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Tag: Lagos State government

  • Lagos handles 4,035 rape, child abuse cases in one year

    Lagos handles 4,035 rape, child abuse cases in one year

    The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said in the last one year it handled a total of 4, 035 cases ranging from rape, child abuse, sexual assault, sexual abuse, defilement, divorce, matrimonial issues and child’s custody and maintenance, just as it vowed not to shy away from prosecuting perpetrators of domestic violence crime no matter how highly placed in the society.

    The State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, who disclosed this during a press briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa on the activities of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) in the last one year, said government, through the agency, equally handled a total of 192 cases.

    Out of the 192 cases, Kazeem said the government handled 89 domestic violence cases, 62 defilement cases, 18 rape cases, 6 attempted rape, 10 child neglect and 7 child abuse cases, while 92 cases are presently being heard in court.

    Kazeem said that the State Government under the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has a zero tolerance for issues relating to domestic violence and child abuse and would not relent until the scourge is reduced to the barest minimum.

    He said agencies of government, including DSVRT, Office of Public Defender (OPD) and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), among others, have been mandated to ensure that while perpetrators of the act are brought to justice, victims of domestic violence are given succor towards their rehabilitation.

    “As regards provision of shelter for victims, the Ministries of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and Youth and Social Development as well as strategic partners NGOs have played key roles in ensuring that victims were evacuated to a safer environment of shelter homes.

    “All the victims of sexual assault received medical attention from Mirabel Centre and State Hospitals, and so far, 50 of such cases were charged to court,” he said.

    He said the essence of the press briefing today aside giving account of efforts of the State Government in the one year, it was also a means to send a strong message across that the government would not relent until the scourge is completely stamped out.

    “As we all know the issues of gender violence, violence against children and all forms of inhuman treatment against the less privileged has been a very critical issue for Governor Ambode. Right from when he was sworn in, he had said that this issue was going to be something he would pursue with passion and diligence. He has since then given support to the DSVRT, OPD and all other related agencies including the Police Force to fight this scourge in other that it should be eliminated.

    “Let me sound a note of warning here that no matter how highly placed you are in the society, if you commit any domestic violence crime, Lagos State will go after you and prosecute you in court,” the Attorney General said.

    He assured that the State Government would continue to build on its recent efforts and step up its campaign efforts to put the issue of domestic violence on the front burner.

    To this end, he said the DSVRT would on Friday, June 3, hold a free clinic for victims of domestic violence, rape at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat, while they can seek counselling with trained professionals via their hotline on 08137960048.

     

     

  • Lagos, investors sign N844bn MoU on 4th Mainland Bridge

    Lagos, investors sign N844bn MoU on 4th Mainland Bridge

    The Lagos State Government and a consortium of private investors Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to signal the commencement of the construction of the 38km 4th Mainland Bridge, expected to gulp about N844bn.

    The bridge is being constructed under the Build, Own and Transfer (BOT), concession of 40 years under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative of the State Government.

    The consortiums to handle different stages of the mega project are Visible Asset Limited, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Hi-tech Construction Limited, J.P. Morgan, Eldorado Nigeria Limited, Nigerian Westminster Dredging and Marine, Africa Finance Corporation, AFC and Access Bank.

    The Bridge, among others would accommodate cyclists and pedestrians and feature two service areas as well as additional pedestrian crossing.

    The Bridge would also accommodate three Toll Plazas which are still being tested from financial point of view and it would serve as a major boost to the actualisation of the Lekki Master Plan.

    State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode who spoke at the signing of the MoU held at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Ikeja, said that the need for the bridge had become imperative following the phenomenal growth of the State with a population of over 21 million people, which has in turn increased commercial activities and traffic gridlock across the metropolis.

    “This has made it imperative for us to have a 4th Mainland Bridge that will serve as an alternative route to the Eastern axis and decongest traffic in the State.

    “More importantly this bridge will provide the required transportation compliment to the rapidly growing industrial activities on the Eti-Osa – Lekki – Epe corridor of the State,” he said.

    He said the proposed alignment of the Bridge will pass through Lekki, Langbasa and Baiyeiku towns along the shoreline of the Lagos Lagoon estuaries, further running through Igbogbo River Basin and crossing the Lagos Lagoon estuaries to Itamaga Area in Ikorodu.

    The governor said the alignment will also cross through the Itoikin road and the Ikorodu – Sagamu Road to connect Isawo inward Lagos Ibadan Expressway at Ojodu Berger axis.

    He said the Bridge would be made up of eight interchanges to facilitate effective inter-connectivity between different parts of the State.

