The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lagos State

  • Ojokoro LCDA to rescue under-aged girls from hotels

    The Education Department of Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State on Sunday vowed to rescue under-aged girls on menial jobs or prostitution in hotels.

    Mrs Abimbola Whenayon, the Head of Department of Education in the LCDA, gave the promise in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    She said that officers of the department would begin the rescue and rehabilitation exercise in April.

    The officer said many under-aged girls had been lured into menial jobs in hotels or as sex workers by their relatives who brought them to the state under the pretext of better life.

    She said that the girls would be reunited with their parents and subsequently enrolled in schools to become better citizens.

    She said many under-aged girls were deceived and brought to Lagos by close relatives with the promise that they would be enrolled in schools or work.

    “When I was in Surulere Local Government, we rescued some girls, rehabilitated and enrolled them in schools.

    “I am new in this LCDA, but by April, after the holiday, I will start going into it fully to rescue the girls who are being exploited.

    “We will get a place for them, rehabilitate them, send them to school and even seek partnership with private organisations to train those who are not interested in school

    “We will train them in vocational skills that will make them very responsible citizens instead of becoming sex workers or bar girls.

    “After a while, we will link up with their parents or family anywhere in the country so that we can reunite them.

    “If I get government’s support, It will be a success because when I was in Surulere Local Government, I was supported and we helped a lot of under-aged girls,’’ she said.

    Whenayon also reiterated the council’s commitment to educate illiterate adults in the area through the adult literacy programme.

    According to her, this is in line with the directive of the Federal Government.

    She said that about 80 adult students were currently receiving classes in 25 different centres in the area.

    “We are teaching market men and women, commercial bus drivers, meat sellers, pepper sellers and bus conductors on how to read and write.

    “The turnout is good as many of them do not know how to spell their names or calculate their money before.

    “But through the adult education, many of them now understand basic calculations.

    “Many of them have been defrauded by their children or relatives because they missed out of the opportunity to go to school in the past.

    “Some of our students in the adult education class are now in the Nigeria Teachers Institute and others will write the General Certificate of Examination (GCE) conducted by WAEC,’’ she said.

  • Lagos offers free bus ride on Easter Day

    Lagos offers free bus ride on Easter Day

    Commuters along the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Bus Franchise Scheme (BFS) corridors would enjoy free ride in commemoration of Easter, the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

    The free bus service would be offered on the BRT corridor from Ikorodu to CMS by Primero Transport Services Limited, operator of the Ikorodu to CMS BRT system while Capetrust Investment Ltd, operator of the BFS would offered free bus service along the Maryland – Ikeja-Iyana-Ipaja – Ikotun- Igando corridor.

    Acting Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Mr. Iyiola Adegboye while felicitating with Lagosians on the Easter holiday said the state government was poised to ensure that the vision for a world class transport for Lagos became a reality.

    He enjoined Lagosians to use the period of resurrection of Jesus Christ to reflect on the challenges facing Nigeria and pray for the nation.

    He said the free bus service was part of the government’s effort to help commuters move around with ease in the face of the current fuel scarcity.

     

  • Lagos to open Ikorodu, Badagry parks for Easter celebration

    Lagos to open Ikorodu, Badagry parks for Easter celebration

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, has directed the State Parks and Garden Agency (LASPARK) to open the newly completed recreational park at Ikorodu and Badagry for public use during the Easter celebration.

    General Manager LASPARK, Mrs. Abimbola Jijoho-Ogun who disclosed this to journalists Wednesday said both parks would be open as a test run with all the necessary facilities obtainable in any standard parks across the state.

    She assured residents that the government has put in place security measures, to enable then use the park without nursing any fear.

    JIjoho-Ogun said government is collaborating with partners adding that the parks would be open free of charge all through the Easter period with funfairs for children and adults to have a fun filled Easter period.

    She said the five hectares metropolitan park at Ibeju Lekki is still on course adding that it has completed perimeter fencing  with about 1million trees planted to protect the acquired land for the park.

