The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lagos State

  • Gov.Ambode restates commitment to residents’ welfare

    Gov.Ambode restates commitment to residents’ welfare

    Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State says the welfare and well being of residents, irrespective of their location within the state, remains the utmost concern of his administration.

    Ambode said this  on Saturday at the Eid-el-Kabir celebration in Ibeju-Lekki area of the state.

    He assured the residents that this would be without prejudice to their ethnic, religious and socio-economic backgrounds.

    According to the governor,  the annual celebration signifies the triumph of faith and the assurance that the Almighty Allah will always open  ways for those who have absolute trust in His grace.

    Ambode also urged Muslims to sustain their good acts and behavior beyond the celebration.

    “In this celebration,there is a great lesson for all of us especially as we strive to achieve the Lagos of our collective dream.

    ” We must remain hopeful and keep faith in the absolute power of Allah to turn our aspirations into reality.

    “It is, however,very important for all of us to play our own part as Prophet Ibrahim did,” Ambode said.

    Earlier, the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Alhaji Muslim Folami said that the event was being celebrated in 20 local government areas of the state in accordance with the vision of an  inclusive government.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that prayers were offered for the state and its  residents by various Imams.

  • Lagos to adopt Values-Based Education in schools

    Lagos State government may adopt the Values Based Education (VBE) system in its schools. Already, 24 schools have been selected for the pilot scheme, which begins next session.

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO) Foundation for Value Transformation is pushing for the adoption of the system. Its Executive Director Segun Caulcrick told The Nation at the end of a three-day training of 24 head teachers on VBE who were selected from 12 schools that the NGO was working with the state government in partnership with International Values Education Trust (IVET)based in the United Kingdom (UK)to make the system a success.

    He said the teachers were expected to practice what they had learnt on resumption for three weeks, after which they would be assessed. He emphasised the need for a value-driven education system in the country. He listed the top 10 values to include excellence, care, respect and cleanliness and that values impact on results which leads to good performance.

    Caulcrick said the teachers were being used because they mould lives, adding that character is the leading trait which impact on the society.

    A participant Oyebola Habeeb of Aiyetoro Senior Grammar School, Ebute Metta said: ‘’I have just come to realise that if our education system had been value-driven, our society would have been better than this. In Nigeria, we have a lot of educated people, yet corruption abound.

    “This means, those who went to school did not imbibe the right values. But the schools can’t do it alone without the government’s support. Imagine a class of 120 pupils. How can the system be effective? I appeal to the government to liaise with the NGO to adopt VBE not only in Lagos but also nationwide.”

    IVET’s anchorperson Patricia Beechey, said the senior teachers had been trained on the use of modules to teach VBE.

  • Ambode: Leading Nigeria’s rebirth through agric policies

    Ambode: Leading Nigeria’s rebirth through agric policies

    Nigeria will attain sustainable development if there is security of food and serious agricultural development. However, for this to be realised, Lagos State must continue on the path of sustainable food production and agricultural revival.

    Prior to the recent bold collaboration with Kebbi State that brought delight to many homes  during the Yuletide and New Year  through the sale of “Lake Rice”,  the state was producing only 15 per cent of what its people consumed, spending N350 billion on rice importation, half of the bill on the commodity by Nigeria.

    Daily, 6,000 cows are slaughtered at over N3 million, translating to N1, 080,000,000 yearly. Even with its huge population and the high purchasing power of residents, Lagos, with only 350 hectares of cultivable lands, had 53 hectares under cultivation.

    Because of the strategic position of Lagos in Nigeria, one would think Lagos would receive the biggest impact of Nigeria’s socio-economic dislocation. But the state is God has been blessed with visionary and competent leaders.

    Ambode swims against the tide of potential crisis to produce outstanding accomplishments, which have kept Lagos in the forefront of socio-economic and political development.

    Yet, Lagos must produce spectacular results in all sectors, especially in food safety and adequacy and agricultural security. At this period of recession, the first in 20 years in Nigeria, we need leaders who are willing, able and eager to rescue the country, bring us out of recession and restore our glory. Ambode is a shining example of such leaders.

