The Nation Newspaper

Tag: lagos

  • Lagos empowers 600 vulnerable women

    In its bid to promote entrepreneurial activities among vulnerable women towards self reliance, Lagos State government, through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has empowered over 600 women with free skill acquisition training and start-up packs in 3 local government areas namely: Alimosho, Apapa and Yaba local government areas.

    Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Short-Term Skill Acquisition Programme, held in Alimosho council area, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Lola Akande, said the state government is aware of the prevailing economic circumstance which poses serious challenges to women. “This informed the creation of 17 functional Skills Acquisition Centres across the five divisions of the State where various forms of over 17 skills are offered on a tuition- free basis,” she said.

    According to Akande, the main objective is to train women, girls and men alike in various skills and vocations for the purpose of economic empowerment and lifting of their status from the state of dependency to self reliance. “I am happy to say that beneficiaries of our short term vocational training who are mainly vulnerable women are now contributing to family and societal development,” she added.

    The commissioner was represented by a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Abiola Liadi

  • Lagos: Sanwo-Olu promises to reconcile aggrieved aspirants

    Southwest All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Leader Chief Kemi Nelson yesterday warned party members about the danger of underrating the opposition in Lagos State in next year’s governorship election. Also, Lagos West APC leader Prince Rabiu Oluwa called for unity and understanding among party leaders and members to avoid the repeat of the electoral defeat in some federal constituencies in 2015.

    The party elder recalled that Lagos APC lost some Houses of Assembly and Representatives seats due to unresolved post-primary crises that hit the platform.

    While Nelson charged the party faithful to gird their loins and work hard for victory, Oluwa, a member of the Governorship Advisory Council (GAC), said the party should go into the polls as a united fold.

    The party elders spoke at Ikeja during the “thank you” visit of the Lagos State governorship candidate, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to Lagos West APC elders and leaders.

    Accompanied by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Aina, his campaign manager, Mr. Tayo Ayinde, Cardinal James Odunmbaku, Dr. Tola Kasali, Ashipa Kaoli Olusanya, Bayo Ajisebutu and Segun Dawodu, the flag bearer and his entourage were received by Oluwa, Chief Oladele Ajomale, Dr. Abayomi Finnih, and other party chiefs.

    Reflecting on the challenges triggered by the politics of nominations, the flag bearer waved an olive branch, promising to meet all aggrieved aspirants and incorporate them into his campaign structures. Sanwo-Olu said: “All our former aspirants who were not successful at the House of Assembly, House of Representatives and even senatorial primaries; we must reach out to them so that they will not harbour bitterness and a sense of injustice.

    “We will meet them individually and collectively. They have their followers. They must remain in the party. It is not just we versus them or them versus we. We own the party and state together.”The flag bearer also acknowledged that much work has to be done to retain power, urging the political family to prepare for the task ahead. “Work has just started. The work is not for APC alone. It is for all Lagosians. We have to tell our church members, customers in markets, neighbours, our friends. Let us unite as we forge ahead in the election.”

    Oluwa, who presented a golden horse to the candidate, said: “We need to unite. In 2015, we lost some votes, especially some House of Assembly and Representatives seats. It was due to in-fighting. We have work to do. It is a big work. Sanwo-Olu said he wanted 2.5 votes from Lagos. It is not easy. We can’t stay home and achieve that. We have to work. “The campaign manager, Ayinde, who is also from the West District, said the Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat ticket was gathering momentum, nothing that 1,000 people have voluntarily enlisted in the campaign team. Urging Sanwo-Olu to forge ahead with excitement and optimism, he added: “Our people are behind you. Our leaders in the district are behind you. We will not fail you. Ewe will deliver you. By May 2019, you will be the governor of Lagos State.”

  • I will be a listening governor – Sanwo-Olu

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Saturday said he would run a government based on the wishes of the people if elected.

    He made the pledge at Ikeja while speaking during a ‘Thank You’ visit to party members in the Lagos West senatorial zone.

    The APC candidate said his policies and programmes would be based on the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

    He added that he would always keep a listening ear in serving the state.

    Sanwo-Olu, who spoke in Yoruba, said he was seeking the number one seat in the state out of the passion to serve the people and take the state to greater heights.

    ”I am in the governorship race because I want to serve the people.

    ”I promise, when we are elected by the Grace of God, I shall run a government based on the aspirations of the people.

    ”I will be a listening governor. I will attend to the needs of the people.

    ”I am here to serve and I will do my best to take the state to greater heights,” he said.

    While appreciating party members for electing him as candidate in the just concluded primaries, Sanwo-Olu said he believed his choice was out of the confidence they had in him to address issues needing attention.

    The candidate, however, urged members to brace up for the challenges ahead by mobilising members and residents to secure victory in 2019.

