The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lagos State

  • Stop TB

    Stop TB

    •Though the Lagos burden is high, the grassroots focus to battle it is right

    Unfolding her latest push against tuberculosis in Lagos – the Stop TB Partnership — Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, medic and First Lady of Lagos State, came up with wake-up numbers that compel immediate action.

    But the good news: this latest anti-TB war hits the right place — the Lagos grassroots. It’s a deft incorporation of council chairs and spouses in the 20 original local government areas of Lagos State; and their peers in the 37 local council development areas (LCDAs), carved from the original 20, thus making 57 grassroots units in all.

    That is like warring against TB with well-tested “Generals” of the “home front” — to borrow a phrase made popular by the late Mrs. Maryam Babangida — with council chairs and spouses mobilised as model foster-parents: to guide, comfort, counsel and point treatment choices to nucleus families with the TB challenges. Just brilliant!

    TB patients in Lagos, from World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, number 18, 541, out of a total 479, 000 Nigerians being treated for the disease. That share — 3.8 per cent of the national burden — might not sound so alarming.

    Yet, that can change in a jiffy. TB is air-borne, it spreads fast in slums and Lagos has its own share of slums and ghettoes. Slums show poverty and squalor fuel TB. Over-crowded and badly ventilated housing spread TB like no other. Choked drains, uncleared wastes and polluted water sources drive other common diseases.

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    Many poor people live in slums. Hence, the imperative to at least radically improve basic health and good sanitation in these areas. Besides, since Lagos is Nigeria’s No. 1 opportunities centre, the more job-seeking Nigerians flock to Lagos, the more the chances of slums.

    Since these folks can’t afford better-serviced areas, better sanitation plans can make their environment at least livable, if not outright wholesome. That appears core to this “Stop TB” campaign.

    But its big promise is that municipal services, needed to improve slums, fall within the ambit of local government councils. With expected better funding — thanks to the new local government autonomy and direct cash transfers to the councils — Mrs. Sanwo-Olu’s latest TB initiative couldn’t have come at a better time.

    The social/environmental/support systems and the core medical intervention, needed to drive the initiative, could easily be accessed at the local precincts. Already, public hospitals and approved private ones offer free consultation and treatment for TB. The challenge facing this new plan is to integrate as many primary health centres as possible, into council’s consultation/counselling/ treatment hub.

    In the Lagos First Lady’s own words: “The role of chairmen, the female chairpersons and wives of our local government area chairmen is crucial as having grassroots advocacy, TB awareness initiatives, advocacy reforms and sustainable budgetary lines to be implemented, every year, to ensure realistic care planning for the community is put in plan from the onset.” 

    The plan also has components to fight TB stigma — which scares patients away from early detection and treatment — aside to debunk myths, weaving fibs around TB: beyond logical and traceable environmental factors, and a proven treatment regime, already free in Lagos public hospitals and approved private ones.

    So, setting up the Stop TB Partnership, with the TB Steering Committee, are to fuse development partners, implementing partners, collaborating partners, healthcare professionals, community and religious leaders, businesses domiciled in each of these council-communities, the market folks, the security agencies and lawmakers at state and federal levels — all well-woven into this anti-TB advocacy and treatment army.

    As the Lagos TB champion, the First Lady and the governor sit at the apex of the pan-Lagos family care. Under them are the council chairs and spouses, driving the “Stop TB” initiative, with other critical partners that the TB Sterling Committee has thrown up. 

    “Stop TB” looks promising, if it is well driven and effectively implemented. The family focus is especially alluring. But the campaign should try to draw as many as possible, in these communities, to join “Ilera Eko”, the Lagos Health Insurance scheme, using cooperatives and sundry community-based associations. 

    TB might be free, but all other common diseases — malaria, dysentery, diarrhoea, cholera, etc — are not. This TB campaign can be used to draw as many of the poorer folks as possible into the formal health care net. Lagos can only be healthier for it.

