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Tag: Lagos State

  • Harmonise taxes, proprietor urges govt

    Proprietor of Diamonds Mine Nursery and Primary, School, Ogba, Lagos Mrs Grace Romoke Aderibigbe, has urged the government to give more support to investors in the education sector by harmonising taxes.

    She said this would help bolster the delivery of qualitative education, especially at the nursery and primary level.

    Mrs Aderibigbe gave the advice during the school’s prize giving and graduation recently.

    She said: “One would wish that the government harmonise taxes in order to encourage serious investors in the education business, especially in the primary school sector.

    “They can do that by giving some succour on the issue of multiple taxes.  The local government would come, the state government would come and all of that.  If we can have a harmonised tax structure, we would be able to make adequate plan.

    “Though government appreciates the fact that they cannot do it alone, they need to partner with serious investors especially in the critical primary school sector.”

    Mrs Aderibigbe said her school in the outgoing session, had performed excellently in several competitions, among which were a Spelling Bee Competition and the Lagos State Mathematics Competition, organised by the Mathematics Association of Nigeria (MAN). In both competitions, the school came first in the primary category.

    She described all the graduating pupils as great assets to whichever secondary school they attend.

    “They are products that will enhance whichever school they find themselves.  My advice to them is that they should keep up the flag of academic excellence. They should shun cultism and any other bad gangs,” she said.

    She spoke of plans to have a secondary arm of the school soonest.

    Mrs Aderibigbe challenged parents to change their attitude to their wards’ education.

    “Some of them find it difficult paying fees; and when fees are not paid on time, basic planning judicious execution of projects is greatly hampered.

    “Some do not take care of their children; they allow them wear tattered and dirty uniforms and sandals to school; while some refused to buy their wards instructional materials for their studies.  If they can cooperate with the school in these areas, the future of their children will be brighter,” she said.

    Some of the parents of the graduating pupils praised the school for providing quality education for their wards.

    Pastor Olize Chukwuemeka, a father, said: “I can say they are trying.”

     

  • Bridging unemployment gap with ICT

    Bridging the digital space has been identified as a major way to curb unemployment and ensure good leadership in Nigeria.

    This was the submission at the 9th National Conference of the School of Education, Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Lagos State. The theme was “Educating Digital Citizens for Leadership Employability”, while the sub-theme was “Repositioning Students/Leaders for Leadership Roles and Employability in the Society.”

    Prof. Ibrahim Salawu of the Faculty of Education, National Open University of Nigeria, Victoria Island, Lagos State, said the digital space is needed to bridge the gap of employability and ensure good leadership in the country.

    According to him, people not being digitally literate enough to fit into the available employments are some of the causes of unemployment in the country.

    Represented by Dr. Josiah Owolabi, Prof Salawu explained that the obvious gaps between the digital skills needed in securing jobs in the labour market and the lack of it by the potential labour force has caused a lot of embarrassment to the government, employers of labour and concerned individuals.

    “Some people have first-class degrees but are not employable because they do not have the required digital skills. Technology has the potential to change the world in all spheres of the economy, including polity, social, education, transport, health, communication, security and banking.

    “Digital technology has proved to be a potent force to be recognised as a change agent of tremendous influence. Not to be part of the new movement by any individual, government or country is to grope in the dark for a long time. The forward movement in terms of improvement, innovation, creativity and invention of new technologies are unstoppable,” he said.

    He further explained that a lot of efforts are required to address the existing challenge of producing digital citizens to eliminate production of highly educated but non-skilled workforce.

    “We need to urgently address the present problem and prepare for the future challenge. We need to educate digital citizens for leadership and employment in Nigeria. There is need for all stakeholders, government, organisations, industries, schools, curriculum planners and all employers of labour to work together as a team in the production of functional digital citizens to drive the economy and other vital sectors.

    “We need to urgently close the present gap between what the school offers and the required skills by the industry. When the curriculum is being reviewed, what is needed in the employment world should be added to the curriculum so that the graduates will fit into the business world.

    “The industrial sector should be fully engaged in the provision of physical facilities; institutions should engage themselves in practical involvement of professionals, teachers should be ready to integrate ICT into their lessons, specific ICT-based service providers should be contacted with a view to supporting the effort of the school management.