    Through uncommon policies, Ambode has been charting a new path towards achieving self-sufficiency in the food and agricultural sector, complemented by businesses and industrial strategies.

    He created the Office of the Special Adviser on Food Security to, among other things, tackle food insufficiency, provide employment, stimulate relevant business and industrial value chains and fuel accelerated socio-economic growth and development.

    Ambode also seeks to inspire healthy competition and expand mutually rewarding agro-economy collaborations, not only in the states of the Western Region, but in all other states in the country. The Governor believes that when food is adequate, harmonious relationship and peaceful co-existence will reign.

    Ambode’s efforts in developing the agricultural sector can be seen in the proverb that says “don’t give me fish but teach me how to fish”. The empowerment of our people, particularly the youth, women and unemployed through partnership and networking with relevant stakeholders within the state are germane in Ambode’s creative policies.  In the next 2 years, Lagos is poised to scale up food sufficiency from the present 12 per cent to 25 per cent.

    For rice sufficiency in Lagos and for prosperity to her and other collaborating states, Ambode targets all arable lands in Nigeria. “Lake Rice” initiative is a fine example of strategic collaboration, where comparative advantages of partners are combined to produce impressive yield.

    During the Yuletide period, Lagos sold 32,467 bags of 50kg, 32,539 bags of 25kg and 30,780 bags of 10kg “Lake Rice”, produced and bagged by both states.

    Comparative advantage to maximise production is important in the agrarian policy. In alliance with Lagos, Kebbi State brings to the table 600 hectares of arable land, as Ogun State, in Eguaa provides 500 hectares. In the same manner, the state has stepped up rice promotion drive, acquiring lands in other states for cultivation, especially in the South West.

    The governor is determined to reach the maximum limit possible for rice cultivation in Lagos as well. He expanded the Imota Rice Mill to have the capacity of 16 metric tons from 2.5 metric tons; a total of 100 farmers, mostly youths, are engaged in rice production in Epe under FADAMA III project; and in Avia, Badagry, under Agric-YES, every year over 100 youths were trained for six months and practised for six months.

    At the end of their training, they were given loan facility, resources and technical support. Still under Agric-YES in Badagry area, he is fusing socio-cultural realities of the region with agricultural opportunities to maximise gains, by strengthening people’s bond with their lands, building alliances with the people of Soghai, Republic of Benin, promoting entrepreneurship and other economic value chains and encouraging friendship of the people in Badagry and in Benin Republic.

    Coconut has more than 300 derivatives, and in the past, coconut was a major export earner of the State, hence the Coconut Initiative is an area where Lagos still has massive comparative advantage. The Governor is poised to revive and scale up the coconut projects across all the value chains, as 180km stretch of coconut groves are available for planting of 30,000 seedlings, as 3 community-based micro-processing centres have been installed. This move will not only stimulate coconut industry (like in the Philippines where coconut earnings and coconut products can be compared to our receipts from petroleum) but will also improve coastal environment of the region.

    Ambode’s agrarian revolution is far-reaching, involving the entire food and agric-business spectrum. Under the Agric-YES, over 500 youths have been trained in poultry and fish farming. From the first quarter of the year, over 1,500 crates of eggs are being harvested every day, 2, 000 broilers hatched per month and 18 tons of fresh fish harvested per cycle; the Entrepreneurship Centre Initiative provides continuous advisory services to farmers through seasoned representatives in all technical areas of agriculture; there is Estate initiative; there is Commercial Agricultural Development Project (CAPD) initiative – 315 women were trained, 51 of whom were empowered in poultry, rice and aquatic value chain; Agric-Input Supply Initiative and Rural Finance Institution Project (Rufin)-aimed at strengthening the capacity of farmers while increasing access of poor rural farmers to financial services – Agric Programme (SAP) and Cage Culture System. There is Oyo Cattle Fattening partnership in Ejio to address the beef needs of Lagosians.

