gbame, adding that the State Government would not be blackmailed with cheap, sensational interjections from the onerous task of better securing Lagos, improving on urban development and looking after the infrastructural needs of all residents.
The Commissioner also urged the people of the State to refrain from any act that could threaten the peace of their areas and pledged that government would continue to ensure the safety of lives and property and promote peaceful coexistence needed for speedy development of the State.
Similarly, the State Government has also urged residents especially users of social media as a source of news and social interaction to be mindful of the source of their information to avoid spreading false and unsubstantiated materials.
Ayorinde said a case at hand is the alleged brutalization and killing of a 7-year-old pilferer that reportedly happened at a certain location in Lagos being circulated on social media.
According to the Commissioner, the Lagos State Police command has duly issued a statement questioning the authenticity of the story while asking for eye witnesses or anyone with verifiable information to come forward with information as the Police continue with their investigation.
“While we condemn in its entirety every form of crime and jungle justice, it is important to plead caution whenever a human life is involved. So far, there is no indication that the dastardly act being peddled on social media happened anywhere in Lagos State or that it is a recent case.
“The Police have promised to carry out further checks and will welcome every useful information, but available information at the moment does not suggest that such killing happened last Saturday at either Orile-Iganmu or Badagry. There is no any corpse that fits the description in any area being touted; just as the location of anyone with useful information to corroborate the sad tale being peddled cannot be established,” he said.
Tag: Lagos State government
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Lagos denies demolishing Otodo Gbame community
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Lagos to adopt Boston model to tackle environmental challenges
…State Open to new innovation, says Ambode
The Lagos State Government on Thursday unveiled plans to adopt the Boston model to clean up the State Waterways and tackle other environmental issues confronting the State.
State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode disclosed this shortly after series of meetings with the Mayor of Boston, Marty Walsh and the Executive Director of Massachusetts Water Resources Authority in the United States of America.
At the meeting, Mr. Levy recalled the Boston Waterways and sewage crises and explained to the Governor and his team on how the government worked hard for years to clean up the harbour as well to provide clean portable water to the people of Boston.
Governor Ambode who was later hosted by the Mayor of Boston, Marty Walsh, where he held discussions on a Sister-City Collaboration with Boston, equally discussed areas for mutual economic partnership between Lagos and Boston.
The Mayor described Governor Ambode’s visit as a homecoming recalling that the Governor was, earlier in his career, a Fulbright Scholar at the Boston University and also worked in the State Treasury Department.
The Mayor and his team identified areas of mutual interest with Lagos and pushed for collaboration with both cities considering the numerous similarities they share.
Governor Ambode, on his part, said that the knowledge and experience he gained from Boston helped shape his career and benefited him in his position as Governor.
He pledged to explore areas where Lagos could partner with Boston, especially in the clean-up of the Lagos waterways. Governor shared insights into the investment opportunities available in Lagos, stating that Lagos is the prime destination for investments in Nigeria.
In a related development, Governor Ambode in a meeting with senior officials of the MIT Faculty and the MIT Africa Initiative in Cambridge, Boston Massachusetts, confirmed that the State Government has entered into a partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for the use of innovation and technology to tackle the challenges facing Lagos State.
Governor Ambode informed the MIT Team that Lagos is the technology hub of Africa with Yaba now globally acclaimed as a hotspot for start-ups, assuring that the MIT that his government would continually work to create an environment where new businesses will thrive as well support more tech hubs in Lagos.
He said, “We are Africa’s largest market and we represent a huge opportunity for businesses with solutions that can match our ambitions. Lagos is open to new ideas. Lagos is open for business. Lagos is open for innovation. We welcome new and different perspectives. That is why we are here at MIT. We hope to gain more partners as we continue with the business of making sure that Nigeria and Africa succeeds.”
The Lagos State delegation to MIT including Governor Ambode, Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, the Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare and the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure, Engineer Ade Akinsanya, were received by the Provost for International Activities, Professor Richard Lester, Faculty Director Legatum Center, Professor Fiona Murray and Executive Director of the Abdul Latif Jameel World and Food Security (JWAFS), Renee Robins.
Governor Ambode and his team also met with the MIT Africa MD, Julia Reynolds-Cuellar and the Director MIT Regional Entrepreneurship and Acceleration Program (REAP) Team on Africa, Sarah-Jane Maxted.
