The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lagos State

  • Lagos alerts residents on measures against Ebola Virus outbreak

    Lagos alerts residents on measures against Ebola Virus outbreak

    Lagos State Government has alerted residents on measures necessary to prevent the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease that is ravaging the neighboring West African countries like Guinea and Liberia.

    State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, in a statement Wednesday said there was need for residents to maintain high standard of personal and environmental hygiene at all times.

    Idris listed other measures to include washing of hands often with soap and water, avoiding close contact with people who are sick and ensuring that objects used by the sick are decontaminated and properly disposed.

    He  advised health workers to be at alert, wear personal protective equipment, observe universal basic precautions when attending to suspected or confirmed cases, and report same to their Local Government Area or Ministry of Health immediately.

    Idris explained that Ebola virus disease is caused by a virus which natural reservoir of virus is not completely known, stressing that fruit bats have been considered to be the natural host of the virus.

    “Ebola virus can be spread through, close contact with the blood, body fluids, organ and tissues of infected animals; direct contact with blood, organ or body secretions of an infected person. The transmission of the virus by other animals like monkey and chimpanzee cannot be ruled out”.

    The Commissioner noted that those at the highest risk of the disease include health-workers; and families or friends of an infected person who could be infected in the course of feeding, holding and caring for them.

    He said Ebola virus disease should be suspected in persons who develop bleeding from the body openings like the mouth, nose, rectum and ear; a close contact of person who is infected; or health worker who had treated either suspected or confirmed infected person.

    “Early symptoms of disease include fever, headache, chills, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, backache, and joint pains. Later symptoms include bleeding from the eyes, ears and nose, bleeding from the mouth and rectum, eye swelling, swelling of the genitals and rashes all over the body that often contain blood.  It could progress to coma, shock and death”, Idris explained.

    The Health Commissioner noted that presently, there is no specific treatment for Ebola virus disease stressing that infected persons will need to be admitted into the hospital for specialized care and treated in isolation.

    “The Government of Lagos State in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Health is putting measures in place to prevent its entry and spread in the country.  These measures include sensitization of health workers, active search for cases of the disease and continuous sensitization of the public,” he said.

  • Residents hail Lagos State music festival

    Residents hail Lagos State music festival

    The Lagos Countdown fanfare has been lauded by picnickers, who thronged the Eko Atlantic venue, as a thoughtful initiative by Lagos State government for residents to relax after the usual hustle bustle.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the artistes, who performed at the show, gave good account of themselves, thrilling fun seekers, as the event ticked to the new year.

    As youths, men, women, children and families trooped to the Lagos Bar Beach to enjoy themselves, a company Director, Mr. Sam Effiong, said the event was a good one as the state was able to mobilise people to relax.

    He said “you can see that I came out with my family to have fun and start a New Year on a good note.

    “We need more of this everywhere in the country, not only in Lagos so that people can have fun.”

    A student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Mr. Deji Adekoya, said “it is really thrilling to see this kind of thing happening in Lagos.

    “We are coming up to the world standards and we have good musicians now and good songs, what else can we ask for but to thank Governor Raji Fashola.”

    The security measure at the Countdown was impressive. The traffic police ensured smooth flow of movement.

    The music festival was organized by the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) on behalf of state government, turning the Bar Beach in Victoria Island into a melting pot of culture and commerce.

  • ‘Use National Sports Festival to develop new talents’

    ‘Use National Sports Festival to develop new talents’

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has said that the National Sports Festival should remain as a grassroots sporting programme for the development of new talents.

    According to Fashola, this would always provide the nation a pool of talents to draw from when the old athletes leave the stage.

    Fashola stated this at the end of the 5th edition of the Governor’s Belt boxing competition held at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre in Yaba.

    The governor also appealed to the State’s Boxing Association to organise enlightenment programmes to educate boxing spectators and lovers on the new rules and regulations of the game.

    Addressing a mixed audience of boxing enthusiasts, government functionaries, local and foreign dignitaries, traditional rulers and school pupils, Fashola expressed delight at the large number of talents being produced through the various grassroots sporting events organised by the State.

    “This is why I have always insisted that the National Sports Festival should be retained as a grassroots sporting event where we can discover and develop new talents instead of an open event where only already developed talents participate. It will ensure that we will always have a pool of talents for any competition at any time,” he said.

