The Nation Newspaper

Tag: lagos

  • Senator urges Lagosians to bear with Lagos on ThirdMainland Bridge closure

    MOTORISTS were yesterday urged to see the closure of the 3rd Mainland Bridge, billed for midnight today (Thursday), as necessary inconvenience and sacrifice for the safety of the millions of commuters plying the bridge.

    The urge came from Senator ‘Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East), who, on February 7, 2013, moved a motion for a comprehensive rehabilitation of the bridge built in the early 90s under the administration of military President Ibrahim Babangida.

    Ashafa said his motion calling on the Federal Government for immediate action was borne out of an independent assessment which showed that a substantial section of the bridge was failing.

    The motion, he recalled, elicited a renewed commitment from the government to routine maintenance for its safety at all time.

    The senator urged commuters to see the closure as a measure that must be taken to keep the integrity of the bridge.

    He assured that alternative routes have been mapped out by the state government to cushion the effect of the closure on residents, especially those moving from the mainland to the island.

    Ashafa said: “Onec again, the government has scheduled a closure of the bridge for a closure of the bridge for pre-maintenance assessment between the 23rd and 26th of August, 2018.

    “The government of Lagos State in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Power, Works & Housing, have put in place palliative measure to ensure that this period of closure is as seamless as possible for all Lagosians.

  • Lagos hosts food fiesta

    AN exhibition tagged:Nigerian Food Event (NFE) is billed to  hold in Lagos between October 22 and 24.

    The organisers, Afrocet Montgomery, said the three-day event will not only cater to businesses in food industry, but also incorporate two others, the Nigerian Drink Event and the Nigerian Hospitality Event.

    Afrocet Montgomery’s Regional Director George Pearson, said: “We are really pleased to announce this launch. It’s something we’ve been working towards and it’s exciting to see the sheer volume of interest we’ve already received. The market has gone from strength to strength in the last few years with the Food and Beverage sector making up the largest segment for consumer spending in the country.

    “Join this with a developing retail sector and you have the highest valued market of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa at about $125billion; we believe NFE will give those that take part an exclusive insight into the market as a whole, and exposure to new business opportunities, previously not possible in the region.”

     

     

  • ‘Lagos not privatising water supply’

    The Lagos State government said it has not privatised water supply, neither has it awarded its privatisation contract to any organisation.

    It also said the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model it initiated was still at the bidding stage.

    Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) Managing Director, Muminu Badmus, who spoke in Lagos at the weekend, said it was wrong for anyone to claim that the state had awarded water privatisation contract to a discredited company.

    He stressed that such insinuations were at best preemptive as the government had only shortlisted some reputable companies, none of which was yet to have the contract.

    He said the Corporation had advertised an Expression of Interest (EoI), which attracted seven local and international firms, out of which four were shortlisted, following a rigorous and transparent process.

    The LWC said the state government would continue to work in the best interest of the people in its bid to promote their well-being, adding that this was the main reason the Akinwunmi Ambode administration prioritised provision of potable water to the people.

    He said this was evident in the administration’s investment in water facilities, an initiative, he noted, has increased water supply to 220million gallons per day (MGD) in the state.

    Badmus stated that the exponential increase in population has continued to push the water demand to 570MGD, leaving a gap of over 300MGD, while for the same demographic reason, the state’s resources faced pressure from other critical areas.

    “Globally, attention is being shifted to the PPP arrangement to provide infrastructure for the people as the government can no longer shoulder the responsibility alone,” he said.

    He said what the government was working towards was, ultimately, a PPP arrangement and not outright withdrawal, adding that the government was midwifing an arrangement that would ensure the injection of both public and private funds and expertise to drive seamless provision of potable water to the teeming population of Lagosians.

    He assured Lagosians that, as the ultimate beneficiaries, they would have cause to rejoice at the outcome of the ongoing process, which not only promises to evolve an effective and enduring solution to the water supply needs of Lagosians,  but also bring about a model for the country and the entire West African sub-region.

  • Lagos seeks civil servants’ help in law implementation

    The Lagos State government has sought the support of public servants for the successful implementation of the soon-to-be-launched mandatory Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS), especially in the propagation of information about the scheme, its benefits and roles of stakeholders.