  • Red Line rail to commence full passenger operations on Tuesday

    Red Line rail to commence full passenger operations on Tuesday

    The Lagos State government has announced that the full passenger operations on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line will commence on Tuesday, 15th October, 2024.

    The Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Abimbola Akinajo, disclosed this on Friday, October 11.

    He stated that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will lead his executive council members and other dignitaries on the passenger operations launch and ride with commuters on the first fee-paying passenger trip.

    He added that the train services will commence daily from Agbado at 6.00 am.

    Akinajo’s disclosure was contained in a statement by the Head of Corporate Communication, Kolawole Ojelabi, on Friday, October 11.

    The statement reads: “Full passenger operations on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line will commence on Tuesday, 15th October 2024, Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Abimbola Akinajo affirmed today.

    “Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will lead his executive council members and other dignitaries on the passenger operations launch and ride with commuters on the first fee-paying passenger trip.

    “Earlier, Engr. Akinajo stated that train services will commence daily from Agbado at 6.00 am. Consequently, the schedule for the train service has been adjusted with passenger movement commencing from 6.00 am from Agbado. Before now, trips have emanated from Oyingbo at 9.00 am. The first train therefore got to Agbado at 10.07 am. The adjusted timetable foreshadows upcoming commercial passenger operations commencing on Tuesday, 15th October 2024.

    Read Also: Red Line rail ready for operations Thursday, Sanwo-Olu assures lagosians

    “Managing Director of LAMATA, Mrs. Abimbola Akinajo explained that the new timetable was the outcome of data gathered through the series of tests, including that for the non-fee-paying passengers. According to Engr. Akinajo, the new timetable gives priority to the origin trips from Agbado where riders live and work at Ikeja, Oshodi, and Lagos Island.

    “For passengers whose journeys terminate on Lagos Island, buses will be available at the Oyingbo bus terminal for them to complete their journeys.

    “It should be recalled that infrastructure for the Red Line was commissioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 29th February 2024. The Red Line’s first phase spanning 27 kilometres has eight stations at Oyingbo, Yaba, Mushin, Oshodi, Ikeja, Agege, lju, and Agbado.”

  • Lagos to go tough on scrap dealers

    Lagos to go tough on scrap dealers

    The Lagos State Government says it will go tough on scrap dealers (also known as iron condemn dealers) to curb their untoward activities in the state.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, said this while speaking with journalists, after the Quarterly Meeting with Paramilitary Agencies, in Ikeja.

    Salu-Hundeyin said that from grassroots information, there was the need to work on the scrap dealers, as some of them were agents who steal things across the state and sell them to people.

    “They steal some of the lighting on the bridges, the iron guards, the rail guards, and all that. We intend to look into all this.

    “Today, we talk about those stealing our manholes, which apart of the fact that it can cause accidents, it is hazardous to people driving or walking around. Anybody can fall inside, a car can fall inside, it can cause accident.

    “We are doing a lot about them. That is why we hold these meetings. These scrap dealers, we have been told today that a lot of them are being used for untoward activities, that they just pretend, they are the ones that go on the bridges and vandalise the lights.

    “They steal them, they now sell to some people. So, now that we know, though we knew before and we are doing something, but now it is been reinforced. I can assure you, give us some time,” she said.

    The SSG said that the issue of the use of pedestrian bridges was also discussed, as some people not using the bridges.

    “We discover that it is not really all the time that people are reluctant, but some other factors that caused it, like the fact that some of the pedestrians, particularly those that are covered by billboards are not safe.

    “People are afraid to use it because of some people who attack them. This, the state is going to be also discussed and look into,” she said.

    Salu-Hundeyin said that the issue of drug abuse among the youth was discussed and reports indicated that there was reduction of the menace in the state.

    She said that the issue of illegal immigrants coming into Nigeria, mostly through the porous ports that borders of Lagos State, was discussed and a lot of them having nothing doing.

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    The SSG said that even some coming in from states in Nigeria into Lagos State, don’t have anything doing and a lot of them get into various vices.

    “We are looking into that. We have all these as security issues, and all these issues we are looking into, so that we know what measures to take to combat this.