    “Parents, teachers, religious leaders and government agencies should live up to their responsibilities by encouraging positive use of the internet as this will assist in the reduction of cybercrimes and other vice usages. Government needs to make available the finances to acquire digital tools, institutions have to show support, lead the way and provide enabling environment to ensure that everybody embraces digital literacy, while individuals must be ready to spend to buy data to get digital literacy, because government cannot do it all,” he said.

    Director, Centre for Educational Technology, Federal College of Education, Oyo State, Sunday Taiwo, noted that information literacy, ICT literacy, media literacy, reading, writing and numeracy are the essential skills needed for employability and leadership.

    “We also need skills such as collaboration and team work, leadership and responsibility, initiative and self-direction, flexibility and adaptability, social and cross cultural interaction, career and learning self-reliance, and productivity and accountability. Critical thinking, collaboration, communication, creativity and innovation are also needed,” he said.

    He stressed the need for educators and institutions to educate themselves for change, noting that educational policies, curriculum documents and educational programmes need to be revised.

    “There is need to educate the public about the need for learners to be smart, parents and guardians should be partners in the joint venture of educating the children for the digital age,” he said.

    The Dean, School of Education, Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka Lagos State, Dr. Eniola Adigun, noted that digital devices have replaced analogue ones for good, saying the educational sector must be in the forefront of the global information.

    According to her, the conference is necessary to expose and explore adequate descriptions of existing situations, fresh impact of new instructional methods and quantified effects of deferring interventions which can navigate the access to digital knowledge towards more improved opportunities for employment and enterprise.

    “The conference will enable our graduates not to rely on seeking employment, but think of how to be self-employed and start their own enterprise.  We aim to have improved educational sector and bring greater chances of appropriate employments for our graduates,” she said.

  • Lagos, NCC, EU, others support innovation

    THE Lagos State government, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), European Union (EU) as well as Sterling Bank have  pledged support for innovation to grow the economy.

    Also, the National Coordinator, Nigeria Innovation Summit (NIS), Mr. Tony Ajah, said great innovations come out of great ecosystems. Speaking ahead of NIS scheduled for August 20 and 21 at Lagos Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja, he said innovation ecosystem is made up of the government/public sector participation, businesses/private and industry participation, the academic/research and development institutions, entrepreneurs/innovators and startups.

    “This year leading local and international organisations, government agencies, businesses will host workshops to educate, inform and empower Nigerians,” he said. The theme of the forum is: Accelerating Nigeria’s Economic Growth through Innovation.

    Read Also: Lagos begins sale of LAKE Rice

    NCC said supporting NIS was in line with its commitment to promoting information communications technology (ICT) innovation and investment opportunities and facilitating strategic collaboration and partnerships to grow the economy.

    Also, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Lagos State University (LASU), Landmark University, Mountain Top University, Igbinedion University, University of Port Harcourt, have all confirmed attendance while Bauchi, Kano, Edo and Ondo states have indicated interest to participate aside other corporate organisations.

    Speakers include NCC chief, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta;  CEO, Hygeia HMO, Obinnia Abajue; EU Affairs Manager, Bruno Woeran; Merinova Technology Centre (Finland); and Prof Nii Quaynor, Africa Internet Pioneer

    Others are Chairman, Ghana Dot Com; Adesola Alli, Head, Renewable Energy, Strategy and Innovation at Sterling Bank Plc., Prof Wellington Oyibo, Director,Research and Innovation office, University of Lagos, amongst others.

  • Alleged N9.9b fraud: Court freezes Lagos accounts

    THE Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday ordered the freezing of three accounts belonging to the Lagos State Government over an alleged N9.9 billion fraud.

    Justice Chuka Obiozor made the order following an ex-parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    He ordered the accounts’ “suspension” pending conclusion of investigation and possible prosecution of the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Adewale Adesanya.

    The accounts are domiciled in First City Monument Bank (numbered 5617984012), Access Bank (0060949275) and Zenith Bank (1011691254).

    In a supporting affidavit, an EFCC investigator, Kungmi Daniel, said the commission discovered huge inflow of N9,927,714,443.29 from the state accounts into the FCMB account.

    He said the account, operated by Adesanya, was opened last September 17 during the Akinwunmi Ambode administration.

    According to the deponent, investigators found that Adesanya and other signatories made fraudulent transfers from the state’s accounts and dissipated the funds.

    Read Also: Court freezes Bauchi’s account

    “The trend is that the account always witnessed huge inflow from Lagos State Government in the above scheduled accounts managed by the respondent (Adesanya).

