The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lagos State

  • Lagos to host Global Citizen Festival 2020 —Sanwo-Olu

    LAGOS State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday night, in New York City, United States announced Lagos, Nigeria as the host city for the year 2020 Global Citizen Festival.

    Sanwo-Olu who made the announcement during an interactive session of global leaders, activists and entertainers said the need to end extreme poverty by the year 2030, which is the aim of the Global Citizen movement must be embraced by every world leader.

    He said, “I stand before you this evening to join my brothers and sisters from Nigeria to announce to you that come September 26, 2020, we would be hosting the world. We would be hosting the Global Citizen Festival in Lagos, Nigeria. We are looking forward to it. It is the beginning of greater things to happen to us as people from West Africa and indeed the entire African continent.

    “I will encourage the Federal Government of Nigeria to invite leaders from countries in Africa and around the world to grace the occasion. And as Governor of one of the 36 states in Nigeria, I will invite my colleagues to come and make commitments on behalf of nearly one hundred million poorest of the poor people in Nigeria so that by the year 2030, we would be writing a different story about the situation of the poor masses in the country.”

    Sanwo-Olu said, that Nigeria, which has over 200 million people, with half of the population living below the poverty line requires concerted efforts by all and sundry to ensure that more people are taken away from extreme poverty on a regular basis.

    Speaking on the event, the CEO of Global Citizen, Hugh Evans, together with the CEO of Teneo, a supporting company, the historic 10 hour global broadcast event spanning five continents will reach every corner of the world.

    According to them, the idea is to spread the message in a very loud and well-coordinated manner for every leader across the world to hear and for them to see the urgent need to commit their knowledge and material resources to help the poor.

    The year 2019 festival will hold at the central park in New York on Saturday.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu to accelerate administration of justice

    Leaders in music and entertainment, who have signed on to perform at the 2020 Global Citizen Festival in Nigeria include Usher Raymond, Pharell, D’banj, Tiwa Savage, Hold Space, Shawn Mendes among others.

    The 10-hour live event will be supported by the Lagos State Government in partnership with Live Nation and Delivered Production Services, made possible by Messrs Tunde Folawiyo and Aig-imoukhuede who are co-chair of Global Citizen, Nigeria.

    Meanwhile, Governor Sanwo-Olu has called on Nigerians to shun violence and continue to live in peace and harmony in order to build a better Nigeria.

    The Governor made this call, on Friday, at a Special Jumat Service organized to commemorate the 59th Independence Day Celebrations at the Lagos State Secretariat Community Central Mosque, Alausa, Ikeja.

    Sanwo-Olu who was represented at the event by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, stressed that the nation cannot develop if there is violence, killing and fighting amongst its citizens. He therefore urged everyone with a violent disposition to have a rethink, as it is ungodly to kill anybody in Islam.

    According to him, “It is clear in Islam that if you kill a soul, you have killed a nation. Whatever the grievances are, let us all sit down and resolve it, to have a nation where we will live in peace and harmony, where we will be able to fulfil Allah destiny”.

    He disclosed that his dream for Nigeria is for all Nigerians to live in peace and utilize their God giving talents for a better nation which cannot be achieved when there is fighting, no peace and violence.

    Speaking further, the Governor stated that Nigeria is a good country and it will be better if all citizens are upright, do what is right always and care for one another.

  • 2019 Young Wigs Conference holds in Lagos

    THE Young Wigs Conference, an annual event aimed at orientating young lawyers and law school students on what to expect after school and in the course of their legal practice was held over the weekend at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.

    Tagged Divergence, the event which started in the year 2015 in Port Harcourt, had several practising lawyers in attendance.

    Speaking at the conference, the convener, Inemesit Dike, said the conference is meant to serve as a path for young lawyers and students of law to avoid certain professional mistakes.

    Read Also: Lagos I’ll prosecute officials over corrupt practices

    “It was born out of the issues I had when I got out of law school. I fell flat on my face many times. I made many mistakes that I could have avoided, if I had relevant information available to me,” she said.