    Sanwo-Olu urged members to put the primaries behind them and work together to ensure that APC was victorious in 2019.

    “I thank you for supporting me to get this far. I am very grateful and I will not disappoint you.

    “But the task ahead is bigger; it is no more a party affair, but we are going to the general election.

    “So, I want to appeal to you that we start our preparations right from now.

    ”We should reach out to everyone and carry out this project together.

    “We should put the issues of primaries behind us and stay together.

    ”I know some people might feel bad that they could not realise one aspiration or the other, it is natural.

    “But we need to put all of that behind us and bring everyone on the train to ensure victory in 2019.”

    Sanwo-Olu said APC had earned the confidence of residents through the delivery of democratic dividends.

    Chief Rabiu Oluwa, Lagos West Senatorial Leader of the party, described Sanwo-Olu as a man with the passion and the vision to move Lagos forward.

    He said party members had confidence in him, hence his emergence as the governorship candidate.

    Oluwa urged party members to continue to support the candidate to ensure victory in 2019.

    Also speaking, the South-West Zonal Woman Leader of the party, Mrs Kemi Nelson, urged party members to redouble efforts to ensure victory for the party.

    Nelson appealed to party members not to underrate the opposition, but that they should see the Sanwo-Olu project as one in which they had to give their best.

    “We should not underrate the opposition at all; we should not pretend they are not there.

    ”We should work, work and work hard and do our best to ensure victory for our candidate and our party,” she said.

    Nelson said she would mobilise women to ensure the candidate win overwhelmingly.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dr Obafemi Hamzat, a former Commissioner of Works and Chief Henry Ajomale, the immediate past chairman of the party in the state, were present at the gathering.

    A member of the party’s Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), Dr Abayomi Finnih, was also present among other members. (NAN)

  • Hajj 2019: Lagos begins sale of forms

    The sale of forms for next year’s Hajj will begin on Monday, Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board (LSMPWB) has said.

    It said yesterday that intending pilgrims are expected to pay N10,000 and N1.4 million initial deposit.

    The Board Secretary, Abdul Rahman Ishola, said in a statement after meeting officials of the board in Ikeja that the state introduced schemes such as “Payment by Instalment” and “Regular Standard” to make the exercise easier for pilgrims.

    The payment, he said, could be split into three.

    Ishola advised intending pilgrims to seize the opportunity to make early payment in order to pick the local government of their choice, as each local government has a specific number of applicants that will be catered for.

     

  • Ijede residents appeal to LASG to repair bad road

    The council of chiefs and residents of Ijede, have appealed to the Lagos State Government to repair all the bad roads in the community.

    They made the appeal in an interview with our reporter, on Thursday at Ijede Palace in Lagos.

    The Regent of Ijede, Chief Aliu Musediku, said the deplorable state of the road had adversely affected economic activities in the community, especially the only road that connects the community to the city.

    According to the Regent, the condition of the road has also led to the rising rate of auto crashes experienced by commuters coming and going out of the community.

    “We want the state government to help us repair the roads, if you want to go from here to the metropolis you will spend at least three hours on the road due to its deplorable condition.

    “Sometimes, while the drivers are trying to avoid potholes, accidents are caused in the process.

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    “When the present government led by Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode, came into power, we wrote to him concerning the road and he promised to repair it, up till now nothing has been done to alleviate the sufferings of our people, ” the Regent said.

    Chief Musediku explained that the deplorable state of roads had also discouraged some of the residents from doing business and some had relocated from the community to other areas.

    Mr Taiwo Oredoyin, a resident of the community, commended the state government for its efforts on road construct but urged them to prioritise major roads linking one community to the other.

    Mr Wasiu Ogundeyin, a commercial driver, said that the deplorable condition of the road had damaged their vehicles; a development he noted which made the drivers to spend unnecessary money in the repair of their vehicles.

    He added that the bad roads were the major cause of traffic gridlock in the area, and there was an urgent need to address the problem, while commending the state government for work done so far.

    “Ambode has performed but we urge him to do more because that is the only way the people can enjoy the dividends of democracy,” he said.

  • Lagos to adopt holistic approach to waste management

    LAGOS State Governor Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has said effective Solid Waste Management (SWM) requires a paradigm shift.

    Besides, he argued that in the quest for environmental sustainability, a new mindset, which would revolve around responsibility,partnership and stewardship has to be in place.

    Ambode stated this at the World Habitat Day (WHD) held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja on Monday.

    The governor described the theme: “Municipal solid waste management”, as very apt and timely, especially with the global challenges of green house gases, global warming and climate change on the increase.

