The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lagos State

  • Lagos to begin construction of N49bn Medical Park

    Lagos to begin construction of N49bn Medical Park

    The Lagos State Government Wednesday announced plans to begin the construction of world class Medical Park in partnership with the private sector, expected to cost about N49billion.

    The State’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris who briefed journalists after the weekly State Executive Council Meeting, said the project is in line with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s commitment to improve healthcare experience and promote medical tourism and excellent healthcare services of international standard in the State.

    He said the project has already been awarded to MEDIPARK International Limited Consortium which comprises of MEDIPARK International Limited, Cleveland Clinics Ohio USA, St. Barnabas Healthcare System New Jersey and American Hospital Management Company Washington DC.

    Idris, who briefed journalists alongside the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde and Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tpl. Wasiu Anifowose, said the project would be completed in 20 months, while the State Government would only provide the land and the market.

    Idris recalled that the State Government had last year placed adverts in national dailies for Expressions of Interest for a development of a Medical Park aimed at ensuring qualitative healthcare delivery to Lagosians.

    He said 16 companies/consortiums responded to the advertisement, after which an Evaluation Committee was set up in line with State procurement guidelines with individuals comprising both statutorily mandated members and officers invited to lend technical depth to the exercise.

    “It gives me great pleasure to announce that after the receipt of a Certificate of Compliance from the State Public Procurement Agency and a final presentation today to the Executive Council of Lagos State, Approval has been given to MEDIPARK International Limited Consortium which comprises of MEDIPARK International Limited, Cleveland Clinics Ohio USA, St. Barnabas Healthcare System New Jersey and American Hospital Management Company Washington DC to be the developer to construct manage and operate a Medical Park. It is a joint venture arrangement with Ibile Holdings Ltd,” Idris said.

    He said the Medical Park would be sited at the former Lagos State School of Nursing site, spanning over two hectares expanse of land along Awolowo Road, Ikoyi and will serve as a one stop shopping medical experience offering spaces to primary care physicians alongside in-house specialists as well as ancillary services providing a full spectrum of excellent quality high technology cutting – edge medical and diagnostic services to cater for general and specialty medical services tailored to meet the medical needs of Lagosians and Nigerians at large.

    The facility, Idris said would comprise of a central management area, clinic complex, theatre complex and procedure rooms, ward complex, conference and seminar complex medical goods and lifestyle shopping centre, stress management and lifestyle improvement unit, data cabling/integrated IT system, structured landscaping, residential accommodation, staff quarters, hotel, emergency and ambulance service, trauma unit, helipad amongst other things.

    He also said that the facility which be built under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative was a milestone in healthcare delivery aimed at reducing medical tourism abroad.

    Speaking on the yardstick used in selecting MEDIPARK International, Idris said: “You see, 16 companies started the expression of interest. The first step was just to assess their capabilities and we now narrowed them down to 7 companies which later presented proper proposals on the terms of reference we gave them. Based on the assessment of experts, the list was further pruned down to three and later, we arrived at the one which was finally awarded the project.

    “The ultimate goal is that we as a Government believe that health is wealth and there is no amount of investment in the healthcare sector, that can be too much for the good people of this State because the progress of the state in all ramifications is paramount to us,” the Commissioner said.

  • Demolition of school buildings, Lagos state heads for Supreme Court

    Demolition of school buildings, Lagos state heads for Supreme Court

    The Lagos state government on Thursday said that it would contest the decision of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division which reversed the judgment of a Lagos High Court upholding the demolition of the Sceptre Comprehensive school buildings.

    This was made known in a statement issued in Lagos and signed by the Director Public Relations, Ministry of Justice, Bola Akingbade.

    The state government had alleged that the school’s buildings, located on Supo Adigun Street, Ogudu and demolished in 2007 were built in contravention of the physical planning law, 2005.

    The Lagos State Government had contended that the issue of title is different from the issue of physical planning, in line with the Supreme Court decision in AG LAGOS STATE VS. AG OF THE FEDERATION that conferred the power to regulate planning on the State Government.

    Consequent upon the submission of the government, a Lagos high court had upheld the demolition of the school buildings.