    The governor said the enlightenment programmes have become expedient as a result of the fast changes going on in the game and the need for both boxers and spectators to be conversant with the new rules.

  • How pastor, Briton, council chair were kidnapped

    •Two suspects held

    The police in Lagos State have arrested two suspected kidnappers. They are suspected members of a gang that abducted a woman pastor and a Briton.

    The suspects were apprehended after the woman escaped from their uncompleted building hideout.

    Police sources told The Nation that the gang repeatedly raped their victim after kidnapping her.

    It was learnt that on the day she escaped, the gang went on an operation and left her in the care of a member.

    Sources said the woman ran out of the hideout after she pushed away her guard, who attempted to rape her again.

    It was gathered that the man’s head hit the wall and it took him some time to recover.

    When the guard realised that the woman had escaped, he reportedly ran away to avoid the gang leader’s wrath, leaving the Briton unguarded.

    It was learnt that residents gave the woman some clothes and took her and the Briton to Area N Police Command.

    Residents said they did not know that the uncompleted building was a kidnappers’ den.

    Other members of the gang, including their leader, simply identified as Sam, are still at large.

    Narrating how he became a member of the gang, one of the suspects, simply identified as Emeka, said he was a trader. He said he used to travel to Cotonou in Benin Republic to buy fairly-used clothes, adding that life became tough for him after Customs officers seized his goods.

    A police source said: “Emeka said after Customs officers seized his goods, his business collapsed. He said during Christmas and the New Yam festival, he used to go to his village with his friends to display his wealth, but all that stopped.

    “Emeka said he went to the village last December and saw Sam, who he had once assisted financially. He said he told Sam about his problems and Sam gave him N21,000. He said Sam told him to call him when he gets to Lagos.

    “As soon as he got to Lagos, he said he called Sam and they agreed to meet at a certain hotel, where he met four other men. Emeka said Sam told him to excuse them and he (Sam) discussed with the men for sometime.

    “After the meeting, Sam and Emeka drove to his house in Ajao Estate. At night, Emeka said Sam woke him up and told him that he and the four men he (Emeka) saw at the hotel were professional kidnappers.

    “He said Sam told him they do not kill, but threaten their victims. He said Sam told him that his uncompleted building in the village was being financed by money gotten from kidnapping. He said Sam told him he would soon become rich again, if he joined them.

    “He said Sam told him to meet him on a Saturday at a hotel on the international airport road, but because it was raining, he waited for him under a bridge. He said Sam and four others in his vehicle picked him up and they went to Ajah.

    “He said Sam was driving and repeatedly kept making phone calls. After one of the calls, Emeka said Sam became angry, but did not say why. He said the phone rang again, but Sam refused to pick it. He said a vehicle overtook theirs and Sam said confirmed. He said Sam overtook the vehicle and on sighting armed men, the driver jumped out and ran away. “Investigations revealed that the driver, Jude Muyiwa, planned the kidnap of his boss, a local government chairman. When the driver abandoned his boss, some of the kidnappers took over the car while Emeka and Sam remained in the Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) the gang came with. The SUV followed the Black Toyota Yaris, which the gang had snatched, along with its occupant.

    “They drove for about an hour until they got to an uncompleted building at Ogijo where the victim was stripped naked. The gang members knew their victim was a local government chairman, but Emeka said he found out when they reached the uncompleted building. The kidnappers used the victim’s phone to contact his family and demanded ransom.

    “One of the kidnappers, who spoke Hausa fluently, identified as Innocent, was the one communicating with the family. After four days of negotiations, the chairman was dropped off at a filling station close to Onipanu.

    “Later, Sam told Emeka that they collected N5 million ransom from the victim’s family. Emeka collected N500,000 as his share. Emeka said after that deal, there was nothing for almost two weeks.

    “The third week, Sam called Emeka, explaining that there was another operation. This time, they kidnapped a Briton, who worked with Chevron, and kept him at the uncompleted building. While negotiation was ongoing for the Briton’s release, the gang kidnapped the woman pastor. They contacted her husband and demanded N20 million.

    “Later, Sam raped the woman, followed by Innocent and Emeka. She was kept permanently naked, to allow them easy access to rape her anytime they wanted. Initially, the gang demanded N50 million as ransom for the Briton, but settled for N25 million.”

    Emeka said: “The woman used to cry every day. She also used to pray continuously and I felt sorry for her.”

