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  • Lagos Govt. empowers HIV patients with trade skills

    The Lagos State Government says it is training 98 women living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) on various trade skills.

    Mr Peter Obialor, Coordinator of people living with HIV/AIDS, Community Department in Alimosho General Hospital, Igando Lagos, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday.

    Obialor said the empowerment is being conducted by the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) with the aim of reducing poverty in the state.

    “This training is organised for people living with HIV to empower them and make them feel among and not to be rejected and discriminated upon.

    “This training at least will help them build their self esteem instead of losing it; and they can equally be free to showcase themselves as people who can do a particular thing.

    “The people are being trained on how to make tie and dye, bead making, makeup, gele tying, cosmetology, hairdressing, event management and catering services.

    “ We give them starter packs which comprises of what their chosen venture required,’’ Obialor said.

    According to him, the participants are from various general hospitals in the state.

    He assured people living with the virus to believe that they had a future and urged them not to think that having “HIV is a death sentence”.

    He said: “HIV is not a sickness, it does not kill; malaria kills faster than HIV.

    “But HIV can live in the body for about three years without one knowing; it is the panic that kills.’’

    Read Also: 360,000 adolescents expected to die of AIDS by 2030 -UNICEF

    He commended the state government for its initiative on this disease, noting that “this is the second time the people of Alimosho local government is benefiting from the state government goodwill”.

    Miss Happiness Chidinma, one of the trainees on Cosmetology, told reporters that she was blessed to be part of the beneficiaries.

    “I feel great and blessed about the training I am currently receiving, I will use the skill to establish a big firm to enable me cater for my children,’’ she said.

    Miss Owolabi Olabisi, an apprentice on Makeup and Gele, expressed joy that she finally learnt the skill she had always had passion for.

    “I am very happy about the scheme because makeup and Gele tying have always been what I have been trying to learn on my own.

    Mrs Amarachi Okafor, a trainee on Catering, also thanked the state government for empowering people living with HIV and “I am determined to set up my business after graduation”.

    Similarly, Mrs Rosemary Chukwuma, the event and decoration instructor, urged the women to be creative to enhance their economic development.

    NAN reports that the training will last for one month.

  • FSARS operative allegedly shot dead LASTMA official in Lagos

    A police inspector attached to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Ikeja on Wednesday allegedly shot dead an official with the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) while controlling traffic.

    Sources told the News Agency of Nigeria that the LASTMA official, named Adeyemo Rotimi, was shot dead at Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos.

    It was gathered that the LASTMA official was shot dead when he challenged the policeman, identified as Joseph Oki, for disobeying traffic rules.

    It was also  learnt that the victim, popularly known as ‘Baba Ibeji’, had stopped the police inspector who was driving a cream coloured Highlander jeep with registration number plate LSR 277 BJ to allow free flow of traffic.

    It was gathered that the LASTMA official reportedly scolded the policeman for flouting traffic rules.

    According to sources, the policeman, who felt insulted by Adeyemo’s warning, allegedly pulled a pistol and shot the LASTMA official in the eye, killing him on the spot.

    NAN learnt that the policeman attempted to flee the scene but was stopped by the mob.

    It was gathered that some policemen in the area reportedly rescued the FSARS officer from the angry crowd who also damaged his vehicle.

    Contacted, Spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, CSP Chike Oti, did not deny the incident.

    “I am writing a release on the incident,” Oti said.

  • Air Peace takes delivery of 6th Embraer jet

    Nigerian carrier, Air Peace has received the last of the six 50-seater Embraer 145 jets it recently acquired to boost its vision of providing seamless flight services on the domestic, regional and international routes.

     

    The airline made the announcement in a statement issued by its Corporate Communications Manager, Mr Chris Iwarah on Wednesday, in Lagos.

    Iwarah said the aircraft marked 5N-BUW and named Virginia Omeogo Adegoke (Nee Onyema), touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at about 4am on Tuesday.

     

    He said the airline’s goal of guaranteeing seamless flight operations as well as connecting unserved and underserved routes was fast being fulfilled.