    “The aim is to prevent other young lawyers from making similar mistakes that others that have gone ahead of them have made. It is also a charitable support to ensure that those who don’t have access to attend all bar conferences.”

     

  • Three workers arraigned for ‘stealing’ N13.5m truck

    THREE employees of a haulage firm, Paul Mathias, Evelyn David and Hope Oparaugo, were on Wednesday brought before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing a truck worth N13. 5 million.

    The defendants, Paul Mathias, 34, Evelyn David, 32, and Hope Oparaugo, 30, of no fixed addresses were arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and theft before Magistrate, H.O. Omisore.

    The prosecutor, Inspector Ingobo Emby told the court that the defendants committed the offence on June 24 at 4.00 p.m. at Wandel International Nigeria Limited, Acme Road, Ikeja.

    Inspector Emby said that the defendants stole a Mack truck with registration number: AKD 109 XR, belonging to one Waheed Okunola.

    He alleged that the defendants conspired with other employees to steal the truck.

    He said two employees; Wasiu Aderemi and Ismail Yussuf, earlier arrested on September 17 had been charged before the court.

    Read Also: EFCC nabs bank employee for allegedly stealing N137M

    Emby said that the two charges would be consolidated so that all the defendants would answer their cases the same time.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Omisore, granted them bail in the sum of N500, 000 each with two sureties each in like sum.

    He adjourned the case until November 4.

     

  • Lagos to housing partners: deliver or lose contract

    LAGOS State Government has threatened to revoke housing scheme contracts with private partners unless they delivered within the stipulated time.

    Commissioner for Housing Moruf Akinderu-Fatai said this yesterday during a meeting with the private sectors partners and joint venture investors at Alausa, Ikeja.

    Akinderu-Fatai lamented that many investors have not complied with the timeframe stipulated in their contract agreements.

    “Many of the private partners have not met up with the timelines thereby littering the state with many uncompleted housing schemes and causing delays in actualisation of government’s mandate.

    Read Also: ‘Lagos Assembly will not fail Lagosians’

    “All housing schemes that had been contracted out to private sector partners and joint investors are to be completed within the time-frame indicated in the contractual agreements or have them cancelled,” he warned.

    Earlier, the participating investors cited encumbrances, disappointments from funding partners and conflicts with various host communities as major difficulties faced.

    Akinderu-Fatai in his response advised the investors to prove their capabilities and justify the government’s confidence through working out solutions to these challenges.

    “While the government will do its best to intervene in some of the situations, we expect every investor to have engaged in self-audit before coming forward to take up the responsibilities of state housing scheme,” he said.

    According to him, the need to bridge the housing deficit is urgent and cannot wait till eternity to be solved.

    He reaffirmed government’s determination to make more Lagosians homeowners within the next two years, adding “we are committed to delivering our mandate in ensuring that more Lagosians gain access to homeownership irrespective of their ethnicity or political dispensation within the next 24 months. The completion of all ongoing housing schemes is a major strategy which the state intends to deploy in meeting its target.

     

     

     

     

  • How to avoid fire outbreaks, by experts

    THE Lagos State Government in collaboration with safety experts yesterday clearly explained the causes of fire outbreaks and how to avoid them.

    The Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Safety Commission, Dr Lanre Mojola said dry weather is a major cause of fires,  but also identified other causes such as storage of petrol in homes and markets, careless disposal of cigarette stubs, adulterated fuel, power surges, petrol tank explosions, electricity sparks and illegal connection of electrical wires.

    He said people should note these causes of fires and ensure they are prevented.

    He spoke during the second Lagos Fire Safety conference organised by the Commission in collaboration with safety experts.

    The conference with the theme, “Fire safety development plan- A sustainable approach” had speakers from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Nigeria Insurance Association (NIA), Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Federal Fire Service, Nigeria Emmergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigerian Red Cross.

