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Tag: lagos

  • Several injured as train derails in Lagos

    Several passengers of the Mass Transit Train Service (MTTS), were reported to have sustained various levels of injuries when a mass transit shuttle train derailed at the Ashade railway crossing on the Agege-Ikeja corridor in Lagos.

    The incident happened in the early hours of Thursday.

    some personnel from various security agencies immediately cordoned off the area, to maintain law and order, while some of the injured were rushed to some hospitals in the neighbourhood, for first aid treatment.

    Mr Augustine Arisa, the Acting Lagos District Manager of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), told NAN that no life was, however, lost in the incident.

    “The derailment happened when the Apapa-bound mass transit train skidded off its tracks at the Asade Railway Crossing at Agege, on the Ikeja Corridor.

    “The shuttle train was going from Ijoko in Ogun, to Apapa.

    “The situation is now under control. We learnt that there was no casualty in the incident as some of the passengers only had minor injuries.

    “Everything is now under control and we are trying to put the train back on the tracks,’’ he said.

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    Arisa, however, confirmed on telephone later that an injured passenger from the incident was recuperating at the NRC Hospital, Ebute Meta.

    NAN further reports that the derailment caused a traffic jam along Capitol Road, Agege, which also extended to Mosalasi Alhaja, towards Mangoro area in Ikeja.

    NAN reports that on Nov. 16, 2018 a passenger train derailed around abattoir area of Agege and on June 20 of the same year, a commercial bus also rammed into a moving train around the Agege corridor.

  • Truck driver docked over alleged reckless driving

    A truck driver, Olalere Habeeb, who allegedly drove his truck into an office building, destroying property worth N2.2 million, was on Thursday docked in a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    Habeeb, 33, whose address was not given, is facing a two-count charge of reckless driving, to which he pleaded not guilty.

    The Police Prosecutor, ASP Thomas Nurudeen, told the court that the accused drove his Iveco truck with registration number Lagos, KJA 236 XA in a reckless manner on Nov. 24, 2018 along Murtala Mohammed way in Sabo area of Yaba.

    He said that Habeeb drove his truck into an office building; Greenwich Trust Properties Ltd., causing the destruction of property worth N2.2 million.

    “The office generator, the fence, the gate, the diesel tank and pumping machine were all destroyed beyond repair.

    “A woman, Mrs Toyin Akinyemi, was in a mobile toilet in the compound when the truck ran into it, she sustained injuries and was taken to the hospital,” he said.

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    The offences contravene Section 19 (1) of the Road traffic law of Lagos, 2012.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Section 19 (1) stipulates two-year imprisonment for reckless driving.

    In her ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs K.B. Ayeye, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.

    Ayeye said that the surety should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The case was adjourned until March 19 for mention.

  • One dead, two injured as tricycle rams into truck

    A Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Wednesday heard that a passenger lost his life and two others were injured when a tricycle rammed into a stationary truck at Ajah, on December 28, 2018.

    The police told Magistrate A.M. Olumide-Fusika that the truck driver, Mr Sesan Koiki, neglected to warn road users that his truck had broken down.

    Koiki, 29, was arraigned on a two-count charge of driving on the highway without a valid driver’s licence, and failure to display reflective caution signs.

    Prosecuting Inspector Ben Ekundayo alleged that Koiki committed the offences at about 10pm on December 28, at Pump and Sell, Ajah Road, in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos.

    The court also heard that the defendant drove a Mack Truck with registration No. AAA 148 XD on the highway without a valid driver’s licence.

    It heard that Koiki allegedly caused the death of Mr John Aboti and injured two others by failing to place a reflective caution sign or other warning signs on the road after his vehicle broke down.

    Ekundayo said: “The driver left the truck which broke down in the middle of the road at night without placing any warning signs on the road to alert other road users.

    “The tricycle which the late Aboti boarded and sat in the front, rammed into the truck because the tricyclist did not see the truck in the middle of the road on time.

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    “Aboti died on the spot while the tricyclist and one other passenger at the back sustained serious injuries.”

    According to him, the offences contravened Sections 7, 20 and 42 of the Road Traffic Act, Law of Lagos State, 2012.

    Koiki pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Olumide-Fusika granted him N100,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    The case was adjourned till January 11.