    “There have been concerted efforts and attempts to dissipate the contents of the accounts listed in the schedule to this application.

    “Without freezing the nominated accounts and temporarily forfeiting the money to the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, there is no way the fraud being perpetrated using the scheduled accounts can be stopped,” the EFCC said.

    EFCC counsel Mohammed Abbas urged the court to grant the order temporarily attaching the accounts to enable it to conclude its investigations.

    Justice Obiozor granted the prayers and adjourned till Friday.

    Some legal sources wondered last night why the victim, the state government, is being made to suffer while those suspected to be involved in the matter are left untouched.

  • Police arrest 32 suspected cultists, recover arms in Lagos

    The Police Command in Lagos State have arrested 32 suspected cultists and recovered firearms in the last one week.

    Spokesman for the command, DSP Bala Elkana, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Sunday.

    He said that a 32-year-old man (name withheld), a member of Aiye Confraternity, was arrested on Saturday.

    Elkana said the suspect, arrested by the Cultism Squad, while on patrol at Mosafejo Amukoko Street, Ajegunle, was found in possession of one locally made pistol.

    He stressed that the suspect confessed his gang was responsible for series of violent crimes in Ajengule.

    “Investigation is ongoing and efforts are in place to apprehend other members of his gang. The suspect will be charged to court,” he said.

    Elkana said, on the same day operatives of the Operation Crush from 8 Division in Area H Command, Ogudu raided a cultists’ hideout at Bariga.

    Read Also: Police chief assures Chinese of adequate security

    The raid, he said, paid off as a 39-year-old suspected cult leader, a resident of Kajora Street, Bariga, was arrested with 22 members of his gang.

    “They all confessed to be members of a deadly gang and a cult group responsible for various killings and violent crimes in Bariga.

    “Investigation is ongoing, and suspects will be charged to court,” he said.

    He noted that a follow-up operation, carried out by officers of the Bariga Police Station on Wednesday, at Oyenaya Street, Bariga, led to the arrest of 20-year-old suspect and five other members of his gang.

    Elkana said two other suspected cultists were arrested on July 24 at Itabale Igbolomu area of Owutu, Ikorodu, while engaging each other in a battle for supremacy.

    He said one locally made pistol was recovered from them, stressing that all the suspects would be charged to court soon.

    NAN

  • Lagos suspends advertising firm over ‘indecent’ campaign

    THE Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), on Saturday  suspended, pending final investigation, the practising license issued to Provision Media System limited for engaging in an  alleged  indecent projection of women.

    The  Lagos State government agency  said the  company’s  “unregistered mobile advertising truck which has no valid registration for the current year 2019 was illegally deployed in engaging in abysmally debasing projection of semi-nude women for several hours around the Lekki/Ikoyi toll gate.”

    It added,  “The agency having gone through its records for the current year 2019 could confirm that the truck with Lagos State plate number APP713XL is not registered with the agency for the deplorable purpose for which it was deployed by the company on Saturday,” Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer  of LASAA, Mr. Bolaji Sanusi said in a statement.

    He declared that “no outdoor mobile advert truck within the jurisdiction of our dear state is licensed to display such crass immorality of the calibre that the owner(s) of this unregistered truck exhibited on our roads over the weekend.”

    He added: “The government of Lagos State, under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwoolu, has zero tolerance for any slightest attempt by anyone, under whatever guise, to debase the moral fabric of our dear state. Nobody/company can hide under the guise of engaging in outdoor advertising business to display obscenity that is antithetical to our cherished cultural and moral values.

    Read Also: Traffic offences: Lagos state model

    “The full weight of the law, as enshrined in the Agency’s extant law, will be meted on the company owning this erring outdoor mobile truck after due investigations must have been concluded. We assure members of the public that the Agency shall henceforth scrutinize activities of mobile trucks to forestall a recurrence of such an avoidable obscenity.

    “The state will not in any ramification condone the use of outdoor advertisement structures, whether static or mobile, to perpetrate illegally obscene activities.”

    ​The video of half-naked women dancing in the transparent outdoor display truck sparked uproar on social media.

    The women wore only bra and pant and were dancing on a stripper pole.

  • Lagos Assembly ad hoc committee drills eight commissioner-nominees

    The Lagos State House of Assembly ad-hoc on screening of commissioner and special adviser nominees on Thursday began its assignment, attending to eight nominees.