    The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, spoke yesterday at a meeting organised by the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Public Service Office to sensitise public servants on the scheme.

    The commissioner noted that the role of public servants, like other stakeholders, remained important in the successful implementation of the scheme.

    He said: “The reason for this sensitisation meeting is to educate and sensitise you on the reasons for the rollout of the scheme, policy decisions, the modalities of the scheme, the plans, the benefit packages, service provision, premium breakdown and payment modalities as well as your roles and responsibilities of enrolees and stakeholders in the scheme.”

    Idris described LSHS as a compulsory health insurance programme established by the enabling law to ensure that all Lagos residents have access to affordable and quality healthcare.

    The commissioner said the scheme aims at protecting Lagos residents from financial distress resulting from huge medical bills.

    He said the premium payment for a family of six is N40,000 per annum and the premium for single enrolment is N8,500 per year.

    According to him, a premium subsidy of 75 per cent was approved by the State Executive Council (Exco) for public servants.

    Idris said: “What this means is that the state government will pay 75 per cent of the premium while public servants will only be required to pay 25 per cent.”

  • Eid-El-Kabir: Embrace peace, love – Lagos APC women leader

    Muslims in Nigeria especially Lagos state have been enjoined to embrace peace, love and unity in order to build the society of “our dream together.”

    Lagos state Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Olajumoke Okoya-Thomas stated this in a statement made available to journalists as Muslims celebrate this year’s edition of Eid-El-Kabir.

    Okoya-Thomas said further in the statement, which was signed by her media aide, Oladipupo Awojobi that it is a thing of joy for “all of us to be alive to celebrate another Sallah in good health.

    “My warmest wishes to you on this solemn festival of Eid-El-Kabir. May the blessing of Allah fill your life with peace, joy and good health.

    “We, the women of our great party, the APC are happy that Nigerian Muslims are joining numerous other Muslims from across the world to celebrate another Eid-El-Kabir.

    “This is an annual event that brings to mind how Allah replaced Ismail with a ram for Prophet Ibrahim. May He replace your sorrow with joy and your few with abundance.

    “As we are celebrating another Eid-El-Kabir, we should all remember that Prophet Mohammed (SAW) stood for peace, love and unity in his life time. Nigerian Muslims and indeed all Nigerians should realise the need for us to learn to live together as one and embrace tolerance as a people.

    “While we are not unmindful of our challenges as a nation, we should all realise that there is always light at the end of the tunnel and that we can do better than we are currently doing. We should not over celebrate bearing in mind that we have a lot on our hands as a nation.

    “The current government of the APC both at the federal and state levels, are working hard to make sure that things get better and ensure that we move forward even as we approach another general elections in the country,” Okoya-Thomas said in the statement.

    The Women Leader was quoted to have reminded the Muslims in Nigeria of the need to use the Sallah period to pray for Nigeria, adding that no nation can make progress without peace, love and unity.

    Read Also: Eid-el Kabir: Monarch urges Nigerians to be tolerant

    She said further in the statement that the occasion of Eid-El-Kabir calls for sober reflection and that Muslims in the country should stand for the development of Nigeria, which she said could only happen in an atmosphere of tranquillity and peace.

    “We need peace in Nigeria to catch up with the developed countries of the world and time has come for us once again to remind ourselves of that simple fact that we have spent enough time battling insurgency all over the country.”

    The Women Leader then called for support for the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, who she said have done much for the people in the last three years that they got to office.

    Okoya-Thomas reiterated that the APC remains the party with the best solutions to the problems confronting the country and that the federal and Lagos State governments have handled issues maturedly and have potentials to do more.

    “What is needed is cooperation from members of the public and I believe that this Sallah period gives us an opportunity to get across to the people even as we are celebrating one of the most important anniversaries in Islamic religion.

    “Once again, receive my simple gift of ” Eid Mubarak” wrapped with sincerity tied with care and sealed with a prayer to keep you safe everyday, ” the statement read.