    “We are delighted to announce the arrival of our sixth 50-seater Embraer 145 jet at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at about 4am on Tuesday.

     

    “The arrival of the aircraft has further strengthened our resolve to provide seamless flight services on the domestic, regional and international routes.

    “It will as also extend the reach of our exceptional operations to many more unserved and underserved destinations under our no-city-left-behind project,” Iwarah said.

     

    Read Also: Air Peace receives fifth Embraer regional jet

     

    He said the airline had in February 2018 established a subsidiary, Air Peace Hopper, towards actualising this objective.

    Iwarah said “Since we started this project, the pieces of feedback have been quite encouraging.

     

    “There have been challenges, including delays mostly on account of circumstances bordering on safety and other factors beyond our control.

    “However, we have kept reviewing our schedules and restrategising to ensure the best of flight services for our teeming loyal customers. This has greatly paid off and the delays reduced to the barest minimum.”

     

    According to him, Air Peace was in aviation to create massive job opportunities, connect people and business and leisure destinations and help in growing the economies of Nigeria and other nations.

     

    He noted that the addition of more aircraft to the airline’s fleet would deepen its capacity for travelers during the yuletide.

     

    NAN

     

  • Lagos, Rivers, Ogun, FCT ahead on IGR

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)  yesterday released the Internally Generated Revenue at State level for half year 2018, which tracks the performance of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in terms of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    During the period under review, the states and FCT generated a total of N579.490 billion, as against N453.833 billion posted in the corresponding period of last year, a growth of 27.7 percent year-on-year. T

    wenty-eight states recorded growth in IGR while eight states, including Abia, Anambra, Benue, Taraba, Kebbi, Kwara, Ebonyi and Enugu, recorded a decline in 2018 half-year. In the first and second quarters of the year, the states generated N280.835 billion and N263.343 billion respectively.

    The revenues generated by the states came mainly from Pay-As-You-Earn Tax (N352.509 billion), Direct Assessment (N26.293 billion), Road Taxes (N11.681 billion), Other Taxes (N84.033 billion) and revenues from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (N104.972 billion).

    A breakdown of the report showed that Lagos, Rivers, Ogun, FCT and Delta were the best five performers during the period under review. Lagos State generated N196.395 billion, up by 16.88 percent from N168.025 billion in first half of 2017, to top the list. In second place is Rivers, with N60.906 billion, an increase of 36.13 percent, from the N44.742 billion recorded last year.

    Ogun State improved by 6.70 percent to N42.519 billion from N39.849 billion in the comparable period of 2017. The FCT generated N35.311 billion during the period, while Delta State posted N29.797 billion, a growth of 17.80 percent from N25.103 billion in 2017.

    In 2017, the states generated N931.23 billion, an increase of 12.03 per cent from 2016. In the second half of 2017, the total revenue generated by states was N432.65 billion, compared to N409.09 billion in first half of the year.

     

  • Lagos cautions Ikorodu residents

    Lagos State government has urged residents of Igbogbo in Ikorodu  not to resort to self-help but avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the  Ministry of Justice to settle their grievances.

    A Director in the Department of Administrator-General and Public Trustees, Mrs. Mariam Olaniyi, gave the advice during an enlightenment campaign carried out as part of the activities marking the 30th Anniversary of Igbogbo Day.

    The ministry had organised a legal clinic to offer legal services to residents.

    The exercise was also embarked upon by the ministry to sensitise and bring justice closer to residents.

    Mrs Olaniyi, who led the delegation, noted that the government had put modalities in place to assist the people in accessing free legal services across the state.

    She added: “There are several windows available to access justice free of charge as government through its agencies is ready to provide succour to the indigent residents in Lagos State.”

    According to her, agencies and directorates, such as the Administrator-General and Public Trustees (AG&PT), Public Advice Centre (PAC),  Office of the Public Defender (OPD), Citizens’ Mediation Centre at  (CMC), Citizens’ Right,  Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSRVT), Taskforce on Land Grabbers, Lis Pendis and the Community Service are institutions funded by taxpayer’s money to harness peaceful coexistence among residents in the state.