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N25bn ETF: Lagos targets 100,000 entrepreneurs by 2019
…Fund will impact on the lives of Lagosians – Commissioner
The Lagos State Government on Monday said that it has set a target to utilize the N25billion Employment Trust Fund to provide financial support to over 100,000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) within the next three years.Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Mr. Akintunde Oyebode, who spoke while briefing journalists at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre said the fund, was in line with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s vision to create employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for all Lagosians.
Acknowledging the fact that Lagosians are eagerly awaiting the commencement of the fund, especially with the challenging economic recession, the Executive Secretary said the Board set up to manage the funds had spent the last few months perfecting strategies and addressing grey areas ahead of the commencement of the disbursement of the funds later this year.
Explaining further, he said the Board of Trustees embarked on several strategy sessions to define the mission, vision, core values and strategic framework to guide the Fund’s activities.
“After the completion of the research exercise, the Board working with its appointed consultants developed a strategic framework articulating the goals of the Board, the key interventions designed to enhance job creation, and the supporting infrastructure needed to deliver the set goals. This exercise has now been concluded and approved by the Lagos State Executive Council,” he said.
Highlighting some of the framework for the disbursement, Oyebode said the fund would provide loans to MSMEs at a single digit interest rates per annum, while training and capacity building and technical support would be provided to drive growth and job creation.
“The businesses we support must demonstrate capacity to repay our loans; be owned by Lagos residents duly registered by the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA); show evidence of tax payments to the Lagos Inland Revenue Service (LIRS); and have valid Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs). In addition to our MSME financing schemes, we will also train unemployed residents to either take up identified jobs or run their businesses,” he said.
Oyebode added that in adherence with Section 6 of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund Law of 2016, the Board has forwarded the Operating Guidelines outlining the proposed interventions and eligibility criteria for approval by the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Oyebode expressed optimism that the fund would have multiplier effect with the capacity to create 300,000 direct and 600,000 indirect jobs while about 200,000 new tax payers would be added to the State’s tax net.
He said that the LSETF Board, in order to ensure sustainability of the Fund, has set its target to raise a minimum of N25 billion from domestic and international donors, in addition to the N25billion already committed by the State Government.
“Once the pilot phase is completed, we will roll-out our loan schemes in all 57 LGAs and LCDAs across Lagos State. The full rollout will see us visit all LGAs to hold stakeholder sessions, where our staff will educate applicants on the application process, and the eligibility criteria for our various schemes. We are also in the process of setting up liaison offices in 20 LGAs, to bring the Fund’s activities closer to the people, and increase our points of representation to serve Lagos residents,” he said.
Corroborating him, Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Dr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti said Governor Ambode’s administration was committed to ensuring the fund impacts on the lives of Lagosians.
He lauded the plan by the LSETF Board to set up offices in 20 Local Governments in the State, saying that it would go a long way to ensuring that no area is marginalized.
“It is important that this process has taken considerable time, we need to make it work and also ensure that it is to the benefit of all Lagosians,” Durosinmi-Etti said.
Adding his voice, Chairman, House Committee on Wealth Creation and Employment, Hon. Sola Giwa, assured that members of the House would give the Operational Guidelines of the fund expeditious passage.
“This is one of the pivotal promises of Governor Ambode and I can assure you that the House would do its best to ensure that we do it right,” Giwa said.
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Lagos clarifies demolition of illegal structures, shanties
Lagos State Government on Tuesday clarified its decision to demolish illegal structures and shanties erected along the river banks and under high tension cables across the State, citing security concerns and flagrant abuse of its building regulations as its core reasons.
Addressing journalists at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, the State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said that the move was in line with government’s pursuit of its policy on cleaner environment and restoration of master plans through the removal of all environmental infractions and nuisances across the state.
He said over time, the Government had noted with dismay, the flagrant disobedience of building regulations in the State, hence its decision to go ahead with the enforcement of structures in contravention of the Law.
Ayorinde, who was joined at the press briefing by his counterparts in the Ministry of Housing, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal, Ministry of the Environment, Mr. Babatunde Adejare and top officials from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, said the State Government would not go back on its resolve to establish zero tolerance for all structures and properties built under high tension cables.
“It is quite worrisome that ramshackle structures, sheds, canopies and shanties, especially along shorelines have turned to the abode of miscreants/street urchins, kidnappers, touts, street traders and hawkers who often vandalise public utilities and attack innocent citizens.
“The State’s Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2010, prohibits erecting structures within the Right of Ways and set backs of drainage channels, centre-line of over-head electricity wires and also states in very clear terms specified distance to be observed between a Property line and a public utility”, he said.