    “This structure will be a four-lane dual carriageway with each comprising three lanes and two metres hard shoulder on each side. The bridge will be constructed to have a generous median to allow for both future carriageway expansion and light rail facility. There is no gainsaying the fact that huge benefits will be derived from this project but most importantly, make life more comfortable for Lagosians,” he said.

    According to the governor, the Bridge testifies to the confidence the partners in the project have in the State Government and the Nigerian economy.

    Expressing optimism that the project would be delivered on a Win-Win framework for all investors, the governor said for the first time in the history of the State, the Government was embarking on the construction of a long-span bridge and expressway without Federal funding as the project is to be solely funded by the private sector.

    “I am delighted that this project which has been on the drawing board for quite some time is now set to become a reality. This again, is the continuity with improvement which we promised Lagosians.

    “We have started the process with the signing of this MoU which is an expression of the commitment of major stakeholders including the government and the consortium of consultants and investors to the delivery of the project within the scheduled time frame,” the Governor said.

    The project is to be financed by Africa Finance Corporation, Access Bank and other private investors who have already signified intention to be part of the construction, while Visible Assets Limited would be the coordinating firm.

    In his remarks, Executive Chairman of Visible Assets Limited, Mr. Idowu Iluyomade, said the project would go a long way to reduce traffic gridlock in the State and would provide job opportunities for Lagosians.

    He said aside improving the quality of life of the people, the Bridge would also be a big asset that would be handed to the Lagos State Government at the end of the concession, assuring that it would be delivered on schedule.

    Earlier, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ganiyu Johnson said that the Bridge when completed would utilise state of the art tolling system that will ensure free flow of traffic.

  • Lagos remits N64 Billion as CPS into workers accounts

    Lagos remits N64 Billion as CPS into workers accounts

    Lagos State Government has said it has remitted N64 billion as Contributory Pension Scheme, (CPS) into workers retirement savings account since the inception of the scheme.

    State Commissioner for Establishments Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Oke, who disclosed this Thursday while addressing journalists in Alausa, said government regularly deducted 7.5% from the salaries of staff and corresponding 7.5% by the State Government into the Retirement Savings Accounts maintained by them with their appointed Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).

    According to him, “as at March, 2016, these deductions have cumulatively risen to N64 billion approximately since the inception of the scheme in 2007. Also, since the commencement of the Retirement Benefit Bond Certificate Presentation in 2010 to over 10,000 retirees/ deceased/withdrawn staff, the State Government has paid accrued pension rights of about N48.08 billion.”

    Oke also explained the government had reduced drastically the backlog of terminal entitlements of retirees, saying that between August 2015 and April 2016, the government, through the Lagos State Pension Commission, LASPEC paid the sum of N13.701 billion into the Retirement Savings Account (RSA) of 3,069 retirees.

    He said 1,294 of the retirees were from the Local Government and while the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB had745; Teachers Establishment Pension Office, TEPO, 731 while the mainstream service had 299 retirees.

    The commissioner said the state Governor, Mr.  Akinwunmi Ambode, had directed that outstanding pension payment of three years arrears on the 142% pension increase as approved by the administration of former Governor Bola Tinubu be paid with immediate effect, adding that the 6% and 15% pension increments over the years were paid.

    According to him, the sum of N2.03 billion was paid as pensions between May 2015 and April 2016, adding that in November 2015, Civil Service Pensions Office facilitated and completed the payment of severance, pensions and gratuity to 73 disengaged staff of the defunct Eko Today which amounted to N37.17 billion.

    Oke further revealed that Ambode had approved the release of the sum of N1.5 billion intervention fund for the payment of outstanding gratuities and pension arrears to Local Government retirees, including the balance of 142% pension arrears amounting to N 1.77 billion, saying that the payments would be effected as soon as the verification exercise was conducted.

     

  • 600km roads, 366 locations lit up across Lagos – Commissioner

    600km roads, 366 locations lit up across Lagos – Commissioner

    The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said that so far, about 600km network of roads and streets in 366 locations across the State has been lit up under the ‘Light Up Lagos’ project initiated by the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration in the last one year.

    The State’s Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Olawale Oluwo, who disclosed this at the ongoing Ministerial Press Briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, said the project has seen the lighting up of major areas of the State including the Third Mainland Bridge, Ikeja and environs, Berger to Iyana Oworo axis, Muritala Muhammed Airport Road, Oshodi axis amongst others.