    Olaniyi praised the Oba of Igbogbo, Oba Kasali Semiu Adegboroye for his efforts at partnering with the Ministry to educate his people more in justice delivery.

    Olaniyi hinted that the clinic was aimed at reawakening the public about the free legal services of the ministry, which cuts across the rights of women, children, the less privileged, the vulnerable and persons living with disabilities and to further sensitise them on new laws enacted by the government to preserve their rights.

    The Oba of Igbogbo, Kasali Semiu Adegoroye praised the state government for providing avenues where residents could settle their disputes and obtain free legal services without fear or favour.

    He advised the Igbogbo community and its environs to seize the opportunity provided by the  ministry.

     

     

  • 10,000 get trust fund loans

    Over 2,000 persons yesterday collected cheques of between N200,000 and N500,000 from the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) for trading.

    The government, according to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, has so far given out over N7 billion loans to more than 10,000 beneficiaries.

    At the presentation of cheques to the latest beneficiaries at the LTV Blue Roof at Agidingbi, Ikeja, Ambode said women were also benefiting from the LSETF programmes.

    He said: “Our commitment to women is evident in the number of women who are beneficiaries of the programmes. Before today, we had 3,652 female loan beneficiaries and 4,280 male loan beneficiaries.

    “Under our Lagos Employability Support Programme, women represent 49 per cent of the total number of young people that LSETF has trained, while in our Lagos Innovates programme, which supports a tech ecosystem dominated by men, 21 per cent of the beneficiaries are women.

    “In line with our promise of inclusive governance, almost half of these loans were given to women; while the beneficiaries range from the youth to our senior citizens in active business. Despite this, the Fund has assured me of its work to increase the level of female participation across programmes, especially within Lagos Innovates.

    “In addition, the Fund has ensured that the 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) have felt its impact.”

    The LSETF programmes, the governor said, had created over 25,000 direct jobs created by the businesses.

    According to him, the multiplier effects of the businesses on the Lagos economy and the indirect jobs created are enormous.

    “Besides the jobs being created, I am pleased to receive testimonials from some of our beneficiaries. I watched the video of Ibrahim Shuaib; a final year student of Dentistry at the Lagos State University Medical School. With a loan of N250,000, Ibrahim has not only grown his dry-cleaning business by employing over 20 people, but has also started another business, which his sister runs.

    “I also read about Femi Oyedipe, whose chocolate production business, Loshes Chocolate, can now produce 10 times more than before, employing more Lagosians. Apart from employing more people, Loshes Chocolate manufactures its products from cocoa beans sourced from Ondo State, creating value for farmers outside Lagos. This is a very good example of the inter-state economic partnership Nigeria needs to grow its economy.”

  • Lagos promises free traffic flow at Yuletide

    Motorists will enjoy a smooth ride in Lagos during the Yuletide as everything is being done to check seasonal chaotic traffic, Transportation Commissioner Ladi Lawanson said yesterday.

    Officials of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) will work round the clock daily during the period.

    Addressing reporters after a close-door strategic session chaired by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, at Lagos House, Ikeja, Lawanson said the government was worried by the traffic challenges.

    Lawanson said: “What we have done is that we have got feedback from men and women who have been on the front line, specifically our LASTMA officials. Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal was with us as well to give us the perspective on security.

    “So, most of the issues have been thrown up and we have together as a group strategised on it and we have come up with what we think are solutions to make for better flow of traffic, especially as we enter the ember months and the holiday season.

    “Without doubt, Lagosians have been going through hardship, which has been occasioned by the gridlock we have in Apapa. For that one, the state executive council has a solution in sight.

    “What we are going through now is approval process required to activate the solution.”

    LASTMA Chief Executive Officer Chris Olakpe, a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), said work had been intensified at the Trailer Park to ease off gridlock in the Apapa axis.

    He said palliatives on potholes would be handled in two ways, day and night, but more in the night.

    Olakpe promised more LASTMA officials’ presence on the roads, especially during the ember months, and urged motorists to cooperate with them.

    He warned those vandalising wire barriers on the roads to desist or face the law.