  • LASG seek residents support as Third Mainland Bridge undergoes test

    The Lagos State Government has said that the Third Mainland Bridge will be temporarily shut down from midnight of August 23 to midnight of August 26, 2018 for Investigative Maintenance Test to be carried out.

    The State’s Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr Ade Akinsanya, in a statement on Sunday appealed for the cooperation, support and understanding of all motorists and residents during the closure.

    He said the decision for the four-day closure was reached after consultations with the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.

    The four-day closure, according to Akinsanya, will enable the contractors assess the true state of the bridge after which works would commence by the end of the year or early in 2019.

    Read Also: ‘Third Mainland Bridge to be shut for three days’

    He said that the Federal Government had earlier announced plans to shut the bridge in July, but postponed it in order to have wider consultation with the state government and other relevant stakeholders to avert gridlock.

    Akinsanya said: “The 3rd Mainland Bridge which was opened about 30 years ago by the then military government has had haphazard maintenance and repairs in the past which the present Federal Government is committed to correct by carrying out proper and continuous maintenance and repairs on it.”

    The commissioner said that all traffic management agencies have been mandated to ensure smooth flow of traffic on all alternative routes across the metropolis .

  • Lagos: ‘not privatising water supply’

    The Lagos State government said it has not privatised water supply, neither has it awarded its privatisation contract to any organisation.

    It also said the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model it initiated was still at the bidding stage.

    Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) Managing Director, Muminu Badmus, who spoke in Lagos at the weekend, said it was wrong for anyone to claim that the state had awarded water privatisation contract to a discredited company.

    He stressed that such insinuations were at best preemptive as the government had only shortlisted some reputable companies, none of which was yet to have the contract.

    He said the Corporation had advertised an Expression of Interest (EoI), which attracted seven local and international firms, out of which four were shortlisted, following a rigorous and transparent process.

    The LWC said the state government would continue to work in the best interest of the people in its bid to promote their well-being, adding that this was the main reason the Akinwunmi Ambode administration prioritised provision of potable water to the people.

    He said this was evident in the administration’s investment in water facilities, an initiative, he noted, has increased water supply to 220million gallons per day (MGD) in the state.

    Badmus stated that the exponential increase in population has continued to push the water demand to 570MGD, leaving a gap of over 300MGD, while for the same demographic reason, the state’s resources faced pressure from other critical areas.

    “Globally, attention is being shifted to the PPP arrangement to provide infrastructure for the people as the government can no longer shoulder the responsibility alone,” he said.

    He said what the government was working towards was, ultimately, a PPP arrangement and not outright withdrawal, adding that the government was midwifing an arrangement that would ensure the injection of both public and private funds and expertise to drive seamless provision of potable water to the teeming population of Lagosians.

    He assured Lagosians that, as the ultimate beneficiaries, they would have cause to rejoice at the outcome of the ongoing process, which not only promises to evolve an effective and enduring solution to the water supply needs of Lagosians,  but also bring about a model for the country and the entire West African sub-region.

  • Motorists stranded on Lagos-Ibadan expressway

    Motorists traveling out of Lagos were stranded on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway for hours today, due to a tanker trailer that fell across the road.

    Though the immediate cause of the accident could not be ascertained as at the time of this report, the incident affected the free flow of traffic.

    A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who was on the route, reports that it took about six hours for motorists to move from Berger Bus Stop to Mowe, a distance of about five kilometers.

    The traffic started moving at Mowe long after the tanker trailer was cleared off the road around 1.30 pm, but by that time, a lot of travelers had been exhausted.

  • Mr. Real, Slimcase for Real Deal Experience Lagos Showdown

    Legend Extra Stout’s flagship consumer engagement platform, Real Deal Experience is set for the fifth leg of its pan Nigerian tour.

    This is coming after the success of previous editions which held across major cities in Nigeria. The Lagos  edition will hold on the 25th of August at Abesan mini stadium, Abesan Estate, Ipaja.

    The show is set to feature two rave-of the-moment artistes, Uchenna Okafor, also known as ‘Mr. Real’, and Oluwafemi Oladapo Oko-Eko, most commonly known by his stage name – Slimcase.