    Oluwo said that in a bid to ensure the sustainability of the project, the State Government has fine-tuned plans to engage 54 private firms, who would be saddled with the responsibility of managing the streetlights going forward.

    He explained that most of the street lights are connected to the five Independent Power Plants (IPP) in Lagos State namely; Akute Power Limited, Alausa Power Limited, Mainland Power Limited, Island Power Limited and Lekki Peninsular Power Limited, which, he said, saves the State Government significant cost that would have been incurred on operating and maintaining generating sets.

    “The saved resources are now being channeled to lighting up more locations within the State under the operation “Light up Lagos” initiative of the present administration,” he said.

    During the period under review, the Commissioner also said that the State Electricity Board rehabilitated Public Street Lighting in the 366 locations including the rehabilitation and connection of part of the Third- Mainland Bridge to the Island Power Plant all measuring close to 600km of Roads and Streets across the State.

    He said that Governor Ambode has also given approval for the electrification of the 37 rural communities around Seme Border, adding that some streetlights hitherto managed by the federal agencies and local governments had been taken over by the State Government.

    Oluwo however used the occasion to warn against destruction of streetlights pole and cables by the residents, saying whoever damages any street lights would bear the cost of re-fixing them.

    Following the discovery of crude oil in the state by the Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum Company, the Commissioner said that the State has established Ibile Oil and Gas to manage oil related issues, assuring that Lagos will be a bigger business hub with the development as more employment would be created.

    Oluwo said: “What this means is that we have own company that will not run like NNPC. Our own Ibile Oil and Gas will operate in upstream, midstream and downstream sector. It will not only be involved in exploration but is also going to probably build its own petrol station.

    “We must be able to give Lagos Energy security such that if anything happens outside or NNPC shuts down operation, we must be able to power Lagos on energy basis. That is what Ibile Oil and Gas Company of Lagos is all about. We are interested in the future such that we can put Lagos in the position of having its own bloc. That is for the federal government to determine.”

    Harping on the achievements in the power sector, the commissioner said that apart from aggressive installation of streetlights in all the nook and crannies of the state, the ministry has embarked on rural electrification and installation of solar power systems for Schools and Public Health Centers (PHCs) which have, in turn, improved the night economy, security, and tourism development.

    On procurement of electricity transformers, Oluwo said that the ministry installed 49 transformers at various communities in Lagos, adding that a total of 19 500KVA, 11KV/33KV transformers were procured and installed in Palmgroove, Gbagada and Alimosho Estates.

    “The second phase of our community electrification intervention plan is the reconnection of 32 communities in the Apa, Owode, Seme Border area of Badagry which had been cut off from the national grid for the past 16 years,” Oluwo said.

  • Lagos refunds N50m to 2015 Hajj Pilgrims

    Lagos refunds N50m to 2015 Hajj Pilgrims

    Lagos State Government Thursday said it has commenced the process of refunding the sum of N50 million to the year 2015 hajj pilgrims for services not rendered during the exercise.

    The State’s Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef who disclosed this at the ongoing ministerial press briefing to herald Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s one year in office, explained that the fund was returned to the State Government by the Federal Government.

    According to him, the Muslim Pilgrims Board has almost completed the refund of N16, 000 (Sixteen thousand naira) to each of the 3,047 Pilgrims who participated in the Year 2015 Pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina.

    While soliciting support for the developmental initiatives of the present administration anchored on peaceful coexistence and religious tolerance among residents, AbdulLateef emphasized that the state government under the leadership of Governor Ambode has no plan to license religious preachers as its being alleged in some quarters.

    He noted that an atmosphere of peace and tranquility is the bedrock for any sustainable societal growth and development in a cosmopolitan City like Lagos, saying that is why the state government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, is promoting peaceful, harmonious relationship among the diverse religious groups in the state.

    The commissioner said government will ensure sustenance of peaceful co-existence among residents irrespective of their ethnic and religious persuasion.

    Abdulateef added that the Ministry has continued to operate a multi-prong approach strategy which includes a mix of public enlightenment campaign, sensitization and advocacy programmes against hate preaching and religious intolerance, some of which are already being implemented.

    “Studies have established that most religious crises are ignited by unguarded preaching of hate messages by some overzealous religious leaders. Our Ministry has therefore, adopted a very strong stand against such messages.

    “Through constant advocacy, we hope to stop this unhealthy practice by appealing to the leadership of the various faiths using all related established platforms,” he said.