    The GM also informed that the agency has concluded plans to train over 750 young assistant horticulturists from the 57 local Government Areas and Local Council Developments Area.

    She said the assistant horticulturists after completing their training would be assigned some of the newly established or existing parks to mange.

    “In readiness for the rain, the agency has commenced aggressive tree pruning exercise across the state to forestall the danger associated with tree falling and windstorm.”

    She enjoined residents to report to the agency any tree that may posed danger to lives and properties anywhere across the state.

    She said the agency is ready and willing to partner with private and business concerns to adopt and maintain open greenery to ensure that all support the state for a greener, healthier Lagos.

    She enjoined all operators of parks in the state to regularize their operations with LASPARK as the agency needs to certify that these parks meet both state and international standard.

     

  • Hajj subsidy

    Hajj subsidy

    Lagos joins others; bids it bye

    Lagos State has joined the few states in the country that have taken the pragmatic decision to stop funding of holy pilgrimages to Mecca or Jerusalem. The state’s commissioner for home affairs, Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, who announced this while addressing some Muslim faithful in Ikeja, Lagos, said the decision became inevitable in view of the dwindling oil price which has adversely affected the state’s finances. According to him, the state government now requires about N1million to sponsor each pilgrim, an amount it could ill-afford, given more pressing challenges that also require the government’s attention. Some other states that have stopped funding pilgrimages are Kano, Edo, Kaduna, Ekiti and Kwara.

    Dr AbdulLateef’s announcement reechoed Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s position last year, to the effect that he would not spend a dime of the state’s resources on hajj. According to the commissioner, “It is better to invest such an amount in public schools or hospitals for the benefit of Lagos residents and Nigerians at large. Individuals intending to visit Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah and those going to Jerusalem should be prepared to bear the economic implications involved, as the state government is resolute about cutting wastages.”

    Media reports say the country spends about N70billion on sponsorship of pilgrimages annually. This was when things were good and our currency was relatively strong. Lagos State sponsored a good number of pilgrims annually and was therefore paying substantially to subsidise their trips. So, we understand Governor Ambode’s situation. For the state, it is not just that the revenue from the centre is dwindling; even the special status that the state should be enjoying is not forthcoming.

    This must be a tough decision, given the several attempts in the past to stop the practice. President Goodluck Jonathan had in 2011 hinted that the Federal Government may have to hands off funding of pilgrimages due to the huge costs involved. He was worried that the number of intending Christian pilgrims had tripled since his administration came on board. But his government could not stop the sponsorship obviously due to political patronage.

    Yobe State government tried to do a similar thing but could not go the whole hog. It stopped funding of pilgrimages for politicians and government officials in 2014. According to the governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, politicians and political office holders have enough “packages” to sponsor themselves to hajj. The governor however added that the state government would continue to sponsor clerics and traditional rulers “…who will pray for peace and stability of the state and the country…”; whatever that meant!

    Even President Muhammadu Buhari said last year that his government would not sponsor any official delegation to Mecca or Jerusalem. We can only hope his government would not reverse itself. Some states are equally contemplating reducing the number of the beneficiaries as their own cost-saving measure. While we are not in a position to make them jettison the idea completely, we feel this is mere tokenism.

    If government must be involved in hajj matters, it should not go beyond providing consular services. Pilgrimage is an individual affair; there is therefore no reason why the state must pick the bill. As Dr Abdullateef noted, “Islam is a religion of capacity. Whoever has the intention of performing Hajj and does not have money to pursue such dream will have the reward of someone that has performed hajj.” It is as simple as that.

    We urge other state governments to follow the examples by states that have stopped sponsoring pilgrimages. It is the commonsensical thing to do. Those that hitherto lacked the political will should take advantage of the economic situation to bid bye to the arrangement. We believe God too would understand that money spent on pilgrimages for a few can be deployed to better uses.  He would understand that anyone who wants to commune with Him outside of his or her country can and indeed should do so on his own or her own accord, and account. It does not make sense to give foreign exchange at concessionary rates to a select or privileged few for pilgrimage.