Ayorinde said after the Security Council Meeting of September, a directive went out to the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABCA) and the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to take inventory of all the houses and buildings along the river banks in the riverine areas of the state to among other things, ascertain whether set backs were adhered to in line with stipulated regulations.
“So you would see that nothing is being done and nothing will be done in Lagos State as far as demolition of illegal structures are concerned without due considerations to the extant laws of the state and without adequately engaging with the communities and the people involved as demonstrated by what the Governor did in Illubirin to give them more time to move inspite of the repeated warnings and notices that were being served.
“Yes we would be considerate to the plight of those considered as urban poor, but we will also not allow their situation to jeopardize the safety and security of more than 21 million residents of the state. This is the reason why this is being carried out and this is the reason why government will not succumb to cheap blackmail,” Ayorinde said.
Explaining further, the Commissioner said most of the buildings marked for demolition did not comply with the required setback as stipulated, saying that such could have fatal consequences in the wake of an incident.
Giving a background to the demolition of shanties on the Illubirin waterfront, Commissioner for Housing, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, said the occupants were evicted and their shanties demolished because they were illegal settlers in the area.
He recalled that the Illubirin Housing project started about ten years ago under the administration of former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu with the reclamation of the Lagoon, while the fishermen who were there at that time were resettled at Badore.
He said after the reclamation, the housing units started in 2013 and it was initially designed to accommodate 1,254 housing units, while the scheme was reviewed and redesigned by the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to make the place a live, work and play environment, with the partnership of a private investor.
According to Lawal, the illegal settlers moved into Illubirin waterfront during the process of redesigning the scheme, adding that the private investor had perfected plans to move to site, and is committing about $500 million into the scheme.
On his part, Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, said adequate notices and sensitisation have been embarked upon by the State Government to educate the people on the need to refrain from constructing any structure on river banks, saying that the safety of about 22 million residents of the State cannot be allowed to be jeopardised by few.
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Lagos reiterates commitment to tackle violence against women
Lagos State Government has said that it will not rest on its oars until it eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence against women in the state.
State Commissioner for Women Affairs and poverty alleviation, Mrs. Lola Akande, made the remark Tuesday while addressing journalist on the forth coming Ewuro project in Alausa.
Akande said the government will collaborate with Ewuro project, using arts, drama, music and poetry to engage the audience and reawaken the minds of Nigerians to the true plight of the Nigerian women.
According to her, “Cases of discrimination, persecution and violence against women in Nigeria is rampant to the point of becoming seen as norm. The gender in Nigeria report of 2012 records that most 15-24 years old women interviewed in rural Nigeria think it is reasonable for a husband to beat his wife if she burns the food refuses sex or goes out without permission.
She explained that the performance is slated for 16th to 18th of December adding that subsequent town hall meetings will hold across the various communities to further carry out the performance and drive home the message to the rural dwellers.
“Ewuro is the Yoruba representation of the popular bitter leaf and we all know
how the bitter leaf taste when first consumed, this depicts the current plight of many of our women”Akande said the decision of the ministry to partner with the project was hinge on the fact that it focuses on its vision of continually engaging in productive conversations about the plight and welfare of women and alleviation of poverty.
“One of the major highlights of this project is that we will be supporting selected not for profit organisation that area at the forefront of empowering women who have been or are still being rehabilitated from the wounds and pains of domestic violence and discrimination.”
She also call for support from international community, corporate Nigeria, well-meaning individuals, religious organisation among others to work with government to achieve collective objective.
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Special Grant Bill: Lagos deserves special status – Ambode
…Commends Senator Tinubu
The Lagos State Government has commended the distinguished Senator representing Lagos Central Constituency, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, for pushing the need for Lagos State to be recognized and rewarded with a Special Status and Grant into the forefront of national discourse even if the import of that request is lost on a number of her colleagues.The State Government said in a release signed on Thursday by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, that history would remember Senator Tinubu kindly for her thoughtfulness and courage in promoting the bill that sought a special recognition for Lagos State as the commercial capital of Nigeria as well as one per cent of federally generated revenue in view of its socio-economic importance to the entire country.
The statement quoted Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as saying that without prejudice to the decision of the Senate to stand down the bill, Senator’s Tinubu’s informed position and push will remain an important contribution as well as a reference point in the national economic discourse.