    The exercise, which continues Friday, according to the chairman of the committee, Hon. Rotimi Abiru, is expected to end on Saturday.

    The eight nominees screened are:  Mr. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, former Secretary to Lagos State Government Mr. Tunji Bello, Ms Adenike Ajayi-Bembe, Dr. Wale Ahmed, Prof. Akinola Abayomi and The Nation Editor Mr. Gbenga Omotoso.

    Apart from Ahmed, who is the state’s Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC) and former member of the House of Assembly, who was asked to take a bow as a former lawmaker, the remaining nominees were subjected to questioning by the committee members.

    At the end of the exercise, Hon. Abiru said he was satisfied with the performance of the nominees, stressing thatthey are knowledgeable people.

    Abiru added that the committee would report back to the House for confirmation of the nominees or otherwise.

    Answering questions during the screening, Bello said the menace of refuse in the state was because the past administration abandoned a working refuse disposal system under the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and introduced a system that could not cope with the volume of refuse generated.

    He said LAWMA personnel had been trained, adding that they specialised in various areas of refuse management before they were taken out of the system. The situation, he said, created a vacuum that the operatives of the newly introduced model could not cope with.

    Read Also: Lagos Assembly constitute committee to screen commissioners

    Bello said the solution to the situation might already be on the was with the introduction of sorting of refuse at point of generation and separating same into refuse bags as been introduced by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    The former SSG, who said he worked as the speechwriter of the late Chief MKO Abiola, is a journalist, lawyer and former commissioner for the environment.

    He advised that the state must intensify efforts on waste management and conversion.

    “There are a few areas you can set up dumpsite in Lagos State because the state is below the sea level. You cannot set up a dump site in Lagos Island, except in places like Agege, Abule-Egba and others.

    “On flooding in Lagos, we have nine main drainages in the state, and while six are developed, three are not developed and flooding is always when there are blockages in the flow of flood to the Lagoon through these drainages.

    “The Lagos Mainland drainage system is the oldest and it has about six divisions. The tertiary drainages and channels must link up with primary channels,” he said.

    This was corroborated by the chairman of the committee, who said everybody was concerned about the environment.

    Abiru advised Bello to impress it on the government that the state could not afford not to improve on the environment.

    Omotoso said the implementation of the Freedom of Information Law (FIO) was not working.

    He said when the media write to ask for information; there is always no response from the authorities concerned.

    “If you go to the Code of Conduct Bureau for assets declaration information of government officials, they will not give you. If you want to explore the option of going to court to press for access to the required information, that is a long process,” Omotoso said.

    On managing perception of Lagos State Government, Omotoso said it is the duty of everybody.

    He added that it can be done through training of information officers, mobilising the members of the public and dissemination of government’s actions and policies to all the nook and crannies of the state.

    Omotoso said, more importantly, everybody must put up a proper behaviour, especially people in positions of authority for others to emulate.

    He said though technology has a major role to play in dissemination of information on the government’s policies and activities to the people and enhancing the people’s perception of the government, the problem of lack of electricity, especially in the rural areas limits its capacity.

    “We can manage perception by constant engagement through technology and deploying same for the purpose, but the problem of power supply in the rural areas limits its capacity,” Omotoso said.

    He advocated marrying the traditional mode of information dissemination with a modern system for more effective result.

    Answering another question on coping with life outside his known comfort zone of managing a news medium, Omotoso said journalism, like politics, is all about service.

    “Politics is a call to service; it is an honour and it will be a seamless movement for me,” the editor said.

    He pointed out that many political giants, such as  Chief Segun Osoba and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, are former editors.

    Abiru hailed Omotoso, who was the eighth and the last person to be screened yesterday.

    He said: “It has been a long process, you have been here since about 10a.m. and this is almost 5.00p.m. I commend your patience. You are cool and calm despite the pressure,” Abiru said.

    Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, Assistant Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was the first nominee to be screened, promised to bring her experience as a lawyer of 30 years to bear, on her office, if she is given the opportunity.

    The politician, who said she has been speaking against domestic violence and child abuse through the social media, stated that she spoke against Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), when his alleged rape case against Busola Dakolo broke.

     

     

     

  • Lagos mulls facility managers’ engagement

    To promote the wellbeing of occupiers of government-owned housing estates, the Lagos State Government is to engage facility managers for the maintenance of the estates.