    Represented by Dr Iyabo Phillip’s, Dr Mojola noted that in line with Occupational Safety and Health Acts, employers are mandated to provide proper firefighting equipment, including fire alarm panels, fire extinguishers, fire dampers, fire hydrants as well as ensuring appropriate fire evacuation plans by having designated fire exits and emergency escape routes for the safety of their employees.

     

  • ‘Lagos Assembly will not fail Lagosians’

    A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Mushin1 Constituency, Nureni Akinsanya, has assured Lagosians that the House will not let them down.

    Speaking at the Lawmaker’s Constituency Stakeholders meeting, he said the 9th Lagos Assembly would be unrelenting in partnering with the Executive on moving the state forward.

    According to Akinsanya, a smooth relationship was necessary between the two arms to develop the state.

    He said that was one of the reasons why the 2019 Constituency of Stakeholders meeting was targeted at a cleaner environment.

    According to the lawmaker, this was part of the House’s contributions towards ensuring a cleaner, safe and sustainable environment.

    Akinsanya said one of the focal areas of the Sanwo –Olu administration is a cleaner environment as promised in its campaign promises.

    Akinsanya pointed that a clean environment is essential in a mega city like Lagos for it to continue to maintain its leadership position in the country.

    He therefore tasked his constituents in Mushin Local Government to key into the clean environment agenda of the state government.

  • ‘Greening law defaulters to pay N250,000’

    THE General Manager, Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) Mrs. Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola has restated the resolution of the state government to enforce total compliance with the Greening Provision across the state.

    Mrs Bilikiss said anyone who fails to comply with the green law would be charged the sum of N250,000.

    Addressing the media while the agency during enforcement operations at Ikeja, Oniru in Victoria Island, Lekki Phase 1 and Ikoyi environs, the General Manager declared that the pronounced disregard towards greening requirement by private establishments and other property owners across the state is negating government’s efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.

    Read Also: Lagos and the greenery crusade

    “Our resolve to enforce the law against recalcitrant corporate institutions and property owners, who have refused to comply with the state’s provision on beautification of setbacks, is in line with government’s quest to improve the green cover in the state,” she added.

    “It is disturbing that owners of petrol filling stations, particularly the new entrants, have imbibed the act of concretising their entire surroundings, neglecting the provision of the law which specifically states that a certain percentage of their space must be reserved for greening.”

     

     

  • Lagos reassures residents on persistent rainfall

    THE Lagos State Government has reassured residents that measures are already in place to address the challenges posed by incessant rainfall.

    Lagosians have been witnessing heavy downpours in the last few days.

    Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tunji Bello, who inspected some of the major drainage systems, said residents should rest assured that irrespective of the volume of the rainfall, it would flow through the drains to discharge into the various channels.

    The commissioner warned against indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the drains as well as erecting structures on drainages lines and alignments.

    This, he said, could aggravate flooding.

    Read Also: Lagos schools get classrooms, computers

    He reminded the people of the Executive Order signed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on zero tolerance for indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

    According to him, while relevant agencies are on red alert for any unforeseen incident, residents must be vigilant and promptly report cases of indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage channels and unauthorized places as well as other incidents of drainage blockage to the relevant agencies.

    Bello advised Lagosians to be safety conscious during this period, urging them to take some safety measures such as avoid going out during the rains except when absolutely necessary and be careful when driving.

    He stressed that Lagosians residing along flood plains and low-lands should be at alert and be ready to move for safety whenever the need arises.

     

     

  • Rotary to lift indigent women with fibroid

    ROTARY Club of Festac Town in Lagos State will sponsor the fibroid surgery and treatment of 10 women at a cost of N3million, its president Mrs Onyinye Ogbonna has said.

    She spoke at the weekend during her investiture as the 38th president of the club.

    The ceremony, which held at Golden Tulip Hotel in Festac Town, also featured the investiture of the club’s Board of Directors, launch of the club’s projects/fundraising.