    But the Court of Appeal in its ruling on Thursday held that the appellant having started the process of regularization of title with the Lagos State Government should be informed of the reason for refusal of the appellants building plan approval.

  • Lagos completes restructuring of N167.5bn bond series

    Lagos completes restructuring of N167.5bn bond series

    Lagos State Government on Wednesday said it had successfully completed the restructuring of its N167.5billion Programme II, Series 1 and 2 Bonds.

    In a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akinkunmi Mustapha, said the restructuring which was approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last week, was achieved through the finalization of a process through which the State worked to reach an agreement with its bond creditors, on accelerating repayment terms.

    He said the transaction will generate savings in excess of N40billion for the State over the next five years was approved by 99.6 per cent of the State’s bondholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting a few weeks ago.

    Mustapha said, “We thank all our bond creditors for their continued support of the State Government, in a difficult market environment. This restructuring completed entirely through domestic capital markets, once again underpins the strength of the Lagos State credit story.

    “Aside the significant cash savings generated, it also creates additional borrowing capacity to enable the state continue its investments in physical, economic and social infrastructure.

    “Much of the significant progress in Lagos State over the last 16 years can be attributed to funding through the debt capital market. Our bondholders’ support of this restructuring confirms the level of confidence the market has in the current administration and Lagos State did not partake in the recent bail-outs provided either by the Federal Government DMO or the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),” the Commissioner said.

    He said the Chapel Hill Denham acted as Financial Adviser to the Lagos State on the restructuring transaction.

     

  • Lecturers demand management’s commitment

    Lecturers demand management’s commitment

    Lecturers from the Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCOPED), Noforija in Epe, Lagos State, have vowed to continue their indefinite strike ‎until the management pays half of the outstanding debts it owes them.

    The Union Chairman, Mr Michael Adefuye, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos that the payment would stand as a commitment from the management to the lecturers before the strike could be called off.

    Adefuye said following the declaration of the strike on April 18, the Special Adviser (SA) to Gov. Akinwumi Ambode on Education, had on April 21 invited the union executive for a meeting.

    He said the ‎governor’s aide had appealed to the union leaders to call off the strike as the government had increased the college’s monthly subvention effective from May 2016.

    According to him, the special adviser assured them that when the subvention is increased the management will start paying the outstanding debt monthly until it has cleared all.

    But the chairman insisted that the management must pay half of the outstanding debt, as a commitment before suspending its strike.

    According to him, the union insisted so because the current provost has just three years more to spend with the college.

    He noted that the outstanding debt was 42 months of unremitted pensions to the Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) and must be cleared before the end of the tenure of the present administration.

    “From our calculation, if we agree to the monthly payment of the debt as proposed by the SA, the present management will not finish paying the debt before the expiration of the present provost.

    “That is why we are insisting that half of the debt, which is 21 months be paid, so that the remaining 21 months can be paid before the tenure of the provost lapses,’’ he said.

    He said that the executive would call a congress next week to table the outcome of the meeting with the special adviser.

    ‎NAN reports that the lecturers, under the auspices of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), MOCPED, Noforija, Epe Chapter, had on April 18, declared an indefinite strike and staged a peaceful protest.

    The union said it declared the strike as a result of the non-implementation of its demands by the college authorities.

    It was demanding for the payment of 42 months’ of un-remitted pensions to the Pension Funds Administrator (PFA) ‎after the state government increased its monthly subvention in 2013.

    It also accused the management of collapsing the degree programmes with Ekiti State University (EKSU), while others such as Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) and Federal College of Education, Akoka, affiliates were flourishing.

    ‎According to the union, the present administration lacks transparency in the financial administration of the college’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), TETFUND and subvention, among other complains and demands‎.

  • Lagos records 150 rape cases, rescue 31 abandoned babies

    Lagos State Government has said that about 150 reported cases of sexual and physical abuse was recorded in the state while 31 babies abandoned babies were rescued on the streets in the last one year.

    Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf revealed this yesterday while addressing journalists in Alausa.

    She said the ministry also assisted five pregnant school children were assisted to access adequate antenatal and delivery services as they were also integrated back to school.

    According to her, “a total of 57,350 school children benefitted from individual and group counseling sessions to curb truancy, gangsterism, abscondment and other social vices. 150 reported cases of sexual abuse and physical abuse were treated. 5 pregnant school children were assisted to access adequate antenatal and delivery services. They were also integrated back to school,” she said.