    Olakpe warned motorists against harassingLASTMA officials, saying such act attracts a jail term of two-and-a-half years without fine.

    LASTMA General Manager Wale Musa warned commercial motorcyclists, popularly called okada, to desist from plying unrestricted routes.

     

  • ‘How we discovered 1,570 rifles illegally imported’

    A Federal High Court, Lagos heard yesterday how 1,570 rifles were illegally imported into the country by some businessmen through the Tincan Island Port, Lagos.

    A Deputy Superintendent of Customs, Nwaiwu Chibuzor Ginikanwa, made the disclosure before Justice Saliu Saidu.

    Ginikanwa, who is with the Intelligence unit, Tincan Island Command, was testifying as a prosecution witness in the trial of Ayogu Great James, Ifeuwa Moses Christ and a company, Great James Oil and Gas Limited.

    The defendants are facing trial for alleged importation of 1,570 pump action rifles into the country.

    Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mr. Julius Ajakaiye, a deputy director with the Federal Ministry of Justice, Ginikanwa said she was on normal routine surveillance on September 6, 2017 at the Tincan Island Container Port, Lagos with the list of containers to be positioned for examination on that day.

    She said one of the containers, measuring 1by 20 feet, was among those to be examined.

    The witness said on her way to inspect the containers, an agent, Ndubuisi, approached her and gave her a photocopy of a Bill of Laden.

    She said after inspecting the first container belonging to another person, she proceeded to carry out inspection on the container whose Bill of Laden Ndubuisi had given her.

    Ginikanwa said while approaching the container, she saw two agents standing by the container already opened.

    “I noticed some cartons wrapped in sacks, with one of the cartons turned open.

    “On closer look, I saw guns.

    “Immediately the two agents, Ikechukwu Okafor and Ndubuisi realised that I had seen the guns in the sacks, they quickly locked the container and ran away.”

    She said she quickly alerted her boss, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Bomoi Sulaimon, who in turn, quickly drafted other operatives to join her at the terminal to secure the container.

    Ginikanwa said her boss also contacted Deputy Comptroller Enforcement Nnandi Vera.

    Read also: Police recover 13 AK-47 rifles, others in Kebbi

    The witness said she and the reinforcement from her unit were at the terminal until the arrival of the Enforcement Unit, who took the container away for 100 per cent physical examination.

    “When I got back to the office on that day, I received a call from a telephone number 08026797600 and the person who called was begging me in Igbo language to help secure the release of the container.”

    The witness told the court that further investigation showed that the caller was Emeka Festus.

    At that stage, Ajakaiye tendered the certified true copy of the Bill of Laden given to Ginikanwa by Ndubuisi and it was admitted in evidence.

    The defence did not oppose its admissibility.

    Justice Saidu adjourned further hearing in the matter till January 16 and 24.

  • How we discovered 1,570 rifles illegally imported into the country, by NCS

    A Federal High Court, Lagos heard on Thursday how 1,570 rifles were illegally imported into the country by some business men through the Tincan Island Port, Lagos.

    A Deputy Superintendent of Customs, Nwaiwu Chibuzor Ginikanwa,  made the disclosure before Justice  Saliu Saidu.

    Ginikanwa, who is with the Intelligence unit, Tincan Island Command,  was testifying  as a prosecution witness in the trial of Ayogu Great James, Ifeuwa Moses Christ and a company, Great James Oil and Gas Limited.

    The defendants are facing trial for alleged importion of 1570 pump action rifles  into the country.

    Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mr. Julius Ajakaiye, a Deputy Director with the Federal Ministry of Justice,  Ginikanwa said she was on normal routine surveillance on September 6, 2017 at the Tincan Island Container Port, Lagos with  the list of containers to be positioned for examination on that day.

    She said one of the containers, measuring 1by 20 feet, was among those to be examined.

    The witness said that on her way to inspect the containers, an agent by name, Ndubuisi approached her and gave her a photocopy of a Bill of Laden.

    She said  after inspecting the first container belonging to another person, she proceeded to carry out inspection on the container which Ndubuisi has given her the Bill of Laden.

    Ginikanwa said while approaching the container, she saw two agents standing by the container and already opened.