  • Ex-Army Sergeant charged with impersonation

    A former Army Sergeant, Mr Monday George, who allegedly carried on as a serving soldier, was on Wednesday brought before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    George, 43, of Apollo Road in Makoko, Yaba, Lagos, is standing trial on a two-count charge of impersonation and forgery of an army identity card.

    According to the Police, the defendant committed the offences on January 2 at Makoko Primary School, Yaba.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Modupe Olaluwoye said George was dismissed from the Nigerian Army over three years ago but carried on as a Sergeant.

    The court heard that George kept parading himself in full army camouflage and worked as a security personnel for different individuals since 2015.

    Olaluwoye said: “When Makoko was celebrating its day, the defendant was dressed in an army camouflage at the venue.

    “It was another army personnel at the location, Mr Lucky Macaulay, who discovered that the defendant was no longer in the army.

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    “A forged army identity card with No. 03NA/53/1965-81 was also recovered from him.”

    According to her, the offences contravened Sections 77 and 365 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Chief Magistrate Oluwatoyin Oghere granted George N50, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    Both sureties must be gainfully employed, show evidence of three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government, while one of them must be George’s blood relation.

    The case continues on March 6.

  • Ambode: Lagos deserves continuity

    Before a huge crowd, Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday urged residents to embrace a “government of continuity”.

    Presenting All Progressives Congress (APC) flag to its governorship candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor said: “By this handing over, we believe we will all join hands to make him the next governor of Lagos State.”

    The governor and other speakers at the rally, including party Chairman Tunde Balogun, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, Senator Tony Adefuye and Chief Lanre Rasak, urged party members and supporters to prepare for the poll.

    But the well-attended rally was disrupted as party chieftains were concluding their remarks. Some hoodlums invaded the Skypower Grounds, venue of the campaign kick-off at the Government Reservation Area (GRA), Ikeja. They were said to belong to rival drivers’ unions. They shot guns and wielded other dangerous weapons.

    Two people, whose identities were not disclosed as at the time of filing this report, were feared killed. Three reporters were injured.

    Balogun condemned the disruption of the rally, which he described as “very successful”. He wondered why some groups who had scores to settle would use the occasion as their battle field.

    “We had a very successful outing but some people decided to use the venue of our rally to settle scores. We know nothing about the disruption,” the party chair said in a chat with this newspaper last night.

    He apologised to the media organisations whose reporters were injured.

    Party spokesman Joe Igbokwe, described the gathering as “unprecedented” in the history of Lagos politics.

    “We only have our teeming supporters and the leadership of the party in the state to thank for displaying absolute trust, loyalty, commitment and affection for the party they have cherished for years and still continue to cherish till date.

    “His Excellency and our own Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was on ground to boost the morale of the party and its candidates. We all witnessed an electrifying moment as the governor and the candidates drove in together to the venue.

    “Some 63 chairmen of other political parties in the state added beauty and glamour to the great event by coming out en masse to endorse the candidates of APC, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Obafemi Hamzat.

    “However, we regret that towards the end of the rally two factions of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) engaged themselves in a brawl that led to some people sustaining various injuries. We deeply regret this ugly and unacceptable rude behaviour with a firm promise that such an incident will not repeat itself again in the cause of the campaigns.”

    The party leaders took turns to address the crowd of supporters at the venue where no fewer than 63 political parties under the aegis of the Coalition of Progressive Parties in Lagos endorsed the Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat ticket.

    The crowd was massive. Brooms filled the air. On the band stand was ace musician Wasiu Ayinde, who thrilled the crowd with partisan songs. The party’s candidates were accompanied by their supporters.

    Conspicuous in their banners were the photographs of the various parliamentary flag bearers, including Senator Oluremi Tibubu, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, Alhaji Bayo Osinnowo (Lagos East), Yemi Alli (Mushin), Fatai Oluwa (Ajeromi Ifelodun), Abiodun Ganiyu (Osodi Isolo), Mosunmola Sangodare (Surulere), Sola Giwa (Island), Jide Jimoh (Mainland), Bisi Yusuf (Alimoso), Lukman Oluwa (Ajeromi Ifelodun II) and Lanre Okunlola (Surulere II).