  • Jermaine Jackson for Lagos Jazz Concert

    Jermaine Jackson for Lagos Jazz Concert

    • Plans Music Academy in Lagos

    Jermaine Jackson, co-lead singer of global music brand, Jackson 5 and elder brother of the late king of pop, Michael Jackson, on Friday confirmed readiness to participate in the star-studded Jazz concert being put together by the Lagos State Government in commemoration of the 2016 International Jazz Day.
    The concert, which is to be hosted by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, will hold at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja on Saturday, April 30 by 5pm.
    Jermaine, who confirmed his readiness to participate in the festival during a press conference held at the Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, said he would be at the festival to support the government and an array of international and local artists who would be performing.
    Jermaine, who is in Nigeria as part of activities marking the Jackson Golden Africa Tour, also disclosed plans by the Jackson 5 to establish a music academy in Nigeria to nurture and prepare the talents in Africa for the global market.
    He said: “It’s been 50 years for the Jacksons and we are bringing a team together of people who can produce a concert. I like coming here because I have a lot of questions. I was just in China and I learnt that the first dynasty that started in China came from Africa here and I had a professor in China to tell me this.
    “That made me very proud and the world needs to know this because in our history books in America, they don’t put this there; they don’t want us to know this, but when you travel and you have the opportunity to see things for yourself, you will realize that the history books were written by someone else and it is their version and their interpretation of what happened which is usually not the truth.
    “We are going to give you a nice compilation of songs that you know and I am just very honoured to be here because we have been kept away from you because of the politics and we are not interested in such politics because we are people who care about people. We need to have a closer relationship with African-American and the rest of Africa because we have been separated for long and we can reach out to do other things.
    “There are lots of great talents here and we want to use our 50 years experience of being in the business to teach the arts. We have in our plans to establish the Jackson Academy Performing Art School and the school will have a curriculum and also will teach music, directing, film, lightening, producing, dancing and so on. We want to get the talents here ready for the global market and I do believe that the drums and the beat started from here,” Jermaine said.
    Earlier, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, who received Jermaine and his entourage alongside the Special Adviser to the Governor on Oversees Affairs and Investment, Professor Ademola Abass and other senior officials of the Ministry, expressed delight to receive the visitors to the state.
    Ayorinde added that the visit of the Jacksons to Nigeria in commemoration of the 50 years anniversary coincided with preparations by the Lagos State Government to mark the 50 years anniversary of the state in 2017, and welcomed collaboration with the Jacksons in that regard.

  • Lagos State to Landlords; ‘pay your land use charge or face seal off’

    Lagos State to Landlords; ‘pay your land use charge or face seal off’

    Lagos state government has warned residents to comply with payment of their annual land use charge in order to avoid their property being sealed off by the government.

    State commissioner for Finance, Mr. Mustapha Akinkunmi, gave the warning yesterday while briefing journalist at the Baguda Kaltho press centre Alausa.

     

    Akinkunmi also warns against the harassment of any government officials by any resident in the course of carrying out their official duties, saying that payment of Land use charge is a requirement of the law and property tax defaulters are liable to be prosecuted in court.

     

    He explained that the land use charge was established by law number 11 in 2001 so as to have a harmonious collection of property taxes in lagos state.

     

    According to him, property owners are expected to pay the charge annually, noting that many property owners have been defaulting in the payment of the charge in the state.

     

    Akinkunmi who revealed that the state government raked in N7.1 billion in 2014 and N6.0 billion in 2015 said government officials have started distributing the bills to property owners.

     

    Akinkunmi said, “Payment are expected to be made within 30 days from

    the date of bill delivery. Failure to do this means penalties begin to accrue from the 45th day after bill deliver and rise further afterwards. It is therefore in citizens interest to pay as soon as bills are delivered.

     

    “Payment of Land Use Charge is a requirement of law and property tax defaulters will have their properties sealed and are liable to be prosecuted in court.”

     

    The commissioner who warned against abuse or harassment of a government official by the residents in the course of carrying out their duties said,” The full wrath of the law will be invoked on any resident who assault a Lagos State official in this regard. If a resident suspect that a person is impersonating a Lagos State official, please report them to the office Finance, Ministry of Finance or to the police.”

     

    Akinkunmi urged residents who have newly acquired properties to upgrade their records at the local Land Use Charge offices in the state.

  • LASG to construct additional pedestrian bridge at Ojota

    LASG to construct additional pedestrian bridge at Ojota

    The Lagos State Government on Thursday said it would construct an additional footbridge at Ojota bus-stop on Ikorodu Road to complement the existing one following the upsurge in its usage.

    The state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, said in a statement that the decision arose out of the need to reduce the long time pedestrians using the bridge were now spending on queue.