    Speaking at a meeting with the representatives of the estates, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, Wasiu Akewusola, said “Lagos State Government was committed to promoting a conducive, decent and healthy environment in the estates, hence, the policy of appointment of  facility managers will be fully implemented by the state.”

    In a statement by the Public Relations Officer of ministry, Adeola Salako, tAkewusola said the facility managers will arrange for security personnel, refuse disposal, lighting of street lights and cleaning and sanitation of jointly owned facilities and liaisqase regularly with the government on the  state of the facilities.

    Akewusola  said: “Facility management is critical in ensuring that the infrastructural facilities in the estates work perfectly and constantly; and that  information that is required for prompt intervention is promptly received by government.”

    He said the engagement of facility managers does not erode the powers  of the  executives of the residents associations but rather complement their efforts in promoting the  interests of their members.

    He said: ” Service level agreements based on the services to be provided will be  prepared by the representatives of the housing estates.

    ‘’This policy was laid down several years ago was initiated to curb the culture of neglect of common facilities and  reduce rate of depreciation of  many of the government owned housing estates” she said.

    Responding, the representatives of the housing estates  requested for a fair  consideration of their rights and privileges  in the  choice of facility managers,  sought for  prompt governmental interventions in providing solutions to their infrastructural challenges while plegding to support the state in ensuring that the government owned estates are functional and habitable.

  • Three get Fidel Madonna scholarship awards

    For Master Eze Wealth, Miss Oyesinola Damilola and Miss Nwachukwu Favour, Saturday, July 20 will remain evergreen in their minds. It was the day the worries about how their lowly parents would get money to pay their school fees ended. It was also the day the proprietor of Fidel Madonna College of Excellence, Mr Fidel Morah, took over their worries as he granted them scholarship awards that will last till the end of their secondary education.

    But the case of Nwachukwu Favour was more striking, as she was not initially among those marked out for the awards. She is from the junior arm of the college-Tony Field School of Excellence PPL Okokomaiko Lagos. She will enjoy an eight-year grant. She was awarded the scholarship because of her incomparable performance during the graduation ceremony of the school.

    That day, the expansive auditorium of Fidel Madonna College of Excellence at 20/22, Alhaji Yusuf Alasela Street, Iba New Site, Ojo, Lagos State was filled to capacity as parents, guardians, friends and well-wishers of the College converged on the school’s premises to witness the 13th graduation and scholarship award ceremonies.

    The atmosphere was cool; airy breeze soothed the nerves as the sun shone brightly out of the azure sky. Over and above this was the rendition of soul-lifting hymns from the sonorous voices of students of Fidel Madonna College of Excellence who were decked in their elegant uniforms.

    Three students who were from various parishes and other denominations were offered scholarships into the college.

    The scholarships cover entry into Basic 7 through to Senior Secondary three (SS3), and all are fully funded by Mr Fidel Morah, the Proprietor and Director of Administration and his wife Mrs Chidozie Morah, who is the Director of Studies.

    This year’s scholarship awards bring to more than 30 the number of beneficiaries of the scheme since its inception.

    Initially, the gesture was limited to children of widows and widowers who have no one to take care of their education. However, this year’s edition witnessed an expansion. This is because of the fact that not only were children of widows and widowers beneficiaries of the scheme, children of parents who are abjectly poor were also beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme. Again, the scheme was not limited to those in the Catholic faith but extended to other denominations.

    For instance, Damilola is a member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

    According to Morah, there are also plans to spread out the gesture to other institutions to take care of children of widows and other wretched of the earth.

    The recipients of the awards were carefully selected from within the Isolo Deanery of the Catholic Church and mostly children of widows. They are from from the following parishes: Saints Joachim and Anne Parish, Ijegun, St. Augustine Parish Iba, St. John’s Parish Igando, Immaculate Heart Parish Iba New Site and St. Joseph’s Parish Victory Estate Iba.

    The occasion also featured meritorious award for students who came tops in the 2019 academic session. Miss Alli Eyitayo Daniella received three academic awards as she was best in Mathematics, Physics and Biology.

    The carnival-like event attracted many dignitaries who included the President of the Catholic Women Organisation (CWO) of Immaculate Heart Catholic Church, Mrs. Okoye Eunice; the President of the Laity Mrs. Rita Uche Nwafor, Mrs. Nkiruka Ibenyenwa, the Pastor of Immaculate Heart Catholic Church Pastor Felix Agba (O.P.) who was represented by Rev. Fr. Victor Chinedu Ukoh (O.P.).