    The commissioner added that 85 suspected rapists and people who physically abused children had been taken to court while the cases were still pending.

    The commissioner also disclosed that 31 babies, which include 19 female and 12 male, abandoned by their parents were rescued in the last one year on the streets of Lagos.

    “The Child Protection Unit is responsible for the rescue/referral of all abandoned babies and “lost but found” children in the State to registered orphanages and homes. It also carries out child audit on the registered orphanages in order to conduct a case review of the children in the homes with a view to decongesting the homes and discouraging institutionalization. A total number of 31 babies (19 females and 12 males) were rescued during the period under review,” she said.

    The commissioner said over 1,000 applications was received on adoption and fostering in the year under review, out of which 110 applications had been screened for Adoption.

    She added that 74 babies were released for adoption from previous the approvals while 81 Adoptions were legalized through the Family Courts (70 were for Local and 11 for International).

    On the issue of beggar, Akinbile-Yussuf disclosed that in the last one year, 1,340 beggars/ destitute/ mentally challenged were rescued off the streets of Lagos.

    “A total number of 590 rehabilitee were released and re-united with their relations for re-integration. 1, 228 rehabilitee are in residence at RTC Majidun, Ikorodu as at the time of compiling this report.

    “The State government provides medical and vocational facilities to help in turning the lives of the Beggars/destitute around while in residence and aftercare services. 147 rehabilitee are equally undergoing vocational training at the Rehabilitation and Training Centre, Majidun.

    “43 drug dependents rehabilitees who probably lost hope were restored back to their former position of functional ability while another 20 are still undergoing rehabilitation and vocational training at the Rehabilitation and Vocational Training Centre, Isheri. 26 physically challenged persons are presently undergoing vocational training at the State Vocational Rehabilitation Centre for Persons with Disabilities at Owutu, Ikorodu,” she stated.

    The commissioner disclosed that the state had handled 634 juvenile cases in the last one year, out of which 26 juvenile were repatriated to the countries after due consultation with their embassies that requested for such mutual repatriation.

     

  • Lagos set aside N6.5 billion to settle pension areas

    Lagos set aside N6.5 billion to settle pension areas

    Lagos State Government has set aside N6.5billion for the settlement of all pension areas in the state.

    State Commissioner for establishments, training and pension Mr. Akintola Oke who disclosed this Tuesday at the flag of the four day pre-retirement workshop for retiring public servants said the provision was contained in the year 2016 budget of the ministry.

    He told the retiring staff that the government is very concern about the welfare of retirees as it has consistently pay the monthly pension due to pensioners to date and has equally not faulted in the payment of its own share of contributory pensions due to serving workers.

    Oke also informed that the governor since assumption of office released N11 billion to offset pension areas, issued another bond worth N1.4 billion, paid N1.9billion to 294 retirees from the state public service in addition to payment of over N37million pension gratuities to 57 disengaged staff of defunct EKO Today.

    He urged the retiring staff to take advantage of the exposure that would come with the workshop so as to enable them plan properly for their retirement.

    “I am particularly delighted to have you all present as participants at this novel initiatives of government organised to specifically prepare you for the challenges that come when the realities of life stare you in the face.

    He said the workshop was put in place with the aim at sharpening retiring staff skills and prepare you for another round of challenges in life. “I know that you may be retiring but never tired, I therefore seek your indulgence to give this workshop the priority attention it deserves and at the end of the workshop you would have gained things that would prepare you adequately for the future.”

    The commissioner said government is not oblivious of the current economic situation in the country which has heavily taking its toll on every citizens of the country.

    He said the government recently distributed consumable items to pensioners in the state on annual basis with view to give back to those committed workers who have served the state and added value to the development of the state.

     

  • Lagos Assembly demands LAMATA’s scorecards

    Lagos Assembly demands LAMATA’s scorecards

    The Chairman, Committee on Transportation of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Fatahi Mojeed has demanded the scorecard of the Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) since its existence in 2003, saying that “there is need to ensure that the vision of government on transportation does not fritter away.”