    “A lot of measures are already in place, and many more will be taken to ensure that all these issues are dealt with appropriately.

    “Governance is not just about the elites, it is not just about the middle class, it is about everybody that is resident in the state. That is why, under the THEMES+ agenda, the plus represents inclusivity, everybody is included. It is about everyone in Lagos State.

    “After this meeting, Lagos residents should expect a safer Lagos, a cleaner Lagos; a much more secured Lagos; and the Lagos where everybody can have better livability, this is the essence of the THEMES+ agenda of Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    “I can assure you, henceforth, you will see positive actions on the part of government. We have been doing a lot in these areas, but we are also appealing to Lagosians to help in these areas, because the issue of security is very important, and government cannot do it alone,” she said.

    Salu-Hundeyin appealed to the youth to desist from most of the vices they engaged in.

    “For example, the Lagos State Neighbourhood Watch is engaging 1,500 youths again, so we are creating job opportunities. The youth should also come in and take advantage, rather than going for these vices. This is our advice,” she said.

    (NAN)

  • Lagos urges compliance with laws guiding curriculum, crèche operations

    Lagos urges compliance with laws guiding curriculum, crèche operations

    Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, on Wednesday, met with private school owners below tertiary level to canvass compliance with existing and new federal and state laws guiding educational standards and operational practices.

    The meeting which was organized by the Lagos State Office of Education Quality Assurance, OEQA, at the instance of the Honourable Commissioner, took place at De Blue Roof of Lagos Television Ikeja and was attended by about three thousands school owners, proprietors  and some other key stakeholders in the education sector.

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     The Commissioner who emphasized adherence to federal and state laws guiding school curriculum and crèche operations informed that the new directive from the Federal Ministry of Education is that crèches should henceforth be operated solely on the ground floors of school buildings.

     He noted that the new safety regulation aims to prevent accidents, ensure the safety of young children during school hours and also aid quick evacuation during emergencies.

     Additionally, the Commissioner stressed the importance of implementing the new school curriculum introduced by the federal government in December 2023 by all school owners, stressing that the dictates of the new curriculum is binding on all schools in the country.

  • Lagos trains prospective retirees on proper documentation

    Lagos trains prospective retirees on proper documentation

    Soon-to-be retired workers of the Lagos State government have been admonished to get their documentation right before leaving office.

    Commissioner for Establishments and Training Afolabi Ayantayo spoke at a one-day Retirement Documentation Seminar to prepare prospective retirees, especially towards ensuring the prompt payment of their benefits.

    According to Ayantayo, the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration has shown commitment to the financial freedom of retirees by ensuring the monthly payment of retirement obligations.

    He said: “The government is dedicated to maintaining its leading role in the Nigerian Pension Industry by the prompt payment of pensions upon disengagement from the public service.

    “Thus, this Retirement Documentation Seminar, organised by the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC), is to prepare all prospective retirees for the imminent retirement process, and ensure the prompt payment of your benefits. Please ensure all pertinent documents are submitted by your MDAs, and your personnel files are accurate, as addressing these matters post-retirement may prove challenging…”

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    The Head of Service, Bode Agoro, described retirement as ‘the culmination of a dedicated journey, filled with hard work, commitment, and invaluable contributions to service, especially to the Lagos State Public Service’.

    Agoro thanked the prospective retirees for their ‘unwavering dedication and service throughout the years’, saying ‘your commitment has not only helped shaped the success of the state, but has also left a lasting impact on the lives of those you have served’.

    He added: “This seminar serves as a testament to our commitment to support you in this new chapter of your life. The Lagos State government understands the importance of proper documentation and planning as you embark on this journey. It is our responsibility to ensure that you are equipped with the necessary tools and resources to navigate through this transition seamlessly.

  • Lagos State govt charges auditors on digitalisation

    Lagos State govt charges auditors on digitalisation

    Internal auditors of the Lagos State government have been urged to embrace digitalisation to boost their skills and productivity.