    Nigeria was once one of the few nations considered as giants in agriculture, in the pre-Independence era and two decades after.

    A nation blessed with clement weather, fantastic river systems and an extensive coast line, our Nigeria was one of the best for habitation. In those periods, foods, vegetables and fruits – fresh from the farms – were affordable.

    From 1960 to 1970, agriculture sustained the Nigerian economy as the main foreign exchange earner, contributing about 76 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The country was the largest producer and exporter of palm oil and groundnuts. With the ability to export 47 per cent of her products, Nigeria contributed 18 per cent to the world’s total exports and remained a major force to reckon with in such other cash crops as rubber, cotton, citrus and peanuts.

    • AbdulLateef is Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs
  • Police arrest 10 over toddler’s murder in Lagos Shrine

    Police arrest 10 over toddler’s murder in Lagos Shrine

    …Arrest Badoo suspect 

     

    The Lagos State Police Command Wednesday said it has arrested 10 persons in connection with the death of a four-year-old girl, who was sacrificed in a shrine at Iwaya, Yaba.

    The toddler was found dead at midnight, 12 hours after she was declared missing by her parents on Tuesday.

    According to the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Suleiman Taiwo, their daughter and two of her siblings had gone to the mosque by 1pm to pray for the day. 

    Although her siblings returned after the prayers, the little girl was nowhere to be found, prompting the parents to raise an alarm and a search party was formed. 

    Her corpse was later found at midnight at the shrine behind the house by the search party,  with her neck slashed with a knife, after she was used as a human sacrifice.

    The distraught parents then bundled the corpse to the Sabo Police Station where they met the divisional police officer on duty. 

    Confirming the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said arrests have been made and 10 persons are presently in police custody. 

    He said: “The DPO Sabo alerted me that one Suleiman Taiwo and wife came to the station with the dead body of their four-year-old daughter.

    “Upon questioning, they said the deceased with her two siblings went to pray at the mosque by 1pm and wasn’t seen since then. It was in the course of the search that they found the deceased by a shrine where Ogun is worshipped near their house. Her throat was slashed.

    “We have seen the murder knife when we got there by 4am. We have arrested 10 persons and they are in our custody for interrogation. We are not saying they killed the child but there is a kind of conspiracy in the matter.

    “We will question all of them. The area is densely populated. Seems like these days, people have thrown their morals into the dustbin because I don’t know what a four-year-old child has done to be murdered.

    “The shrine has been in that chomping for a long time and if it’s not a conspiracy of silence, then the occupants must have known that human sacrifices are made in that shrine because this is not the first time such has happened.”

    In another development, 28-year-old Ahmed Adeleke allegedly attacked 17-year-old Deborah Olaniyan with a grinding stone inside Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Orioke, Irapada Parish, Agbowa in Ikorodu.

    Also confirming this, Owoseni said items recovered include one grinding stone, a blood stained white garment and handkerchiefs in white, red and blue colours.

    He said: “Although the suspect claimed to be a member of the church, investigations revealed that he was of the Islamic faith and not a Christian.”

    Meanwhile, he said the command also in implementation of its crime prevention strategies arrested seven persons suspected to be cultists in Agbowa and Obalende area of the state with tools of violence. 

    “One UTC axe and a cutlass were recovered from them. The command once again appeal to members of the public to desist from taking laws into their hands as anyone caught will be made to face the full wrath of the law.”

  • 144,275 pupils write Lagos placement test

    A total of 144,275 pupils wrote this year’s Placement Test for admission into the public Junior Secondary Schools run by the Lagos State Government last Saturday.

    A breakdown of the figure showed that  91,500 pupils were from the public primary schools and 52,775 pupils from private schools took part in the test.

    Monitoring the exercise, the Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Ganiyu Oluremi Sopeyin, noted that there was a lot of improvement in this year’s exercise – including the customisation of the answer scripts (OMR sheets) to bear the names of each candidate.

    Next year, he said, Exams Identication Sheets would be prepared for pupils that will take part in the test to address the challenge of searching for centres.