    The Chairman in company of other members of the committee, Fatahi Oluwa and Jude Idimogu made the request while on familiarization visit to the office of LAMATA at Old Toll Gate, Ikeja.

    According to him, the visit was done in preparation of an oversight function that would be carried out in the next few days, adding that “the House has received a number of petitions on the activities of LAMATA which the committee would have to verify.”

    Mojeed added that apart from the scorecard, the committee also wishes to know if there were challenges facing the company, saying the House is ready to intervene in order to better the service rendered by the Authority.

    In his reaction, LAMATA Acting Managing Director, Iyiola Adegboye recalled that during military regime in 1992 there was a collaboration with world Bank on a master plan to work out a model of transportation for Lagos.

    According to him, by 1996, the framework which was put in place was not executed until when the former Governor of the State, Bola Tinubu came to office, adding that in 2002 Tinubu signed the Lagos Urban Transport Project (LUTP) which represents the flagship for efficient delivery of acceptable means of transportation.

    Adegboye explained that LAMATA was therefore to operate as a semi-autonomous organization to militate against bureaucratic bottlenecks, saying “over the last 20 years LAMATA has become a nobel institution.”

    The MD however appealed to the House to come up with appropriate law that would assist the organization to add more values to transportation efficiency in the state.

    While expressing delight over the committee’s visit, the Managing Director promised to avail the House with details of its activities whenever the committee comes for the oversight appraisal.

  • CCT Bill: Lawyers slam Senate

    CCT Bill: Lawyers slam Senate

    Some lawyers in Lagos on Friday reacted to the ongoing amendment of the Code of Conduct Tribunal Act by the Senate, describing it as self-serving and unacceptable.

     

    The lawyers, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the amendment was ill-timed and a breach of public trust.

     

    NAN reports that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, is currently being tried for alleged false declaration of assets by the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

     

    The bill to amend the CCT Act, has within 48 hours, scaled the second reading in the Upper Chamber.

     

    Mr Dotun Adetunji, the Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Ikorodu Branch, Lagos State, said the amendment of the CCT Act at this point was a “shameful act.’’

     

    He said any amendment to a law based on vested interest was contrary to the rule of law and the ethics of good governance.

     

    “This action of the Senate while its president is undergoing trial at the CCT is a shameful act.

     

    “It is also a slap on the generality of Nigerians that voted them into office and a breach of the trust expected of them.

     

    “This move by the Senate will not put this nation in good standing in the international community,’’ he told NAN.

     

    According to him, the amendment of the CCT Act by the Senate will not in any way bring Nigeria close to a sane society.

     

    “The rule of law is supposed to create a sane society and that is why its principles aim to ensure that a nation is governed by law and not by men’s self-serving interests.

     

    “The international community and Nigerians in diaspora should raise their voices in addition to all of us within the country to condemn this move by the Senate,’’ the NBA chief added.

     

    Another lawyer, Mr Ataene Spurgeon, said although the National Assembly was empowered by the statute books to make laws for the country, the amendment of the CCT Act might be a “coincidence.’’

     

    “The amendment of the Code of Conduct Tribunal Act is a `coincidence’ with the trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.’’

     

    “If the laws establishing the Code of Conduct bureau and the Code of Conduct Tribunal are faulty, it becomes necessary for the sake of the good governance to amend the same.

     

    “If three judges ought to sit on a particular tribunal and there are only two judges presently sitting, then there is a gap in the law which needs to be addressed for the future, ’’ he also told NAN.

     

    For Mr Ola Ogunbiyi, the amendment should not affect the trial of the senate president.

     

    “The trial can only be affected if the trial is stalled till after the amendment.

     

    “The Senate can at any point amend the law, that it is being amended at this point in time is not an issue.

     

    “The law begins to take its course the day it is signed into law; it is not going to be retrospective.

     

    “Now it is not a law, it is still under amendment before the Senate and it will not affect his trial.’’

     

    An Abeokuta-based legal practitioner, Mr Emmanuel Olu-Alade, said there was no law forbidding amendment of an Act because someone was on trial.

     

    “The question is, ‎what are the paragraphs that are currently being amended and what would be the effect of the amended paragraphs considering the ongoing trial of Bukola Saraki.