    Awards were given to some distinguished persons with sterling performance in their professions and selfless service to humanity.

    Mrs Ogbonna said the sponsorship was meant to give those diagnosed with fibroid the chance to live a normal life.

    She said: “We intend to provide boreholes for selected settlements in Amuwo-Odofin. We will empower and equip 20 women on vocational skills acquisition, embark on charity visitation to Beth Tarrey Home in Festac Town, donate birthing kits to 20 women, donate computer sets to identified schools and we will go further on our scholarship schemes to beneficiaries.”

    Mrs.Ogbonna said Rotary International is the world’s first service organisation with over 1.5 million members in 340,000 clubs across the world.

    “We are volunteers who work locally and internationally to fight hunger, provide quality education, improve health and sanitation, improve child maternal health and eradicate polio,” she said.

    Rotary District Governor for District 9110, Dr Jide Akeredolu, urged Ogbonna to maximise her one-year tenure and keep the standard of the club high.

    Read Also: Rotary seeks better life for the poor

    “You will also hand over next year what would be your achievements,” he said.

    Describing the tenure of immediate past President Felix Nnamezie as impressive and successful, the Rotarian implored him to be there for the new president to advise and guide her with his experience.

    The guest speaker and Editor of The Nation, Mr Adeniyi Adesina, spoke on: The Role of the Media in a Developing Economy.

    He said Rotary Club International is a critical partner in the evolution of Nigeria with its immense contribution to the socio-economic development of the country and its people.

    The editor explained that the media are expected to hold government accountable, educate the public, make government responsible and responsive.

    Adesina said: “For the media to play its role effectively in developing economies, they must uphold the Code of Ethics of the profession, which includes truth, balance, fairness, accuracy. They are expected to perform their statutory roles in tune with the extant political environment, create a synergy between the government and the people, such that where government programmes are anti-people, the media would have to put sufficient information in the public glare to make the people reject them and make government change its mind for the public good.

    “When government churns out courageous and/or people-friendly policies, the media must mobilise the people to support such policies to entrench good governance and development. The media have a role to galvanise the civil society to retool and re-engineer in the interest of the people.

    “The media must provide opportunities for citizens to know and participate in how they are governed, because feedback is central to governance; it builds trust and confidence, thus making governance seamless and productive.”

  • Jilted man commits suicide in Lagos

    A MAN identified as Kehinde Muse, 25, has killed himself after his 21-year-old lover dumped him.

    The incident occurred at 56, Modele Street Surulere, Lagos Mainland.

    This has brought to five, the number of suicide cases reported to the police since July.

    It was gathered that his lover Rasheedat Animashaun had dumped him two weeks ago because of high libido.

    The Nation gathered that the young woman had complained Muse liked too much sex and she could not cope with it.

    Another issue, it was gathered, stemmed from the fact that the young man was not working and depended on the girl financially.

    “The guy was not going anything. It was the girl that was working as an office secretary. She was the one taking care of him financially. He was even sent to learn how to repair air conditioners but he did not achieve much there.

    “So, two weeks ago, the girl said she was tired and dumped him. She complained that all he does was sit at home, eat free food and then have sex countless times,” a source said.

    Unable to accept their breakup, Muse was said to have sent a message to Animashaun threatening to kill himself if she insisted on leaving him.

    She was said to have notified his parents about the message who ran to his room only to discover that Muse had drunk a poisonous substance suspected to be sniper insecticide.

    His parents were said to have rushed him to a hospital but he died on arrival.

    Confirming the incident, police spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said: “Preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased person earlier sent a suicide text message to his ex-girlfriend informing her that he will take his life since she decided to quit the relationship.

    “The said girlfriend promptly informed his family about the text message he sent to her and they rushed to his house, broke the door and found him unconscious.

    “He was rushed to the hospital but did not make it. His corpse has been deposited in the mortuary for autopsy.”