    The governor noted that waste generation is a natural phenomenon as a result of human activities, hence, the challenges of managing solid waste cannot be over emphasised. He recalled that while previous administrations have put in several efforts with the formulation of various policies on municipal waste management, yet, the astronomical increase in population and the resultant waste generation have necessitated a re-focus, in the interest of the state. This is more so as the existing structures and current realities have revealed deficiencies, especially in terms of equipment and infrastructural gaps as they do not align with the state’s vision of a smart city.

    “In the quest for a holistic approach towards solving the challenges of waste management, the state government in line with global best practices conceptualised the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI). This initiative is a strong resolve and commitment to redefining solid waste management in the state. The waste management cycle include, but not limited to the control, collection, storage, treatment, recycling, transportation and disposal of waste. The efficiency of this system, among others, is highly dependent on the inherent opportunities in waste reduction at point of generation, waste sorting and, above all, demonstration of right attitude that will guarantee us a sustainable environment,” Ambode explained.

    While the governor described the CLI as a laudable concept, he nonetheless admitted that in the process of implementation, some constraints had been identified, which required periodic review.

    Ambode further noted that the astronomical population growth, increasing living standard of people, new settlements and emerging industries to meet human needs for survival against increase in waste generation. These wastes from industrial and domestic activities, when not properly disposed off, he argued, can cause a lot of harm in the environment and breed various diseases. He, nonetheless, said the best possible methods of managing solid waste are to reuse, reduce and recycle them, thus making the waste-to-wealth programmes in the state of uttermost importance. For the waste management framework to be effective, the governor said there is the need for comprehensive technological development, environmental education and awareness programmes for the populace. He revealed that his administration through the Ministry of the Environment (MoE), is fully engaged in organising awareness campaigns aimed at sensitising school children, youth organisations, NGOs, community town hall meetings and public advocacy regarding the importance of proper solid waste management. These steps being taken by the government are in consonance with the Sustainable Development Goal No 3, which addresses the need “to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all ages.

    “This Administration places a lot of emphasis on clean-up campaigns. These campaigns are regularly organised in various communities where bin liners are distributed to the inhabitants, who are also encouraged to clean up their homes and market places. In our endeavour to protect the environment, we are promoting drastic behavioural changes at the individual level as well as collective and institutional levels,” Ambode said.

    In a similar vein, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Rotimi Ogunleye, said the state meets the highest international standard in the disposal of waste, admiting that solid waste management is a serious environmental issue that needs to be taken serious especially as urbanisation and industrialisation have taken a new dimension, which in turn affects both Flora and Fauna.

    He said waste management comprises four components that cut across recycling, composting, disposal and waste-to-energy. Each of these components, he explained, has financial implication and as nations develop technologically, they adopt one component or the other in response to their environmental challenge.

    “Waste management also entails the collection, keeping, treatment and disposal of waste to render harmful organisms harmless to human, animal life, the ecology and the environment in general. Lagos State generates an average of 0.115kg of waste daily. It, therefore, means that the state requires huge funds to be earmarked for domestic waste management to provide necessary facilities for operators engaged in collection and disposal of domestic waste,” Ogunleye said.

    He said while good policies are sacrosanct, but it is in the area of implementation where there is a need to make a difference. “We need attitudinal change and resolve to move towards Zero Waste economy whereby output of each resource is converted into input for a better use,” he submitted.

  • Lagos releases N795m to retirees

    The Lagos State Government has paid another batch of 213 Public Service retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) N795 million as accrued pension rights for September.

    The Commissioner, Ministry of Establishments Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson, stated this at the 55th Retirement Benefit Bond Certificate Presentation in Lagos.

    He said 9,804 retirees have had accrued pension rights of N40.245 billion paid into their Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA) from inception of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration till date.

    He reiterated that despite the huge funding obligations of the CPS, the governor was committed to the well-being of pensioners in retirement.

    For this reason, funds are released monthly into employees’ RSA account while accrued rights of retirees are paid to enable them have access to their RSA, he added.

    LASPEC Director-General, Mrs. Folasade Onanuga, appreciated the retirees’ service to the state.

    She informed the retirees that they are in the ‘evening’ time when they need not engage in activities that will aggravate their health status.

    She urged them to apply wisdom in managing whatever they have.

    Mrs. Onanuga also enlightened the retirees on the move by the National Pension Commission to fulfil the provision of the Pension Law on guaranteed minimum pension for life for retirees under the Programmed Withdrawal benefit option.

    She said the annuity option offers pension for life for the annuitants.

  • Lagos urges residents to ensure proper waste disposal

    Lagos State Ministry of the Environment has urged residents to ensure proper waste management, for a healthy environment.

    An Assistant Director in the Environmental Services Department of the ministry, Mrs. Tolulope Adeyo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lagos that residents should ensure proper bagging of their waste, to prevent epidemic.