    There were excited party elders and leaders, including Deputy Governor Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, members of the Governorship Advisory Council (GAC) – Third Republic House of Representatives member Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Chief M.A Taiwo, and Cardinal James Odunmbaku –  party Secretary Dr. Wale Ahmed,  Woman leader Jumoke Okoya-Thomas and Ekiti Central Senator Mrs. Raji Rasaki.

    Also there were:  Chief Michael Olawale-Cole, former Deputy Governor Sarah Sosan, Ambode’s wife, Bolanke, Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, Oyinlomo Danmole, Wahab Alawiye-King, Mrs. Fausat Gbadebo, Mrs. Kemi otitolaye, Bayo Osiyemi, Publicity Secretary Joe Igbokwe and his deputy, Abiodun Salami, who was the master of ceremony.

    The highlights of the rally, which started with an opening prayer by Mrs. Kafilat Ogbara, included the presentation of party flags by Balogun to Senator Tinubu (Lagos Central), Senator Adeola (Lagos West), James Faleke, House of Representatives candidate for Ikeja Constituency and the two House of Assembly candidates, Folajimi Mohammed (Ikeja I) and Adedamola Kasumu (Ikeja II).

    The leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Col. Folorunso Ibrahim (retd) and former Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deputy chairman, Ola Apena defected to the APC.

    Receiving the party flag from Balogun, Apena, who described himself as a foundation member of the PDP and deputy chairman for six years, lamented that he was in a wrong party. He said he defected to the ruling party to contribute his quota to the APC’s victory at the polls.

    The Accord leader, Otunba Fatukasi, who led the 63 opposition parties to the rally, said the opposition leaders resolved to work for Sanwo-Olu in the interest of Lagos.

    He said: “We members of the opposition are behind Sanwo-Olu. We will support him. We will use the powers given to us by God to work for Sanwo-Olu across the 57 councils. On November 8, last year, 45 political parties endorsed Sanwo-Olu. But, today, from 45, we have risen to 63.”

    Hailing the defectors for taking the right decision, Balogun said it was unprecedented.

    Ambode, who wished the party supporters a happy New Year, acknowledged the endorsement as a sign of good things to come during the election.

    Reflecting on the challenges ahead, the governor said: “The APC campaign is a united campaign in this state and we are going to do it together.”

    In his view, Lagos deserves a government of continuity that will build on the achievements of former Governors Bola Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola and the current administration.

    Ambode stressed: “Lagos State has witnessed progressive growth in the last 20 years, since 1999. Why have we been experiencing progressive growth? The answer is very simple: I have had predecessors who have actually delivered on their promises.

    Read also: Ambode arrests soldiers, others for driving against traffic

    “I have followed in the footsteps of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola under one party. We need a government of continuity. APC is a party to trust and rely on. The next government will be a government of continuity.”

    Adefuye urged party members, particularly from Lagos West, to learn from the 2015 experience when the opposition defeated the APC during the parliamentary polls.

    He said: “In the last elections, we lost in in the House of Representatives. That should not happen again. By this time in March, we will gather to rejoice over our victory.”

    Basorun called for unity and cohesion, urging aggrieved members to bury their grievances and differences. He enjoined them to return home and work for the success of the candidates at the polls.

    Rasak, Balogun of Epe, advised Lagosians to vote wisely, stressing that the return of the PDP to power will be a disaster.

    He said: “For 16 years, Atiku’s party, the PDP did nothing for Nigerians. Don’t vote for thieves.”

    Balogun added: “The progressives have turned Lagos around. Through solid financial engineering initiated by Asiwaju Tinubu, Lagos from a partly N600 million has moved to N36 billion monthly. Lagos has become a mega city. Asiwaju Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola have done well to Lagos.

    “On May 29, Sanwo-Olu will continue to deliver dividends of democracy. Sanwo-Olu is qualified. He has experience. There are many parties. Vote for APC after sighting the broom on the ballot paper, using the index finger. Vote for Osinnowo in the West, Oluremi Tinubu in the Central and Olamilekan Adeola in the West.”

     

  • One dead, three reporters, NURTW chief, others injured rally

    A MEMBER of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Afeez Ismail, was yesterday shot dead by hoodlums who invaded the Skypower Grounds venue of the Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign kick-off at the Ikeja Government Reservation Area (GRA).