  • About Femi Hamzat’s humility

    About Femi Hamzat’s humility

    [checklist]MANY have been saying so many good things about Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure. [/checklist]Many have spoken of his intelligence; many have equally spoken of his remarkable humane nature; while many have also been extolling his religious tolerance attitude.

    Last Tuesday, we discovered another quality of the suave commissioner at the handing over of 16 rehabilitated roads to Mushin community by the Lagos State Government.

    Recognising Hamzat among the crowd became difficult as the commissioner was really ‘lost’ in the crowd. He spoke with lots of respect and, throughout the ceremony, he never lost his smile.

  • Help the disabled, Nigerians told

    Help the disabled, Nigerians told

    In commemoration of the International Day for Persons Living with Disabilities, wife of Lagos State governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola has stressed the need for the citizenry to always show love and care to people living with disabilities.

    Mrs Fashola who spoke in Lagos noted: “We all should serve people living with disabilities as it is our collective and individual responsibility to serve, care, love, celebrate and share their pains because they are also special gift from God.”

    Mrs Fashola said it was the society’s responsibility to help fulfil the potentials God has put in people living with disabilities, urging people to cultivate the habit of helping those need.

    She thanked award recipients at the event for their contribution towards the development of special education in the state and sought more support to as to discover potentials in the special children to improve their tomorrow.

  • Lagos urges union to embrace dialogue

    Lagos urges union to embrace dialogue

    Lagos State Government has urged its unions to embrace the option of dialogue as a means of resolving industrial dispute with the government.

    The state Commissioner of Establishments, Training and Pensions, Mrs Florence Oguntuase, gave the advice at the fifth Quadrennial state delegate’s conference of Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Service Employees (AUPCTRE), in Lagos.

    Oguntuase, who was represented by the assistant Director, Industrial Relations in the Ministry, Mrs Ismail Temitope, said the relative peace recorded in the state had been as a result of co-operation and understanding that ensued between the Government and Labour Unions.

    According to her, “AUPCTRE as a body of trade union in the state has contributed immensely towards harmonious industrial relationship, between the government and its workforce in terms of resourceful and valuable comments and suggestions from the executive members.”

    She said the government would continue to support all the Labour Unions within her ambit to maintain the industrial peace and harmony adding that the present administration is more concerned about welfare of staff so as to enable them carry out their task effectively.

    The newly elected Leader of the Union, Mr. Muali Subair, assured that the union would continue to work together with government to achieve a desirable atmosphere through constructive and objective dialogue.

    He said the success achieved by the Lagos State government wouldn’t have been possible without co-operation of the workers through the Union, which he promised would continued in the coming years as the administration have shown tremendous and commendable commitment to workers welfare.

    He added that Labour Unions are engines for development in the country, especially the Third World countries no matter the challenge saying that Labour continue to serve as partner in progress and catalyst that propel development in a legitimate way.

    Highlight of the conference include conferment of merit awards on some Nigerians, that have contributed in one way or the order to labour course in the state.

  • ‘2014 budget’ll enhance development of Lagos’

    The deputy Whip of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rotimi Abiru, has expressed hope that the 2014 budget, which was presented by the state Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, last Wednesday, will bring more development to the state.

    Abiru, however, maintained that the House of Assembly will ensure that a thorough job is done on the budget before its passage.

    The lawmaker added, “As legislators, we will focus on how the budget can maximally benefit the generality of our people and address the issues of poverty and deprivation. Therefore, we will do everything within our legislative powers to give this budget proposal the detailed attention it deserves for the benefit, prosperity, growth and development of Lagos State and Lagosians.”

    He emphasised that the House will ensure that the 2014 budget spreads opportunity to every street in Lagos. “We will work to ensure that the current school funding system will not fail our future generations; we will also ensure that our children are equipped to take up the high-wage, high-skill job the future promises or, better still, have a special focus on entrepreneurship so that our youths will create jobs rather than look for jobs.

    “We will ensure that the budget addresses the issue of gender empowerment; public debt management; the physically challenged in our society; investment in high quality infrastructure; fairer and stronger tax system; increase in pension allowances in line with inflation; capacity building; affordable housing; all encompassing quality health care system and advanced medical science.”

     

  • Fashola urges Nigerians to embrace peace, tolerate one another

    Fashola urges Nigerians to embrace peace, tolerate one another

    Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on Tuesday urged Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic and religious differences, to embrace peace and tolerate one another.