     

    In his contributions, Mr Wale Ogunade, a lawyer and public affairs analyst, said:

    “The Senate is required by law to amend laws.

     

    “However, in the case of the amendment of the CCT Act by the Senate, the question to ask is: does the Senate have an honest intention or an ulterior motive.

     

    “My opinion is that the recent moves by the Senate to amend the CCT Act were designed to frustrate the trial of Saraki.

     

    “It is designed to water down the Act making it worthless, useless and of no effect whatsoever.”

  • Lagos Assembly to Ambode: stop hawking by underage children

    Lagos Assembly to Ambode: stop hawking by underage children

    Lagos State House of Assembly has called on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to direct the concerned  agencies to stop uncontrolled and unchecked street hawking by under-aged children on the streets.

     

    The motion, which became the resolution of the House was moved by Hon. Sola Giwa (Lagos Mainland 2) during plenary yesterday.

     

    Giwa stated that illegal hawking not only brings physical and body harm to these children, but that it leads to psychological trauma and that it paints Lagos in a bad picture to the outside world.

     

    The lawmaker also spoke about the total failure of proper parenting by certain custodians of these children, and failure of the state to do the needful by applying punitive measures to the defaulting parents in protection of the right of children as contained and provided for in section 15 of the child right law (2007) of Lagos State.

     

    He pointed out that the law states that “Every child, who is in need of special protection measures has the right to measure what is appropriate to his physical, social, economic, emotional and mental needs and under conditions, which ensure his dignity promote his self-reliance and active participation in the affairs of the community”.

     

    The House then resolved to call on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to direct the Ministry of Youths and Social Development, Lagos State task force and other relevant agencies to as a matter of urgency begin to remove these children from the street as well as assist parents of the erring children.

  • Police kill three armed robbers, nab 779 suspects

    Police kill three armed robbers, nab 779 suspects

    Three suspected armed robbers were killed during gun duels, and 779 suspects arrested across Lagos in the last three weeks.

    This disclosure was made by the state Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni on Wednesday during an interaction with journalists at the command’s headquarters in Ikeja.

    He also stated that the police recovered 27 guns, 64 rounds of various ammunitions and 33 different brands of vehicles within the period.

    Among those arrested were 23 suspected armed robbers, two ‘cultists’ and 754 persons apprehended during raids of criminal hideouts in the state.

    The police boss stated that 260 persons were released unconditionally from the 754 raided after they were found to have legitimate source of livelihood.

    “494 of them were charged to court and we secured conviction on 298. The courts discharged 151 persons and 45 are still awaiting trial. In an effort to enforce the state Traffic Law 255 motorcycles were impounded for plying restricted routes,” he said.

    Owoseni who said the most prevalent crimes in the state since March 18 were cult and gangster related clashes, as well as stealing by domestic employees from their masters, noted that the command has been able to recover about 95 percent of cars stolen from the owners by their drivers.

    “Among the suspects arrested within this period were a group which specialises in dispossessing commercial motorcyclists of their bike. Their modus operandi is that they pretend to be passengers wanting to patronise motorcyclists.

    “Then, after they are carried, they use a certain spray on the rider which makes him unconscious after which they dispossess of his bike.

    “When they are done, they meet one Justin, who generates fake receipt and fake plate number for them and they start operating the motorcycles.

    “Five of them, including Justin were arrested and three of the snatched motorcycles were identified by their owners. Police discovered 50 other motorcycles in Justin’s house, as well as fake number plates and receipts. 

    “Also, 13 suspected ‘one-chance’ operators  who are still being interrogated were arrested at different areas in the state. We apprehended about five of them who operate at Shoprite Ikeja, arrested some in Surulere and recovered two buses. Two other persons were arrested who received the stolen items from the one-chance operators.
    “Six suspected cultists were arrested in Lagos Island and they have been charged to court. There was serious confrontation between Salu Court boys and Okesuna boys on March 23, leading to their arrest. But on Tuesday, three more suspects General, Ejah and Taribu were arrested and are currently in police custody, helping detectives to get others.

    “Five suspected armed robbers who attacked a hotel in Ajangbadi and dispossessed lodgers of their valuables were arrested on April 12. We also got some of the boys who ambush bank customers and trail them with their power bikes to rob them of their money,” said Owoseni.