    Three reporters – The Nation Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu, New Telegraph Correspondent Temitope Ogunbanke and Ibile Television cameraman Abiodun Yusuf –  were hit by stray bullets.

    The NURTW Oshodi Chairman, Musiliu Akinsanya (a.k.a) MC Oluomo, was attacked by suspected union members loyal to the State Chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede. He was stabbed.

    Scores of people were also injured.

    Ismail, popularly called Legacy, was shot in the head allegedly by a security detail of another NURTW chief.

    He was rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) where he was declared dead.

    Yusuf, who was hit by a stray bullet on his left arm, is recuperating at LASUTH.

    The Nation learnt that many were robbed of their phones, money and other valuables.

    The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria expressed concern about the injured reporters.

    A statement by the Centres Director Lanre Arogundade reads: “IPC hereby reminds all political parties that the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage obligates them to ensure the safety of journalists covering their activities, including campaigns.

    Read also: Ambode arrests soldiers, others for driving against traffic

    IPC, therefore, calls on the Lagos APC to urgently take appropriate steps to apprehend the alleged perpetrators of the bizarre attack with a view to handing them over to the law enforcement agencies for immediate prosecution, also as provided by the Code of Election Coverage.

    “IPC calls on all journalists covering the on-going campaigns to keep themselves abreast of all safety measures. They should learn to stay away from political activities where rival gangs engage in show of force, especially through display of weapons.

    “Journalists covering the elections should also bear in mind that they constitute dangerous assignments requiring them to take insurance cover, especially from their employees.

    “IPC appeals to the security agents on electoral duty, especially the police, to consider the protection of journalists as part of their responsibility as envisaged by and indeed provided for by the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage.”

     

  • LASG confiscates rail track traders’ wares

    The Lagos State Government on Monday began what it called “Operation all illegal traders must leave rail tracks in Lagos” with the confiscation of wares being sold on the rail lines.

    The Head, Public Affairs Unit, Lagos State Task Force, Mr Adebayo Taofiq, said in a statement on Tuesday that the operation commenced at Ikeja rail track.

    According to Taofiq, different types of goods ranging from used clothing popularly called ‘Okirika clothes’, shoes, belts, fairly used electronics and gas cylinders were confiscated.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Task Force had on Sunday warned traders and other persons doing businesses on rail lines in the state to leave or face arrest and prosecution.

    Areas notorious for rail line trading include Mushin, Pen-cinema, Ikeja, Yaba, Oyingbo and Agege.

    The task force chairman, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, had said that convergence of illegal traders selling and buying goods around rail lines was suicidal and an eye-sore in different parts of the state.

    He said that many lives had been lost to the illegal rail track trading.

    Taofiq said the Monday operation was carried out as a follow-up to the earlier warning to traders to vacate the tracks.

    He said that no arrest was made during the operation, as the traders ran away leaving their goods when they saw the task force operatives.

    “It will no longer be business as usual until a zero tolerance on this is maintained. The government has reiterated and warned council officials and market leaders against collection of money from such illegality.

    “Anybody caught collecting illegal fees from these illegal traders on rail lines across the state would be seriously dealt with in accordance with the law,” he said.

  • Lagos, Kano top list of voters

    Lagos and Kano states have the highest number of registered voters, going by the register which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) presented to political parties yesterday.

    INEC has cleared 84,004,084 would-be voters for the forthcoming elections, after carrying out Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) on those who registered during the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

    Of the over 84 million voters, Lagos State has 6, 570,291 million. Kano has 5, 457,747 million would be voters.

    In 2015, Lagos and Kano states recorded 5.8 million and 5.0 million (representing 11.30 per cent and 8.51 per cent).

    In the register presented by INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, Northwest has the highest number of registered would-be voters with over 20.2 million. It is trailed by the Southwest with 16.3 million.

    The Southeast has the least with slightly over 10 million voters. Northeast has 11.3 million; Northcentral (13.4 million) and Southsouth (12.9 million).

    Male registrants are 44, 405,439 million and female 39, 598,645 million.

    Prof. Yakubu said INEC had kept strictly to its timetable and programme of activities.

    He reassured the party leaders that there was no change in the number of polling units and voting points used for the 2015 general elections and the 2016 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The INEC boss also denied that the card reader had been enhanced to recapture voters’ fingerprints at polling units and automatically overwrite the biometric record on the commission’s database.