    Although the decision might not go down well with some powerful religious interests, it is the best thing to do, especially in the circumstance. It is a case of economy trouncing politics. Government’s funding of pilgrimages is a political decision; at best, it should be a matter of convenience, not compulsion. It is indeed an aberration ab initio.  Even for Islam that hajj is one of its pillars, it is not a matter of must; it is for those who can afford it.

  • Crime: Lawmaker urges Lagos residents to provide useful information

    The Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Information, Strategy and Security has urged automobile dealers, hoteliers and nightclubs owners to assist government in gathering intelligence towards preventing crime.

    The Chairman of the committee, Mr Tunde Braimoh (APC-Kosofe II), made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

    He was reacting to the people’s appeal for the state government to take necessary measures to improve the security of lives and property in the state.

    “What criminals spend their money on is cars, women, and drinks.

    “So we need our car dealers to assist us with intelligence; they can know when somebody comes around gallivanting and behaving as if on top of the world without any reasonable means of income.

    “We should know and we should be able to make up intelligence immediately.”

    According to him, Lagos is one of the most secure cities in the world regardless of current security challenges.

    “Yes, there may be pockets of crimes here and there, but we must know that there is no big city anywhere in the world that does not have such problems.”

    He stressed the need for all stakeholders to assist the government in tackling the spate of insecurity.

    He said, “We cannot leave everything to government alone as all of us have to be our brothers’ keepers.”

    Braimoh noted that Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode has earmarked more than N23.5bn for security in the 2016 budget and more than N4 billion on the same issue towards the end of 2015.

    The lawmaker urged the residents to show concern about security issues, stressing that criminals will not cease from terrorising the society.

    “We should work on intelligence gathering which in most cases will help prevent crime from occurring in the first place, because the system we use now is reactionary in nature like we have the Rapid Response Squad.

    “But responding is not the best, because that will be like medicine after death.

    “Even prosecution of criminals is still reactionary in nature, but when we focus on preventing crime, we save ourselves from the rigor of responding to crime.

    “Prevention is always better than cure.”

    He argued that it is imperative for anybody caught sharing part of the proceeds of crime to be prosecuted as an accomplice.

    Braimoh said ladies indulging in harbouring criminals or frolicking of them should not be spared when they were found in the midst of these criminals.

    He advocated that markets must be secured from activities of criminals, saying all markets must be locked up at nightfall.

  • Mile 12 Clash: Lagos meets market, community leaders

    Mile 12 Clash: Lagos meets market, community leaders

    The Lagos State Government Friday met with all the stakeholders from Mile 12 market, Agiliti community, Maidan and its environs aimed at finding a lasting solution to the violence that led to the closure of the Mile 12 market with a promise that a harmonious and effective solution would be put in place in the next few days.

    Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, who presided over the meeting held at the State Secretariat, Alausa, said that all the leaders agreed on the need to cohabit in peace irrespective of their religion, culture or tribes.

    Bello urged the leaders to go back and assure their people to maintain the peace, stating that the State Government would consider the inputs of all those present in arriving at a decision.

    Addressing the leaders which included those of the various sections of the Mile 12 market, traditional rulers from Agiliti, Maidan, leaders of the transport unions, commercial motorcyclists, community development associations and leaders from the communities, Bello said leaders also agreed to go back to their communities and assure their people of government’s desire to ensure that lasting peace reigns in that community.

    The SSG who said the issue of disagreement is not new in the area said what is uppermost is that everybody should see the next person as his brother, hence everyone at the meeting must leave with an open mind of cohabiting peacefully with their neighbours and avoid bloodletting.

    He reiterated the directive of the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode that the market remains closed and all trading activities be suspended to aid security agencies restore calm to the affected areas.

    He gave an assurance to the market leaders from Mile 12 that the State Government is studying the situation and would address all the issues that have arisen decisively with a view to ensuring that it does not recur again.