    The Special Adviser, Office of Internal Audit (OIA), Dr. Oyeyemi Ayoola, gave the charge during the maiden interactive meeting organised by her office for the state internal auditors at Alausa, Ikeja.

    She said the event, titled: “Digital transformation of internal control systems: Harnessing IT for efficiency and compliance”, could not have come at a better time as the world has gone digital and the state government adopting Information Technology (IT) for its business to increase its revenue base tremendously.

    Ayoola noted that auditors have a critical role to play in the scheme of things and that more training in IT would enable them to be better in the provision of the dividends of democracy to the people.

    The special adviser, who sought a paradigm shift from the old order, said focus would now be on internal revenue drive and oversight rather than on expenditure, adding that this should be possible in a few months.

    She explained that while their functions had been hybrid – manual and digital – they would now be fully digitized.

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    Ayoola, however, said this could only be possible if they agreed to enforce it.

    She announced that the OIA had been upgraded to the status of a ministry by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu Administration, and that they are now expected to put in more efforts.

    She listed about nine questions that would be treated at the meeting.

    They include: what are the conventional roles of internal auditors?

    How relevant are their current roles to the activities of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)? How satisfied are they in their current roles? And how do they see ourselves as internal auditors? Others are: how do people that work in the MDAs see internal auditors? What do they do as internal auditors to change the narratives of non-satisfaction and non-fulfillment on their jobs and what role is IT playing in the activities internal auditors engage in?

    She said the answers to these questions would form their short-term goals in the next 12 months, adding that committees would be set up across cadres to drive the goals.

  • Commissioner demands more from finance managers

    FINANCE and account officers of the Lagos State government have been urged to go beyond reconciliation and cash book records if the state is to become accountable to the people.

    The Commissioner for Finance Dr. Rabiu Onaolapo Olowo made the appeal on Monday at a technical meeting with directors and heads of finance and accounts of all ministries, department and agencies of the government.

    The meeting which held at the treasury office resource centre, Alausa, Lagos, was the second edition in 2019.

    According to Olowo, “there is need for accountants, as finance managers of the resources of the State Government, to ensure that funds allocated to projects under them are not only judiciously spent, but to also ascertain that the projects executed are commensurate with the resources allocated for such projects.”

    “The whole essence of this”, according to him, “is for them to be more diligent in the discharge of their responsibilities and also ensure thorough compliance with all financials laws and regulations guiding the profession.

    “Finance and Accounts officers have been on top of their duties but I want them to go a step further by placing the value of projects side by side with the value of resources committed to such projects, this will allow government have value for every kobo of Lagosians spent because we are accountable to members of the public,” the Commissioner added.

    The State Accountant-General and Permanent Secretary, State Treasury Office, Mrs. Abimbola Umar, said the State Government will continue to train its Finance and Accounts officers in International Public Sector Accounting Standards, (IPSAS) to ensure that accountants working with the Government are IPSAS certified.

     

     

  • Council chief to public officers: fulfil your campaign promises

    THE Chairman, Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos, Hon Shuaib Fatia Ajidagba has urged public officers holders to deliver on their campaign promises as that would help them live a good legacy.

    Ajidagba said this at the Lagos City Biggest Leadership conference and award organised by Success in Leadership Conference 2019 in conjunction with Hall of Fame.

    The event brought together government representatives, business leaders, and youths.

    The chairman said that government at all levels must be responsible to the needs of the people as Nigeria is in dire need of development. Public office holders should, therefore, be alive to their responsibilities, he said.

    He asserted that leadership is about influence, impact and leaving a good legacy for others to follow, adding that Nigerians will be better off if leaders do things that better the lot of the people.

    He said it is sad that many public office holders have become self-centered and self-serving rather than serving the communities and the nation, adding that Nigerians are wiser now and would speak out with their votes.

  • Lagos roads to be fixed after rains

    LAGOS State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has appealed to Lagosians for patience over the bad state of roads in the state, saying the continuous rainfall since he was sworn in about four months ago is slowing down rehabilitation on the roads.