    He said smart card readers would be used to accredit voters for the 2019 general elections.

    Yakubu said: “For clarity, I wish to stress that the function of the smart card reader during accreditation is to confirm, verify and authenticate the voter.

    “First, it shall be used to confirm that the PVC is genuine and issued by INEC. Cloned cards or cards that do not match the codes for a particular polling unit in which the voter is registered will be rejected by the card readers.

    “Secondly, the card readers shall verify that the voter who presents the PVC is the actual owner of the card by ensuring that the personal details on the card reader are consistent with the manual register for the polling unit.

    “Thirdly, the card reader shall be used to authenticate the fingerprint of the voter as an additional confirmatory procedure.

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    “If the fingerprint is not authenticated by the card reader but the PVC is confirmed as genuine and the voter’s personal details are consistent with the manual register, he/she shall be allowed to vote,”

    Yakubu added that the incident form used in previous elections, “which is only completed by the presiding officer without the involvement of the voter,” has been abolished.

    ”Where the biometric authentication fails, the voter will be required to thumbprint a box next to his/her picture on the register and to enter his/her mobile telephone number before proceeding to vote,” the professor said.

    Yakubu said Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), had been printed and delivered to all the states for collection, but regretted that millions of cards were yet to be collected.

    The electoral umpire also raised alarm over a new method of vote buying being devised to undermine the voting process.

    Yakubu said the commission had received credible information that some partisan actors were going round buying up PVCs from voters or financially inducing them to collect the Voter Identification Numbers (VIN) on their PVCs.

    “In some instances, telephone numbers and details of bank accounts of voters have been collected. By collecting the PVCs, their intention may be to deprive the voters of voting since no one can vote without the PVC.

    “By collecting their phone numbers and bank details, the intention is to induce voters by electronic transfer of funds to their accounts since it will be difficult to buy votes at polling units.

    “By collecting the VINs, they may be acting on the mistaken notion that our system can be hacked into and the Card Readers somehow preloaded ahead of election and compromised. We want to reassure Nigerians that we are aware of the new tricks. It is a futile effort.

    “We will work with the security agencies to deal with the violators of our electoral laws, including those who may be trying to compromise our staff responsible for making the PVCs available for collection by legitimate voters.’’

    Prof Yakubu said the commission had responded to the vote-buying menace in three ways, including the alteration of the configuration of polling units by moving the ballot boxes closer to the voting cubicles, making it difficult for voters to expose their marked ballot papers.

    “Secondly, we have introduced a partial ban on the use of mobile phone and other photographic devices by voters while in the voting cubicles.

    “Thirdly, we are introducing the rolling and flattening of ballot papers by voters before casting them into the ballot boxes.’’

  • Sanwo-Olu to Muslim leaders: we’ll be fair to all

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos State Governorship Candidate Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday assured leaders of various Islamic organisations that his administration will be fair to them in policy formations if elected.

    Sanwo-Olu and his running mate Obafemi Hamzat had an interactive session with the Muslim Community of Lagos State (MCLS) at the Lagos Central Mosque, Idumota.

    According to the APC flagbearer, his administration will make regular consultations with the religious bodies and other stakeholders in the state before taking decision on issues affecting the state.

    Earlier, MCLS President Prof Tajudeen Gbadamosi spoke on areas where the Muslim Community felt slighted with the present administration.

    Among them is the appointment of Tutor-Generals in education districts.

    The government, Prof Gbadamosi said, should be fair in its appointment of Tutor-Generals for the state.

    “As it stands, there is no Muslim among the six Tutor-Generals in the state. The current situation is skewed to Muslim advantage and we hope the incoming administration would correct the imbalance,” he said.

    On freedom of religion and worship, the Muslims leader sought for a clear policy and enforcement of freedom of religion and worship.

    He said: “There should be no religious discrimination or harassment in our public schools. Religious devotions should respect all, and must be encouraged on school’s morning assembly. Morning assembly should be made equal days for Muslims and Christians. Officially, all schools must close at 12 noon on Friday to enable Muslim pupils and teachers attend Jumat service as this will help in religious moral building of the societies.