    He decried the situation whereby parents and guardians searched for the centres of their wards on the test day, particularly those attending private schools.

    He scored the performance of all stakeholders that took part in the test 99 per cent as challenges were quickly and easily addressed.

    He said the government would not relent in its efforts to provide qualitative and quantitative education in the state.

  • Suicide: You have no right to self-terminate

    There had been events that made headlines in Lagos State of late in respect of individuals killing themselves.  The first story is that a medical doctor was being driven on Third Mainland Bridge, the story went, and he asked his chauffeur to stop. In the middle of the said bridge, he apparently had spoken to someone on the phone earlier, got out of the car and launched a dive into the deep ocean. His body was recovered later, apparently died due to suicide. Few weeks after the first event recording the demise of the doctor, a businesswoman attempted to repeat what the doctor had done but she was saved by the vigilance and quick reaction of the people around. As it turned out, the woman had lost a substantial amount of her business funds by whatever means. The poor woman was charged to court on account of attempted suicide. Ultimately, the court freed her and she vowed not to attempt to take life ever again.

    These events represents as I have illustrated above, the tip of the iceberg of suicide rates in Nigeria. Contrary to popular belief, that is to say, suicide is not uncommon in the jurisdiction of Nigeria. Suicide is the act of taking one’s life or termination of one’s life. Suicide may be accidental or intentional. In contract, murder or homicide is the intentional killing of an individual by another person. Secondary murder (USA definition) or manslaughter (UK and other common law jurisdiction definition) is the unintentional killing of another person.

    Globally, about a million people commit suicide every year. Put more specifically, an estimated 12 individuals for every 100,000 people take their own lives every year. In Nigeria, this figure is that approximately seven persons will commit suicide for every 100,000 of the population. Sadly, suicide affects the dynamic and most energetic group of a country’s population. That is to say, the very young and productive people seem to succumb to suicide. Thus, suicide is one of the three leading causes of death among those in the most economically productive age group (15–44 years).

    Whilst individuals are often the victims of suicide, there is also a trend of joint suicidal enterprise (otherwise called suicide pact): persons who come together to take their own lives. This is yet uncommon in Nigeria but a feature of Asian communities.

    Thou shall not kill thyself: religion and the law:  There is no doubt that Nigeria is heavily a religious nation featuring different religious beliefs though about 10-13 per cent per cent having been the happiest nation on earth in recent memory, murder and suicide rates in Nigeria are not falling.

    While there is no reservation that our various religions may be stemming the inclination to commit suicide, the law, as the experience of the woman in the first paragraph shows, takes a frown and dim view of suicide or attempted suicide.

    Back in England (UK). Before the Suicide Act 1961, it was a crime to commit suicide, and anyone who attempted and failed could be prosecuted and imprisoned, while the families of those who succeeded could also potentially be prosecuted. In part, that criminalization reflected religious and moral objections to suicide as self-murder as we still have in Nigeria; in part our laws having derived from colonial legacy. The Suicide Act 1961 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that decriminalised the act of suicide in England and Wales so that those who failed in the attempt to kill themselves would no longer be prosecuted.

    Return to Nigeria: In spite of the monumental change to the law that had taken effect in the UK in respect of suicide, the law in Nigeria remain stern in respect of attempted suicide.

    Section 327 of Criminal Code Act, Chapter 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 states: “Any person who attempts to kill himself is guilty of a misdemeanor, and is liable to imprisonment for one year.” Also, if you assist in anyway, a person to commit suicide, you may be sent to prison for life. Of course, no charge can be brought against a person who is already dead, suffice to say.

    Causes of suicide, suicidal ideation and attempted suicide: Suicide or attempted suicide is in general a clinical indication that something is wrong with the person. Very often, the person is suffering from depression (20% of Nigerians and indeed world population suffers from depression) which may be caused by financial loses, bereavement, relationship breakdown, poor career prospects or failure, unemployment, social ridicule in whatever age group, academic failure, existing mental illness such as schizophrenia with hearing of voices, religious misdirection, existing of chronic physical illness such as HIV and cancers and chronic pain amongst others. While women tends to attempt suicide unsuccessfully, men seems to actually kill themselves.  Being unmarried also tend to push individuals toward suicide.