    Fashola made the call at the Obalende praying ground, Ikoyi, Lagos, where he observed the Eid-El-Kabir prayers.

    The governor, while describing the celebration as a day of thanksgiving, urged Nigerians to toe the line of peace for the stability and progress of the nation.

    “We must seek forgiveness from God and forgive our neighbours and fellow human beings.

    “We must pray that the philosophy and ideal of sacrifice to build our society exists. Because, it is only under the atmosphere of peace that we can prosper and bring economic prosperity to our people,” he said.

    Also, Alhaji Sheik Akewuusola, the Chief Imam of Badagry, urged Muslim faithful to remain holy and impact the lives of the poor.

    Akewuusola said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Badagry, Lagos State.

    He urged Muslims to be kind hearted and always protect one another.

    “Muslims should remain holy in all their endeavours and ensure that they protect one another in various ways.

    “They should be their brother’s keeper and lend a helping hand to the poor.

    “Givers never lack, and in helping those that are in need, blessings shall be upon them,” the cleric said.

    At Ijegun area of Lagos, Alhaji Kareem Oseni, the Imam of Fagbile Mosque, Ijegun,   advised Nigerians to avoid making statements that could be inimical to the peace, unity and progress of Nigeria.

    “Islam stands for peace; so, all Muslims and indeed Nigerians must work hard to maintain peace, progress and unity of Nigeria.

    “We must be careful not to make any statement that can undermine the nation’s peace, unity and progress,” he said in his Sallah sermon..

    The cleric urged Muslim faithful to emulate the exemplary quality of Prophet Mohammed, who in obedience to God almost sacrificed his only son to Allah, until God provided an alternative.

    Alfa Azeez Misbideen, a Muslim cleric, told NAN that Eid-el-Kabir offered Muslims the opportunity to be grateful to God for providing the alternative.

  • Lagos takes safety campaign to health sector

    Lagos State government has taken its sectoral safety campaign to the health sector with government urging all health practitioners, professionals and operators to improve on safety concerns to promote the lives of patients and other members of the public.

    Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC) Mrs Dominga Odebunmi stated this at a focal meeting with accredited health sector safety champions, ahead of a conference slated to hold next month on growing safety concerns in the health sector.

    According to Mrs Odebunmi, the conference which would hold at De Hall, beside Lagos State Printing Corporation, Ikeja, would have among other speakers Prof. M. Hal Sosabowski, Joe Crombie and Mrs Elizabeth Ozogolu all from the UK, to be complemented by other seasoned local speakers.

    She said the conference with the theme: Safety across Border, which is being packaged in collaboration with Stream Pharmaceutical, would among others, generate a document for the implementation of safety guidelines and regulations in the health sector.

    Mrs Odebunmi said though the Ministry of Health has been up to the task of enforcing standards aimed at promoting safety of lives in the state, efforts still need to be made to make safety a conscious part of deliverable services in all health institutions.

    She said: “The need to develop health and safety management system in our hospitals, pharmacy, dentistry, ophthalmologuy etc cannot be over emphasised. This informed our move to initiate new corrective safety measures to be implemented within the health sector.”

    She said the commission is working with health-related specialists who are accredited safety agents of the commission on various policies that would promote safety of members of the general public.

    The focus of the conference which comes up on September 24, for all public sector operators and September 25 for their private sector colleagues are the generation of a safety policy manual for strategic implementation, the promotion of first aid enlightenment campaign in all schools in the state and the generation of guidelines for safety response during disaster and recovery.

    She, therefore, called on all relevant bodies within the health sector to collaborate with the government and support the initiative which according to her, aims at bringing the health sector at par with international standards.

    Throwing the weight of the Ministry of Health to the initiative Commissioner 3, in the Lagos State Health Service Commission, Mrs. Kudi Ligali, said all hands must be on board in the task of avoiding accidents and avoidable deaths in all hospitals and health institutions in the state.

    She listed areas of safety concerns to include environmental cleanliness of hospitals, storage facilities of drugs and other equipments, basic live saving skills, temparament and attitude of health workers, as well as the habits of patrons and patients of health institutions that could impede safety.

    Also speaking LSSC Deputy Director Engr Hakeem Liadi said the initiative to take safety to the health sector has been on since last year.