    Also present were Mr. and Mrs. Sam Anuforo and the mother of the student who came tops in the 2019 academic session Madam Olukemi Olabisi Alli.

    The Chairman on the occasion, Mr. and Mrs. Dare Onietan praised the management of Fidel Madonna College of Excellence “for its laudable strides over the years in maintaining a balance in education strategies, even as he praised him for providing the platform for students to equip themselves with the necessary information in preparation for greater future and in developing students to appreciate the essence of moral rectitude.”

    Present to add ecclesiastical colour to the empowerment ceremony was Rev. Fr. Victor Chinedu Ukoh (O.P.) who represented the Parish Priest of Immaculate Heart Catholic Church Pastor Alex  Agba (O.P.). He praised  Morah for his interest in the “development of sound minds for the benefit of the entire society.”

    Continuing, he said. “The formation of the individual through teaching and learning is the greatest legacy to bequeath to humanity in order to lift the society. The business of training the individual could be characterised by difficulties and successes.

    “The formation of the human person towards success is sometimes taxing, but it enhances humanity.

    “Education is not just literacy or the ability to read and write. It goes beyond that to being a situation in which an individual has the ability to overcome the inhibiting factors of life and the ability to do things in a manner that is excellently different for an established norm or that which is not consistent with our ideas and manner of doing things.”

    He advised the students to take advantage which the award has provided for them so that they would be better citizens who will contribute to national growth and development.

    The cleric also urged them to take their studies seriously.

    In a chat with Southwest Report on the plight of the downtrodden, Mr. Morah lamented the level of poverty in the land despite that the country is so much blessed in both human and natural resources.

    He advised against giving material gifts to students who are academically excellent. According to him, such action does not stimulate academic competition.

    Morah rather encouraged the acknowledgement of academic excellence.

    It seemed that Mr. Morah discovered that the fundamental principles of attracting God’s abundant blessings are acts of charity, especially those geared towards lifting widows and orphans and tapped into it. He may have also learnt that God is so much interested in issues that concern widows and orphans.

    In so doing, God always opens His doors, even windows of blessings  upon whoever takes care of this category of the poor so  that their  resources will not run dry. This is in a bid to empower the benefactors to continue their acts of charity to those who have only God as their husbands and fathers.

    For him, “Nigeria will realise her secure future if there is genuine commitment to giving children quality education. Parents, guardians and teachers should show great commitment to the education of their children and wards. This is because quality education is vital to the general well-being of any society.”

    He said: “The condition of the poor in this country bothers me. It also bothers everybody. Nigeria is a rich country peopled by majority poor. With the grim realities on ground and with the realisation of that fact, it is not enough to be bothered but  enough to proffer solutions.”

  • Lagos to partner UAE in traffic management, security

    LAGOS State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said his administration will partner with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the areas of traffic management and security.

    The governor spoke at the weekend  when he received the Consul-General of the UAE Consulate in Nigeria, Dr. Abdulla Al-Mandoos, at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

    He noted that in the last decade,  UAE had become a destination of choice for Nigerian tourists and businessmen.

    This, the governor said, should deepen the existing bilateral agreements between Nigeria and UAE.

    “As a government, we have several things to learn from the story of UAE’s transformation. Dubai, which is the country’s commercial hub, shares so many similarities with Lagos. This is why I am elated to receive Dr. Al-mandoos and we welcome him.

    Read Also: Lagos Speaker seeks better ties between Nigeria and China

    “Let me disclose that Lagos is ready to deepen the relationship between the two countries and we are working on collaborations in traffic management and security,” Sanwo-Olu said.

    He added that there would also be collaborations in harnessing Lagos cultural potential to expand local tourism business,  expressing optimism that the envoy’s visit would deepen trade and yield positive results for both countries.

    “We are hoping that during your tenure, we shall further expand and grow the relationship between the two countries,” the governor said.

    Dr. Al-mandoos said the aim of his visit was to get cooperation and support of Lagos government on various areas of interest between Lagos and UAE.

    The diplomat promised there would be collaborations in the areas of security and education, noting that the partnership would assist the state to improve its tourism potential.

    Al-mandoos used the meeting to push the consulate’s land request to the governor for the building of its office and a cultural centre.