    Preventions: In the eyes healthcare practitioners and as it is in England of 1961 Suicide Act, suicide should not be a criminal offence any longer in Nigeria. Suicide should be seen as a cry for help which went unheard. Attempted suicide is a clear cry for help and support. Suicidal persons need credible social, healthcare and family support rather than being blamed and imprisoned. If you are feeling low in your spirit, seek urgent medical intervention. Help is available.

    The role of coroner in suicide:  If however, a person is found to have committed suicide, under the current law, an inquest, at the behest of the coroner, should be held to determine cause of death. But, the coroner or the police will first of all need to be informed of the death. What appears to be suicide, may actually in the end, be a homicide. In all, personal injuries, attempted suicide and unlawful deaths, can be remedied. Depression can be treated and social issues can be resolved. All you need to do is to ask for help. You will find it.

  • Lagos council polls : Eredo, Ikotun/Igando LCDAs record low voter turnout

    Lagos council polls : Eredo, Ikotun/Igando LCDAs record low voter turnout

    Early morning rain on Saturday prevented many voters from coming out to vote in the Lagos council polls in Eredo and Ikotun/Igando Local Council Development Areas.

    Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who monitored the election, report that there was a low turnout of voters at some polling units.

    NAN also observed that there was no presence of security personnel at Ward A Units 2, 7, 8, 10, 16, 18 and 19 in Ilara community as at 9.30 a.m.

    However, security men mounted a barricade at the main junction as the Police engaged in stop and search.

    An electoral officer in the area attributed the low turnout to the rain, adding that voters may still come out as soon as the rain subsided.

    At Ward 037 in Ikotun/Igando LCDA, a few voters, majority of them old people, were at many of the polling units.

    Mrs Yemisi Dosunmu, a 57-year- old caterer, told NAN that the apathy by youths was not good for our democracy.

    She said it was important for the younger generation to understand the importance of voting.

    “I came all the way from Egbe to vote here because this is where I registered when I was living here.

    “That is to show you how important this election is to me; our voting age children (youths)  need to understand that they have the power to elect leaders of their choice.

    “As citizens, it is an obligation and our vote is the only power we have against bad governance, the power lies with us; we need to educate our youths,’’ she said.

    Also, a 43-year-old engineer, Dauda Ojo, told NAN that the poor turnout showed that people lacked the understanding of their voting power.

    “Since I started voting, this turnout is one of the poorest, we cannot achieve much if we keep showing apathy towards the election of office holders,’’ he said.

    NAN also reports that some food vendors at Eredo LCDA took advantage of their proximity to the polling units to make brisk business.

    Meanwhile, Mr Olusoda Adedeji, the Electoral Officer, Eredo LCDA, has assured that the outcome of the election would be credible in spite of the initial low turnout of voters due to the rainfall.

    Adedeji said adequate security and logistics had been put in place in the five wards and 85 units in the area to ensure a hitch-free election with more than 185 personnel deployed for the exercise. 

  • Lagos council polls: Police arrest five with incriminating materials

    Lagos council polls: Police arrest five with incriminating materials

    The Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Lagos State Police Command on Saturday arrested five men with incriminating materials in Ikeja, as the local government elections got underway.

    The spokesman for the command, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    Famous-Cole said that the suspects,  who claimed to be agents to a political party, were arrested with incriminating materials at 8.30a.m.

    “They have been handed over to the Area F Command, which will send them to the special team for election crimes at the state Criminal Investigation Department for further investigations.”

    Meanwhile, security agencies, including the police, military, Security and Civil Defence Corps and Immigration, have deployed their personnel to strategic locations in different parts of Lagos to ensure peaceful local government elections.