    She said: “Lagos State Ministry of the Environment has a mandate to ensure a clean and serene environment.

    “In a bid to do this, we encourage communities to take responsibility for their environment to bag their waste properly and ensure they don’t block the drains.

    “We advocate that when waste is not disposed properly, residents are the immediate victims of a hazardous environment.

    “We want people to understand that the issue of public health is key. When you have a clean environment, you spend less in hospital.”

    Adeyo said the ministry had been enforcing its directive by using the carrot and stick approach in sanctioning residents over indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

  • Nigerians praise fishermen for refusing to give turtle up

    Stories of denigration abound on the social media about corruption and lack of patriotism by Nigerians usually attributed to poverty in the land. But Twitter user, @Joeyakan shared how local fishermen and policemen in Oniru, Lagos refused to allow some foreigners go away with an endangered sea turtle and warmed the hearts of many.

    @JoeyAkan shared on his Twitter handle Monday:

    “Behind my office at Landmark Towers, there’s a body of water that links to the seas. White fishermen show up a lot and cast their nets to catch some fish.

    They are welcome, treated with respect and assisted by the locals. The men in turn behave.

    “But today, something happened. When the white fishermen cast their nets, they caught a lot of fish. But they also caught something strange, a large water turtle. Catching a water turtle was a shock, but it also came with toll – the shell of the turtle tore the net. Damaged it.

    “And then the best thing happened. The locals rally and stopped the men from taking the turtle away. ‘Na only fish you get permission to catch,’ one said. ‘This one no be fish. Drop am.’ The men refused, and an argument came on. They called more locals for support.

    “The men called the police attached to Landmark for help. The police supported the locals. Turns out water turtles are almost extinct because of poaching and the work on Eko Atlantic affecting their habitat. So these locals came together to make a law protecting them. It worked.

    “The numbers are decent now. Turtles are back, and they need protection. The whites, seeing that they were not going to get any support, asked them to pay for the cost of the damage to their nets. They negotiated for long, before they agreed and money was exchanged.

    “The turtle was returned, and it was carried to the sea in a little ceremony. People marched as it was hoisted in the air. When it touched the water, everyone clapped. The turtle went back in, saved by humans. The whites left. Case closed.”

    Akan said the episode renewed his hope in the country’s redemption.

    “So, while Nigeria brings all of its negativity to shred your spirit, there still exists some good in small pockets of light. People who have chosen to take charge of their corner and make it better. I just saw one of such pockets in action. And I am so happy,” he said.
    Akan’s thread had generated 1,475 retweets and 1,275 likes by early Tuesday.

    Many who commented also shared Akan’s sentiments about Nigeria overcoming corruption, while expressing shock that foreigners who they expected to do the right thing acres otherwise.

    @eniolaaa said: “Before I read the thread completely, I concluded that the white men were going to return the turtle without anyone telling them but alas!”

    Oluwaseun Banwo replied, saying: “We often believe these whites are well behaved by default, NO. They are well behaved in their societies cos they don’t condone anyhowness. They jump queues here arrange with police to ‘ride’ locals because they can get away with it.”

    Sabina Anyaebizi (@bellabeenah) praised the local fishermen, saying: “Oh Wow. All hope is not lost afterall. We can still redeem Nigeria if we try! Kudos to those great Nigerians. And these ‘whites’ who are supposedly the “self acclaimed” protectors of the environment had to be schooled by the locals on the right thing to do. I’m so proud of them.”

    Baamofin Lu’Jesha wondered why the locals had to pay for the foreigners’ damaged net

    “My own issue is why they had to pay the fishermen for the nets. They’d been fishing there for free all this while. The locals had no moral obligation to pay for their nets,” he tweeted, while @Tobiloba_o replied: “The turtle broke their nets and for peace to reign they decided to.

    Be sure that next time they come they would be more cautious because then they would not get anyone to pay for their net if it cuts.”
    However, @chiddysville2 wrote that they should be barred from fishing at the place.

    “They shouldn’t be allowed to fish there anymore,” he wrote and got support from Twitter user, @ayomachine, who wrote, “cos they lack manners and culture.”

    Another Twitter user, @odii_kelechi, said it was ilegal to catch turtles with nets.

    “I studied nautical science and fishery is part of my major in nautical college and I work closely too with organisation that enforce the law here in our coastal waters. Nobody is permitted to catch turtles with net here in Nigeria,” he wrote.

  • Nigeria needs a leader who understands economics, says Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday said Nigeria needed a leader who understood economics.

    He spoke at a lecture organised by the Foursquare Gospel Church in Lagos.

    Obasanjo, who chaired the event, did not name which of the presidential candidates meets his prescriptions.

    He also avoided press interview after the event.

     

    Details shortly…