    “I noticed some cartons rapped in sacks with one of the cartons turned open.

    “On  closer look, I saw guns.

    “Immediately the two agents, Ikechukwu Okafor  and Ndubuisi realised that I had seen the guns in the sacks, they quickly locked the container and ran away”.

    Ginikanwa said she quickly alerted her boss, Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Bomoi Sulaimon, who in turn, quickly drafted other operatives to join her at the terminal to secure the container.

    She said  her boss also contacted Deputy Comptroller Enforcement, Nnandi Vera.

    The witness said she and the reinforcement from her unit were at the terminal until the arrival of the Enforcement Unit who took the container away for 100 percent physical examination.

    “When I got back to the office on that day, I received a call from a telephone number 08026797600 and the person who called was begging me in Ibo language to help secure the release of the container.”

    The witness told the court that further investigation  into the call line revealed the caller to be one Emeka Festus.

    At this stage, the prosecutor,  Ajakaiye tendered the certified true copy of the Bill of Laden given to Ginikanwa by Ndubuisi and it was admitted in evidence.

    The defence did not opposed to its admissibility.

    Justice Saidu has adjourned further hearing in the matter till January 16 and 24, 2019.

    The court on Wednesday refused the bail applications filed by the alleged gun runners, Ayogu Great James and  Ifeuwa Moses Christ.

    The defendants alongside a company, Great James Oil and Gas Limited, located at Number 1, Warehouse Road, Apapa, Lagos    were first arraigned before the court on October 11  by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

    In a charge marked FHC/L/339c/18, the defendants were  alleged to have uttered an forged  Bill of Laden and Customs Form M, which they used in smuggling the pump action rifles into the country. During their arraignment, they were slammed with the eight counts charge bordering on conspiracy, illegal importation of firearms and forgery and uttering of Customs’ import documents.

    The prosecutor alleged that  in a bid to illegally and  unlawfully bring in the weapons, the defendants uttered and forged Bill of lading, issued in July 28, 2017, to read Guandong, China, instead of Istanbul, Turkey, which was written on the conveying container.

    They were also alleged to have uttered Form M (application for Import) and Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), issued in August 28, 2017, with number MF 20170080364 and CN 20170768490/001, respectively, to read Guandong, China instead of Istanbul, Turkey, as country of origin. The defendants were also alleged to have uttered a forged bill of lading numbered ISB0281398, issued in July 28, 2017, to read 230 packages of wash hand basin and W/C, as the content in the container used in shipping in the illegal firearms.

    The offences according to the prosecutor, Mr. Julius Ajakaiye  are contrary to and punishable under Section 3(6), 1(14)(a), 1(14)(a)(i), 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. They all pleaded not guilty to the charge.

  • Forex scam: Woman ‘dupes’ Kogi Rep of $49,800

    A woman, Amarachukwu Chineke, who allegedly obtained $49,800 (about N15, 438,000) from Kogi State lawmaker, Hon Emmanuel Egwu, under false pretences, was Monday brought before an Igbosere Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Chineke, 37, was arraigned by the Police Force Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), Ikoyi, Lagos before Mrs Folashade Botoku on a three-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining under false pretence and stealing.

    Read Also:Herbalist ‘dupes’ hotel worker of N170,000

    Prosecuting Sergeant Friday Mameh, alleged that the defendant and others at large, committed the offences on September 19, on Abraham Adesanya Street, Lekki, Lagos.

    The court heard that Chineke obtained the money from Egwu, House of Representatives member representing Idah Federal Constituency, Kogi State under false pretence that she would exchange it to its Naira equivalent of N15, 438,000.

    Mameh said: “The defendant connived with others who are yet to be found to steal the sum of $ 49,800 US Dollars, property of Honourable Emmanuel Egwu, with pretence to give him the Naira equivalent.”

    According to him, the offence contravened sections 411, 314 (3) and 287 (5) (a), of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Botoku granted her bail, in the sum of N2million, with two sureties in the like sum.

    She said the sureties must show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government and have their addresses verified.

    The case was adjourned till December 10, for trial.