    “Hijab must be allowed for willing Muslims students and pupils. However, this must conform to the school standard and adopted school uniform, More importantly, as we are still waiting for the Supreme Court judgment, we appreciate the State Government decision to uphold the Appeal Court ruling on Hijab, but not yet implemented in schools as the Tutor-Generals refused to pass on the circular containing the implementation. The Hijab issue might be major criteria among others for supporting any political party seeking the Muslims votes.”

    The Muslim, Prof Gbadamosi said, requests for the implementation of bill passed by the 7th Lagos State House of Assembly on establishment of Islamic Court of Law.

    “We want a window for Islamic conduct of marriages, divorce and inheritance cases in courts. Marriages conducted by Islamic centre and Muslim organisations be recognised and the creation of a registry to handle and register marriage conducted under Islamic Law,” he said.

    He lamented that lop-sidedness of the recently held Code Lagos.

    He said: “During the last Code Lagos training, we noticed that Lagos State government approved 32 churches and only two Mosques as CodelagosOut-of-School in Lagos. The information on the application to register and approve training centres was only made to the general public after the government had approved the church centres. Since this is a capacity development programme, any government coming in must create adequate opportunity to the capacity of Muslim youths in Lagos.”

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    Prof Gbadamosi also lamented the high rate of moral decadence and juvenile delinquency in the state.

    This, he said, is due to government insincerity and neglect in the area of support for ideal way of life.

    “The government should ensure that skill acquisition for women and youth is of great concern to discourage immoralities and laziness when they have nothing doing. The government should have a policy on dress code in all higher institutions since nakedness is the bedrock of immoralities. Concerted effort should be made to eradicate drug abuse among youths. Lottery promo and bet games should be discouraged as it encourages laziness. Appointment of sizeable number of women and youth to some enviable position to serves as inspiration to coming generation. Reintroduction of literary debating society into schools not only in English Language but in all Languages (Arabic, French and local languages) will go a long way in curb immoralities among the youth,” he said.

    Sanwo-Olu thanked the Muslim Community for thoughtful ideals in moving the state forward.

    According to him, some of the things said are part of what “we are expecting from the people. You have done the right thing by presenting those issues to us. There is nothing like governance with the people. We will look into all issues raised and addressed them.

    “We’ll be fair and transparent to Lagosians. You are an important stakeholder. We’ll not take you for granted,” he said.

  • Agbaje faults appointment of new Lagos HOS

    The governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Mr Jimi Agbaje, has faulted the appointment of Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola as the new Head of Service.

    In a statement by his campaign organisation on Thursday in Lagos, Agbaje said the action sacrificed career progression and was politics taken too far.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode had on Monday sworn in 46-year-old Muri-Okunola as the 21st Head of Service (HOS) in the state.

    Muri-Okunola, who was a Permanent Secretary until his appointment, replaced Mrs Folashade Adesoye, who retired in December 2018.

    Reacting to the development, the PDP candidate described the appointment as ”insensitive, unjust and disruptive” of the civil service hierarchy.

    He alleged that the government had forcefully retired no fewer than 21 senior and more experienced permanent secretaries to pave the way for the new man.

    ”There is a sense of shock and injustice in all these. It is bound to create bad blood and injustice within the system.

    ”These are seasoned personnel capable of fitting perfectly and effectively in that office.

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    ”But in this era of impunity, they have been offloaded prematurely,” he said.

    Agbaje said that Muri-Okunola served as the Personal Assistant to former Gov. Bola Tinubu and that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had imbued him with very abnormal privileges.

    ”Muri-Okunola lacks that broad-based exposure, which makes him a misfit for the post on which he has been imposed.

    ”Whoever becomes HoS is usually a civil servant with widespread exposure, as he must be abreast of all issues related to the bureaucracy and governance.

    ”But all these rules and traditions have been bent for this appointment,” he said.

    Agbaje said the development portends grave danger to the state’s bureaucracy, founded on the foundations of merit-nurtured progression through the rungs of the career ladder.

    ”It is befuddling to imagine how officers who are 15 years older than the new HoS will take orders and directives from him.

    ”From all indications, this might be too farfetched and difficult, and it has a way of impacting negatively on governance, taking into cognizance that the Civil Service is the engine room of not just government but the society,” he said.