    As soon as the rains stop, work on the bad roads will kick off in earnest, he said.

    Sanwo-Olu made the appeal while answering questions on the traffic situation and bad roads in the state at ‘The Platform’ put together by The Covenant Place, which took place at Iganmu on the Lagos mainland, on Tuesday.

    The event which was a question and answer programme coordinated by Pastor Poju Oyemade has as its theme: ‘Redesigning the Nigerian Economy with new ideas’.

    Sanwo-Olu promised there would be extensive and massive rehabilitation of roads after the rainy  season, but that all the roads cannot be tackled at once.

    The governor said it has been raining since he was sworn in, a situation which hampers work with bitumen.

    He assured that the government was still working day and night to remedy the state of the bad roads in the state.

    Apart from bad roads, the governor said water, small land mass and population explosion were responsible for traffic congestion but that his government’s remedy for the traffic problem being experienced on a daily basis was a multi-modal transportation system.

    This, he said, involves developing the rail, water transportation and  bus transit system which the government is already working on.

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    He said, “On water transportation, we are encouraging the building of a lot of jetties and we have just acquired 6-7 new passenger boats that can take 60-70 passengers at a time”.

    These, Sanwo-Olu said, will be the long-term solution to the transportation problem, adding that the government was working on a short-, medium- and long-term solution to issues surrounding transportation.

    On commercial motorcycle operators, the governor said because he wants to give everybody a chance to be part of the state development plan, the government is trying to harmonize and come up with a regulation system for them.

    “This is designed to know who they are, their activities and how to manage them to ensure that they don’t add to the problem of traffic flow in the state, we don’t want to disenfranchise anybody,” Sanwo-Olu said.

    The governor also disclosed that since his assumption of office it is only in the education sector that he has given a major approval for the recruitment of about 10,000 teachers into the state public schools, a process that is already ongoing.

    He said he would also ensure proper and adequate regular training for teachers to enhance their efficiency and capacity.

    “We are constricted in terms of finances, but it is a marathon, we need to continue to run to ensure we meet up and I can assure you that we will meet up and Lagos will continue to be greater,” Sanwo-Olu assured.

  • Landlords protest in Lagos

    PROPERTY owners and residents from Igbogbo/Bayeku in Ikorodu, Lagos State whose buildings were demolished in December 2017 by the administration of former governor Akinwunmi Ambode, on Monday protested at Alausa, Ikeja seat of government, demanding for compensation.

    Pa Jacob Arogundade and Taiwo Folarin led the protesters.

    Arogundade said of the 700 properties destroyed, including churches and mosques, only 96 people were paid compensation in 2018 by the Ambode administration while other property owners were yet to be compensated.

    He said, “The last administration only paid compensation for about 10 per cent of the houses and shops demolished and left the remaining 90 per cent suffering for about two years now.

    “We are appealing to our listening governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to look into the issue of payment to us the poor and forgotten people of Igbogbo community whose properties were demolished by the last administration in the state in a haste”.

    He said homes and families have been separated, education of children adversely affected and many now living in churches, mosques, schools and uncompleted buildings for almost two years now.

    “The most pathetic of all are the aged ones, we mean people that are 80 years and above who rely on rents from those demolished shops and rooms for their living, a source which has been taken away from them without notice,” Arogundade said.

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    According to a letter addressed to the governor, the group said they had been promised compensation immediately the new administration came on board and they fulfilled their own side by voting massively for the new governor, but that it is surprising that more than 100 days after assuming office nothing has been done.

    “Your Excellency, we have all seen the list of compensation with our names publicly displayed in room 22 of the Ministry of Lands and also in the accounts office room 35 ready for payment but waiting for your approval”.

    They appealed to the governor “in the name of Almighty God to have mercy on us and approve payment so that we the people of Igbogbo and other Lagosians will continue to pray for you and your government…”, they stated.

    Responding on behalf of the speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Tobun Abiodun commended them for the peaceful protest but appealed to them to be calm and patient as the matter would be looked into at plenary by the House.