    Speaking at the meeting, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr I.O Edgal who stood in for the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni said the Police High Command has secured the Agiliti area and its environs and peace has now returned to the community.

    He said the clash and resultant loss of lives was very unfortunate and that going by the level of destruction on ground, it was not commensurate with what was reported to have precipitated the clash.

    Other participants at the meeting including the Iyaloja of Mile 12 market, Alhaja Iyabo Ahmed, Baale of Maidan, Chief Baale Ogunjobi, Baale of Agiliti, Chief Jimoh Onikosi, Serikin Nupe, Alhaji Jibril Magaji, Chairman, Shukura yam, Alhaji Mohammed Damdana, Chairman of CDA Central, Elder M.A Showande, were all resolute in appealing to the State Government to ensure that the issue is resolved on time so that they can go ahead with their various businesses.

    Other Government functionaries in attendance include the Special Advisers to the Governor on Civic Engagement, Hon Kehinde Joseph, Community Development and Communication, Hon Kehinde Bamigbetan and Permanent Secretaries from Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr Fola Adeyemi and Cabinet Office, Mr Olushola Odupitan.

  • Mile 12 clash: Resident pleads adequate security to bury dead

    Mile 12 clash: Resident pleads adequate security to bury dead

    A resident of Agiliti Street in Mile 12, near Lagos, Mr Danjuma Jubril, on Friday pleaded with the police authorities to provide adequate security for the burial of people killed in the bloody clash in the area on Thursday.

    Jubril told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the tense security in the area was not conducive for proper interment of the dead.

    ”Some of the corpses are inside Agiliti River. We cannot bury or retrieve the bodies in the river because of the security situation.

    ”The burial ground we use is at Agiliti. We have sent message to the DPO in charge of this area that we need police escort to bury them.”

    Jubril, who said he was born at Mile 12 more than 30 years ago, blamed the deadly clash on hoodlums extorting money from commercial motorcyclists and trucks carrying food items.

    He advised that armed security men should be stationed permanently in the area in view of the incessant clashes.

    ”Security agents did not respond quickly when we called them. If they had responded immediately, the crisis would have been contained in time,” Jubril said.

    NAN reports that a detachment of armed policemen, soldiers and civil defence corps had been patrolling the areas, where ethnic Yoruba and Hausa-Fulani people engaged in hand-to-hand clashes resulting to many deaths.

  • Polio: Lagos targets 4.5 million children for free immunisation

    Polio: Lagos targets 4.5 million children for free immunisation

    The Lagos State Government Tuesday said at least 4.5 million children will benefit from the free polio immunisation.

    State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, represented by the Special Adviser on Primary Healthcare, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga disclosed this at the flag off ceremony of the February 2016 National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) held at Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area.

    According to him, the National Immunization Plus  Days (NIPDs) campaign will involve House-to-House, Transit and Fixed Post teams while children at homes, markets, churches, mosques, major car parks and social event venues would be targeted.

    He noted that the state government will mount 752 fixed posts, 2,189 house-to-house and 1,712 transit teams with hours of operations spanning between 8am-2pm daily.

    The governor who reiterated the desire of the present administration to protect and enhance the health and well being of all children in the state emphasised that the immunization is free, effective and safe with little gifts as incentives for immunized children.

    Ambode enjoined parents and caregivers to take advantage of the campaign to boost the immunity of their children by immunizing their wards at government designated centers across the state.

    The Governor said his administration has been involved in the training of health workers at the State, Local and Ward levels to build their capacities as well as collaborating with International and Non-Governmental Organisations such as WHO, Rotary International, CHAI, JICA, Save-the-Children International and UNICEF to augment the creation of the needed awareness at the community level.

    He added that a coordinated media campaign strategy to sensitize members of the public on the importance and safety of polio immunization has been embarked upon, saying that “We have also contracted state technical facilitators and independent monitors to enable them provide technical assistance and supervisory support to those implementing throughout the campaign period.”