    Mr Real, is popular for his 2017 hit, `Legbegbe,’ while Slimcase is known for his street-hop single,“Shepeteri”. Both artistes are pioneer promoters of rave of the moment dance style `Shaku Shaku,’. They are the new voice of the street and are also ready to bring their magic to the Real Deal Experience stage to treat fans and lovers of the brand to great performances.

    Speaking ahead of the show, a visibly excited Slimcase said “ I can’t wait to see my people in Ipaja. Lagos is home for me and bringing my fans here to the Real Deal Experience will be very special. We’ll be dancing shaku shaku into the morning courtesy of Legend”.

    The show will be hosted by comedian Iruvwe Okeremute also known as De Don alongside former Big-Brother Naija housemate Iheme Faith Uloma, (Ifu Ennada). The outspoken diva has previously been very expressive about her love for the brand and will be bringing her wit and excitement when she graces the stage.

    Real Deal Experience is one of Legend’s ways of interacting and giving back to its esteemed consumers and to also connect with its growing market. The brand has already taken the show to major Nigerian cities this year. Headlined by Harrysong, the experience tour began at the coal city of Enugu in February, it also featured top performances from Nigeria’s leading acts in the entertainment industry.

    The next stop for Real Deal Experience took place in Aba for the April edition and this featured Abia born rap artiste, Ukeje Okechukwu Edwards popularly known as Mr. Raw. In June, the show continued its hot streak and touched down in Port Harcourt as the Ogbiligbo brothers, a duo of highlife singers popular in Nigeria’s South East, were headline performers.

    The show also features rib cracking comedy, role play, eulogy, some education about what Legend Extra Stout means as a brand, and many more exciting games.

    Another major attraction of the show is the Taste, Tell and Win Competition, whereby  the taste buds of Legend’s faithful consumers will be put to the test when they are asked to blindly taste several unidentified stout drinks and tell which of them is Legend Extra Stout. It is the ultimate loyalty test for consumers who recognize the rich taste of Legend Extra Stout. Winners from this competition get to win exciting prizes like refrigerators, generators and many more

    Speaking on the importance of the Real Deal Experience to Legend’s faithful customers, Portfolio Manager – Mainstream Lager & Stout Brands NBPlc, Emmanuel Agu said: “We recognise how important entertainment is to our consumers. The Real Deal Experience is our way of going the extra mile in providing top notch entertainment experiences for our consumers across the country”.

    Legend Extra Stout is a unique bitter tasting premium stout, fully brewed from the finest ingredients and bottled under the highest quality standards. The stout, which was launched into the Nigerian market in 1992, was named Legend because it suggests solid reputation and authenticity.

  • 2019: Lagos, Tinubu’s mesmerism & the unfolding drama

    Like him or loathe him, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is one huge bundle of enigma in a small body!

    The gutsy politician is too mercurial to be easily measured. And I cannot stop insisting that as for this season, give it to him: he owns it – and there’s no disputing that, except one is just bellyaching. He proved the unpredictability of his style again on Tuesday at the Acme Road ‘cathedral’ of his party, the APC, in Ogba during his periodic visitation to party adherents; something akin to Catholic Pope’s appearance at the Basilica in Rome, to address the faithful.

    His appearance at the ‘hallowed’ ground is usually electrifying and magnetic. His mesmerism belongs to the legends, like we experienced with the Zik of Africa and immortal Awo in their time.

    Like them, whenever he spoke, you either make for the loo thereafter to sort out the rumblings generated in your system by the words spoken or feel a sigh of relief for the comfort his utterances had unleashed on your body, like a balm or spray on an aching body.

    Tuesday was a relief to some and it also gave some others, trepidation. He said what some were not expecting and unsaid one or two things some people were expecting. Tinubu can be as confounding and he can be comforting. To those who had stacked up a huge war chest to prosecute their electioneering, it was bad news, on a Germanic day of war.

    The takeaway from his interactive session with party stakeholders on this Tuesday is that party members matter, not a little – a lesson some of those who have their eyes on 2019, may learn to their eternal chagrin.

    A certain day of reckoning is at hand to convince and confirm that in electoral contests, there are times when men (and women) matter most, more than money!