“At a time that our country needs courageous voices that seek solutions that can benefit millions of Nigerians irrespective of where they are from, what the distinguished Senator Oluremi Tinubu has done is to draw attention to how Lagos State can provide more succour to Nigerians being the home to the largest assemblage of Nigerians. She has drawn attention to how Lagos deserves to be assisted so that the state can further provide assistance to millions of Nigerians. It is a pity that this import was not seen from that perspective by the majority of her colleagues,” the statement quoted Governor Ambode as saying.
It stated that in spite of the set-back the bill suffered on Wednesday, the fact remains that Lagos State has always played a special role to Nigerians as individuals and to the country as a whole.
” The truth of the matter is that as the most populous Nigerian state and the commercial heart-beat of the entire West Africa; a state that would have been the fifth largest economy in Africa if it were an independent country, Nigeria needs Lagos in order for other parts of the country to continue to benefit from Lagos.
“A special status and a special grant are fair requests that would have encouraged and rewarded Lagos State for what it contributes to the federal purse. A yes for the bill would have provided an opportunity to truly reflate the economy and empower Lagos State in serving as home to more than 21 million Nigerians and as hub to the largest volume of businesses and foreign direct investments in Nigeria. But clearly, a spectacular opportunity has been missed by ignoring this important bill.”
The statement quoted Governor Ambode as adding that in spite of the rejection of the bill, Lagos State would continue to be special and will not be deterred in continuing to play the important role of serving as a conducive and secure home for Lagosians as well as local and international visitors where opportunities are limitless and lives and property are safe.
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Lagos records 50.4 per cent in WASSCE
The Lagos State Government said its investment in education has yielded dividend as the state’s public schools recorded a 50.41 per cent pass in the 2016 result of the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate (WASSCE).
The result represents the best performance of the state in the examination since 2007.
Mr Adesina Odeyemi, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, said this in a statement on Friday in Lagos.According to the statement, a breakdown of the result obtained from the examination body revealed that out of the 44,108 candidates who sat for the examination, 22,233, representing 50.41 per cent, got credits in a minimum of five subjects, including Mathematics and English.
“This is a major improvement on the result of 2015 which saw 15,542 students, representing 37.27 per cent, obtaining credits in at least five subjects, including English and Mathematics, out of the 45,991 who sat for the examination.“A total of 24,069, representing 54.57 per cent, got credits in a minimum of five subjects, including Mathematics and 27,885 candidates, representing 63.22 per cent, got credits in a minimum of five subjects, including English.
The permanent secretary said this was a very commendable result when compared to the statistics obtained in 2015.
“A total of 18,094 students out of 41,697, representing 43.39 per cent, recorded credit passes in at least five subjects, including Maths and 20,731 students, representing 49.71 per cent, in five subjects including English respectively in 2015.
“Also, 22,524 candidates, representing 53.33 per cent candidates got four credits including Mathematics and English; while 25,999 candidates representing 58.94 per cent got four credits including Mathematics.
“30,635 candidates, representing 69.45 per cent, got four credits, including English.
“This is a direct reflection of the investment of government in training and welfare of its staff.
“For instance, 300 Mathematics teachers were trained on effective classroom delivery of the subject at a cost of N4.5M, while 100 Physics teachers were also trained on the same class delivery of subjects”.Adesina recalled that the state government had in 2015 organised a Mock Examination for the students as part of efforts to groom them ahead of WASSCE.
“The result of the mock examination showed that 41.06 per cent of the students obtained credits in five subjects, including Mathematics and English, a feat that encouraged the government to pay the sum of N561, 346,100 for the 2016 WASSCE,” he said.
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Edo poll: Ambode not in Edo state – Ayorinde
The Lagos State Government on Wednesday dismissed allegations made by the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu alleging that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and his Kaduna State counterpart, Mallam Nasir El Rufai were in Edo State for the election.
In a statement signed by the State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, the government described the allegations by the PDP candidate as reckless and disgraceful.
Ayorinde while clarifying the position of the Government said Governor Ambode was presently overseas for an official assignment and in any case had no business being in Edo State on Election Day.
“The Lagos State Governor served as the chairman Campaign Council constituted by the All Progressives Congress and his duty ended 24 hours before the election because no campaign was supposed to hold 24 hours to the election and having completed his assignment which included appearing with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Grand Rally in Edo State earlier in the month, Governor Ambode has no reason to return to Edo State on election day and for this sort of lie to have been peddled by a candidate who is supposed to be a pastor, is reckless and disgraceful.
Ayorinde said Governor Ambode had clearly enumerated his position on the election during the Grand Finale of the campaign when he said that like Lagos where continuity has moved perfectly well, Edo State also deserves continuity in governance.