    He said the construction of the additional bridge had become necessary after the newly erected New Jersey Wall on the median of the expressway.

    Ayorinde said that this had effectively curtailed indiscriminate dropping and picking of passengers along the highway as well as dangerous crossing of the road by commuters.

    He reiterated that the need for the construction of the wall, which was similar to the measure taken between Ketu and Mile 12 axis of the road, was meant to reduce fatalities on the part of commuters crossing the highway.

    Ayorinde said it was erected to also reduce the traffic gridlock caused by commercial buses and motorcycles engaging in indiscriminate dropping and picking of passengers.

    He commended the orderly conduct of commuters in the usage of the bridge and  urged them to be patient with government until the new one was constructed.

    Ayorinde said that the project was expected to be delivered within three months and would accommodate the special needs of the physically-challenged for their ease of movement.

  • Educationist urges introduction of fees in Lagos public schools

    An educationist, Mrs Adebola Lawal, on Thursday urged the Lagos State Government to introduce schools fees in public schools in the state to place value on education.

    Lawal told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the low level of seriousness among public school students in Lagos could be attributed to the fact that the students were not paying fees.

    She said that the attitude of parents did not help matters as they hardly monitored their wards’ academic performance nor visited the schools when needed.

    According to her, the state government has done so much for public schools by even paying fees for external examinations for public primary and secondary schools students.

    Lawal said that all these efforts of government were not being appreciated as students were often times begged to sit for external examinations paid for by government.

    “Despite government’s effort in providing the infrastructure for free, standard and quality education, parents and students are not taking advantage of the opportunities.

    “The students derive joy in playing truancy even when in school and being taught; they are busy playing watching pornography on their phones.

    “We have warned students not to bring phones to schools and when such phones are seized, you see parents coming to harass teachers in school,’’ she said.

    According to her, parents are at fault because they do not monitor their children’s performance in the school.

    “When parents are invited for Parents Teachers Forum you will only see teachers and very few parents at the meeting.

    “But if their phones are seized or the child is punished, you will see the parent coming to make trouble in school,’’ she said.

    Lawal said that parents would be serious and monitor their wards’ performance in school if government introduced school fees.

    “They will want to reap the fruit of the money invested on their children,’’ she said.

  • Lagos bans sponsorship of pilgrims to Mecca, Jerusalem

    Lagos bans sponsorship of pilgrims to Mecca, Jerusalem

    Lagos State Government Thursday said it will no longer sponsor Muslims or Christians pilgrims who embark on pilgrimages to Mecca in Saudi Arabia or Jerusalem in Israel, saying it was not a responsible way to spend tax payers’ money.

    Commissioner for Home Affairs in the State, Hon. Abdulateef Abdulhakeem, who disclosed this when members of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Home Affairs, led by Hon. Olayiwola Olawale, paid a visit to the ministry in furtherance of their oversight function, said the government decided to ban the sponsorship because it amounts to injustice for certain individuals to continue to benefit from the government to the detriment of other numerous members of the society.

    Abdulhakeem said, “Part of our mandate is the supervision of the Pilgrims Welfare Board. Recently the governor and the state executive council approved a policy for the state to stop sponsorship of pilgrimages and that is line with the policy thrust of the government and what the State House of Assembly also speaks to.

    “In this day and time when we are talking about paucity of funds coupled with inhibiting challenges that the government has to take care of. We can no-longer afford to spend the sum of one million on one single individual to go on pilgrimage when the scripture did not compel anyone to do so.

    “So it is most irresponsible way of spending tax payer’s money. That is why the government has taken a solid decision that we will be accountable and responsible for every kobo that the tax payers pay to the government. It is an injustice for the government to be spending millions on group of people when millions of Lagosians are yearning for government’s attention.”

    He said state government has commenced the process of gathering data of religious organizations and their locations in the state to be able to set standards give orientation and provide security for them.

    According to him, there is a symbiotic relationship between the executive and the legislative arms of government in the state, while thanking the Assembly for the quick passage of the 2016 Budget.

    “Your resolution is a compulsion it is not advisory. Even your motion that Mile 12 Market should be relocated to another area is being considered by the state government. The Ministry of Home Affairs has been restructured and some of its duties have been given to other MDAs.

    Responding to the development, Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Home Affairs, Hon. Olayiwola Olawale, said the decision was laudable, saying the Assembly was ready to back it with the necessary legislation.

    He said the visit of the committee to the ministry was homecoming, adding that the commissioner was a man of integrity and that the committee would work hand-in-hand with the ministry.