    Ambode revealed that Lagos State has taken giant stride in eradicating the deadly disease from the state since April 2009, making it a seven year success story.

    While underscoring the importance of various interventions by the state in the past which had made it possible to eradicate the deadly disease from the state since April 2009, Ambode recalled that the success recorded in 2015 in increasing the immunity of children was as a result of the improved quality of Supplemental Immunization Activities (SIAs) as well as other interventions such as the Strengthening of Routine Immunization Services.

    He revealed that the state intervened through aggressive drive towards the removal of out-of-stock syndrome and improved outreach services to reach under-served communities, strengthening of Local and International border immunization activities between Lagos, Ogun and Republic of Benin.

    Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Ibironke Shodeinde, who represented the Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary Healthcare, appealed to parents to exploit the opportunity of the free, effective and safe campaign to immunize their children against the dreaded polio disease.

    She said that all eligible children will take two drops of the Vaccine with concurrent marking of the left little finger for confirmation of having taken the vaccine.

  • JAMB: Lagos cancels February monthly sanitation

    The Lagos State Government (LASG) on Friday lifted the restriction order on human and vehicular movements during this month’s environmental sanitation slated for February 27.

    The order was to allow students, invigilators and other stakeholders participate effectively in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) organised by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the examination was expected to hold across the country on Saturday, Feb. 27.

    Mr. Tunde Awobiyi, the Information Officer, Lagos State Ministry of the Environment, made this known in a statement he signed and released to newsmen on Friday.

    The statement said that the Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Babatunde Adejare, had directed residents of the state to still observe the day by cleaning their homes and environments.

    Adejare said that it became imperative for the state government to waive the restriction so as not to jeopardise the future of the candidates whose counterparts in other parts of the federation would write the same examination.

    “As a responsible and responsive government, we value the education of our children very dearly and, therefore, resolved to relax the order in the interest of the leaders of tomorrow,” he said.

    He urged residents of the state to actively participate in this month’s sanitation, despite the lifting of the restriction of movement order.

    “We should concentrate on cleaning of drains in our frontages as we are gradually approaching the rainy season.

    “ The issue of sanitation has become very critical, especially with the geometrically rising population of the state, thus making the regular clean-up necessary for a healthier, cleaner and sustainable environment.

    “As we gradually approach the rainy season, Lagosians should shun acts that can contribute to flooding by not dumping their wastes in unauthorised places like canals and drainage channels.

    “Lagosians should not patronise cart pushers who end up dumping the wastes into canals and the lagoon, this is how we can all assist to make the state de-flooding programme a success,’’ he said.

    He urged all Lagosians to rise up and take sanitation of their environments very important adding that, “This is one of the practical measures that can guarantee a flood-free Lagos.”

    The commissioner said that the state government had embarked on continuous clearing, maintenance and dredging of canals across the state to pre-empt the incidences of flooding.

    Adejare admonished Lagosians to bag their refuse properly to allow for easy collection and disposal to designated landfill sites by Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators.

    The commissioner also assured Lagosians that LAWMA would deploy men and equipment to ensure quick evacuation of waste generated during the exercise.

  • Ambode urges parents to immunise children against polio

    Ambode urges parents to immunise children against polio

    The Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode Friday urged parents to ensure children less than five years are immunised against polio.

    Ambode, who spoke at the Flag-off of the Round One of the National Immunisation plus Day at Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area (LGA), said parents, should use the window of opportunity available to them between Friday and Tuesday to get their children immunised.

    Ambode, represented by his Special Adviser on Public Health, Dr Olufemi Onanuga said children from zero to 59 months, that is under-five, should receive two drops of oral polio vaccine (OPV) irrespective of the time they have taken the vaccine.

    He urged the community and religious leaders to ensure children under-five avail themselves of the opportunity.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) Lagos State co-ordinator, Dr Sunday Abidoye said the vaccine is a must take for children within the stipulated age range.

    He said Nigeria has been declared polio-free by the WHO since 2014, adding that the immunisation programme was necessary to prevent the disease.