    A senior police officer who sought anonymity on the Funso Williams Avenue in Surulere, where security men put barricades,  told NAN that the area command observed that some residents were flouting the restriction order.

    He, however, gave the assurance that those with genuine reasons would be allowed to continue their journey.

    NAN reports that the movement restriction began at 7.00am. It will end at 3.00pm.

    Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission is conducting Chairmanship and Councillorship elections in its 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas.

    Twelve political parties are participating the election.

    They are: Accord Party (AP), Action Alliance (AA), Alliance for Democracy ( AD ), All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP ), Labour Party (LP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    The others are United Democratic Party (UDP), United Progressive Party (UPP), Kowa Party (KP), National Action Council (NAC) and Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM).

  • LG election: Ambode votes, says Lagos needs credible people in local govt

    LG election: Ambode votes, says Lagos needs credible people in local govt

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Saturday voted in the local government election in the state, stressing the need to vote in credible people to oversee the Local Governments.
     
    Governor Ambode voted at about 9.45am in Ward A6, Polling Unit 10 in Ogunmodede Junior and Senior College, Papa Epe axis of the state.
    He arrived his polling unit by 9:35am and joined the queue.
     
    Addressing reporters shortly after casting his vote, he said reports from across the state indicate that the whole process has been peaceful.
     
    “So far so good, from the’ reports I have received from all the other parts of Lagos State, we are pleased with what is going on.
     
    “Voting has commenced in every part of Lagos; the whole thing has been very peaceful thus far and I believe strongly that it would be peaceful throughout.
     
    “We have done so much to ensure that the security is good and so I just urge people to come out and exercise their franchise.”
     
    The governor who recalled that Local Government election had not taken place in the state in the last five years, said it was good that the election is going on adding that this would help enhance democratic value in the state.
     
    “You cannot stay back and just expect that things will work well. Yes, we have tried at the State level but we also need credible people at the Local Government level and that is the nearest government to our people and all we have been advocating is about participatory governance.
     
    “If you don’t take part, you will not be part of what is coming and the whole essence is for you to choose people who will really touch your needs and if you sit down at home and people who are not credible gets there, it will not be their fault when they give you bad result and that is what we don’t want.
     
    “I am happy that this election is coming at my own time. The whole idea is for us to evolve a process where the citizens come out and believe in a process that is credible and then when you do this and people are able to see elections that come at the Local Government level, they will be excited to do it because they know that it’s been credible, peaceful and there is no violence.
     
    Also speaking, APC Chieftain and Balogun of Epe, Chief Lanre Razak who also casted his vote at the governor’s polling unit, said the party strongly believes in strengthening democracy, adding that the conduct of the election would go a long way to develop the political process.
     
    Rasak also commended governor Ambode for his developmental strides all over the state, saying that Lagos has witnessed an appreciable level of development since he assumed office.
     
    Meanwhile, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Epe Constituency II, Hon. Segun Olulade who voted at RCM Primary School, Ejinrin, Epe commended Lagosians for coming out to vote despite the heavy downpour, saying that it is through people’s participation that democratic values can be enhanced.
  • We’ll make Epe safe during polls – Police

    We’ll make Epe safe during polls – Police

    Divisional Police Officer in Epe, Lagos State, CSP Sunday Adeyeri, on Friday assured residents that no fewer than 250 personnel had been deployed to ensure security in the area during the council polls.

    Council polls hold in Lagos State on Saturday to elect chairmen and councillors in the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

    In Epe, candidates of various parties will battle to win the chairmanship of the Council and the eight councillorship positions in the area.

    Adeyeri told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Epe that the 250 personnel were deployed because of the peculiarity of the area.

    The DPO said beyond the deployments, they were also collaborating with other security agents like the military and the State Security Service.

    “We have put in place adequate strategies, to ensure a hitch free exercise and adequate peace before, during and after the elections,’’ he said, assuring that they were battle ready.

    Adeyeri enjoined political parties and their standard bearers to embrace the July 22 elections with the spirit of sportsmanship, devoid of crisis.