“That message has been passed and has been accepted by majority of Edo indigenes and therefore there would not be any need for the Governor to return to Edo on Election Day. The general public and security operatives are hereby advised to ignore the desperate lies of Pastor Ize-Iyamu,” Ayorinde said.
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Lagos signs MoU with AWIEF to empower women entrepreneurs
Lagos State Government on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with African Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) expected to facilitate the process of ensuring that women entrepreneurs have access to $300 million fund to boost their businesses.
The State’s Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade, who disclosed this to journalists Tuesday at a media briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, said the $300 million is a women’s Economic Empowerment Fund set aside by African Development Bank (AFDB) for empowering African women.
Ashade said, “Lagos Women Economic Empowerment Initiative (LAGOSWEEIN) is an initiative designed for the women of Lagos state for the purpose of ensuring entrepreneurial capacity building, business skills upgrade and preparedness as well as to facilitate access to finance and other services within the framework of affirmative Finance Action.
“Today’s signing of partnership agreement is a milestone between Lagos State and AWIEF and all women in the state. This partnership is reaching a major step in line with Governor Ambode agenda for women in the state, towards their strategic economic empowerment.”
The commissioner further explained that the other partnership highlights include training, business coaching and technology transfer of the women through a detailed standard operating procedure.
He assured that the state government will honour its own part of the agreement which is to pay as and when due invoices presented by AWIEF based on mutually agreed budget.
The commissioner noted that exploring the collaborative opportunity in the state to derive maximum benefits for women-owned businesses is indeed a great opportunity for the entire state as it guarantees business and social development, financial freedom for Lagos women among many others.
Also speaking, the founder of AWIEF, Irene Ochem commended the state government for partnering with her organisation in empowering women.
According to her, the biggest challenge women entrepreneur faces is access to fund, which also informed why AFDB came up with opportunities for women to have access to finance.
“We are very passionate about women empowerment and partnering with Lagos with the largest business women is a worthy one.”
Ochem pointed out that the fund is for every business women with no restriction of sectors, adding that the partnership is important as it would be about training and capacity building.Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rhoda Michaels Fashion Academy, Mrs. Agbeyo Rhoda, expressed concerns about the large number of creative youths in Nigeria yet to put their talents into good use.
She encouraged all the students to be part of the initiative, saying, “If all can be part of this, it will in no doubt grow the economy of this country”.
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Lagos seeks caution on use of hijab in public schools
The Lagos State Government has called for caution by all parties as it relates to the interpretation of the Appeal Court ruling over the use of hijab by female Muslim students in the State’s public primary and secondary schools, advising that the relative religious peace enjoyed in the State should not be sacrificed on the altar of religion.
A statement issued on Tuesday by the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, stated that it was misleading and an attempt to misrepresent the general public that the right to wear hijab has been granted in Lagos State-owned public schools when the appeal process has not been exhausted.
The statement emphasized that while it is an indisputable fact that the Court of Appeal in its judgment of 21st July, 2016 upturned the judgment of the High Court of Lagos State, which had inter alia ruled that the use of hijab is not part of the school uniform in public primary and secondary schools in Lagos State and the rights of the Applicants under Sections 38 and 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended has not been violated, the State Government had since appealed the ruling of the Appeal Court to the Supreme Court.
According to the statement “It is not in dispute that the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division on 21st of July, 2016 upturned the judgment of the High Court of Lagos State which had inter alia ruled that the use of hijab is not part of school uniform in public primary and secondary school in Lagos State and the rights of the Applicants under Sections 38 and 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended has not been violated.”
‘’Just as the Applicants counsel exercised the constitutional right of appeal by appealing against the judgment, the state government has also appealed against the judgment of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court,” the statement concluded.
The statement added that it was the position of the State Government that the issues that arose from the judgment of the Court of Appeal touches on the interpretation of the provisions of the Constitution and it is for the purposes of clarity that the Notice of Appeal together with the Motion on Notice for injunction pending appeal were served on the counsel to the applicants.
It therefore enjoined all those involved to allow the legal process to take its course on the matter and await the determination of the appeal lodged at the Supreme Court emphasizing that it was in the best interest of all parties and jurisprudence that the matter be given final interpretation by the Supreme Court.
The State Government however acknowledged the position of the Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria and other segments of the Muslim community while urging understanding and restraint on their part, pending a final determination of the matter in the Supreme Court.