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Tag: lagos

  • CJ urges journalists to uphold professional ethics

    The Chief Judge (CJ) of Lagos State, Justice Opeyemi Oke, has urged journalists in the state to be professional and uphold the ethics of journalism while carrying out their duties.

    Oke made the call while addressing members of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC), Lagos Chapter, on Friday in Lagos.

    She said journalists covering courts across the state must be highly professional and always have investigative minds in order to write good stories.

    The CJ emphasised that truth and fact must be the watch words for every journalist, noting that media practitioners who habitually turned in fake stories, were always labeled enemies of progress.

    “l encourage you all to practise investigative journalism; get facts in order not to send out false information to the public,’’ she advised.

    The chief judge promised to look into the challenges journalists faced in covering court proceedings in the state with a view to addressing them.

    “The courtroom is an open place that is accessible to the public. It is a place where you get information concerning the judicial process as well as watch proceedings,’’ Oke said.

    NAN

     

  • INEC to redistribute 1.4m unclaimed PVCs in Lagos

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State on Friday said that it was making plans to redistribute the unclaimed 1.4 million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in the state.

    Mr Sam Olumekun, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, disclosed this in a telephone interview with our reporter in Lagos.

    “We are actually working out a new strategy,” the INEC boss told NAN, as he explained the commission’s plan to redistribute the permanent voter cards.

    Olumekun, who expressed concerned over the number of uncollected PVCs in Lagos state, urged the owners to go to INEC offices in their local government areas for collection.

    NAN reports that Lagos state has the highest number of unclaimed PVCs in the country.

    INEC had said that it was still in possession of 7,920,129 permanent voter cards yet to be collected from its offices across the nation.

    A breakdown of the uncollected PVCs as at March revealed that Lagos had the highest number of 1,401,390 followed by Oyo with 647,586 and Edo which had 449,001 while Kano had 195,941.

    The figure also showed Bauchi State as having the least number of uncollected PVCs, 15,542, followed by Bayelsa and Plateau which had 28,533 and 25,300 cards respectively.

    NAN

  • Lagos begins lectures for pilgrims

    Weekend lectures designed to educate intending pilgrims of the basic requirements of hajj will begin tomorrow, Commissioner for Home Affairs Dr. Abdul Hakeem Abdul Lateef, said this yesterday.

    The lectures, he said, will equip the pilgrims with practices expected of them in the course of performing the Holy Pilgrimage.

    He said the state government is committed to ensure this year’s hajj exercise is hitch free and memorable.

    “Our pilgrims should take the lecture serious in order to help government achieve the set objective of ensuring that pilgrims know the basic tenet of Islam and have the required knowledge about Hajj,” he said.

  • Lagos to unveil statue for Gani’s 80th posthumous birthday

    The Lagos State Government will on Sunday unveil the new statue of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, at Freedom Park, Ojota. The park is  named after the late Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and human rights’ crusader.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, members of the Gani Fawehinmi family, leading voices in human rights and other dignitaries are billed to unveil the edifying statue in commemoration of the late activist’s 80th posthumous birthday.

    A statement yesterday by Commissioner for Tourism, Arts & Culture, Steve Ayorinde, said the remodelling of the magnificent Gani Fawehinmi statue is part of the state’s strategy to enhance the aesthetic of open public spaces and parks and to immortalise icons that contributed to the development of the state.

    According to him, the new statue was bourne out of a desire by the government to project and entrench the enduring legacy of the  foremost human right lawyer, activist, philanthropist and one of the icons of pro-democracy movement in Nigeria.

    He said: “Lagos State is proud that the late Chief  Fawehinmi’s courageous voice was loud enough for the world to take notice of socio-political developments in Nigeria. His fearless activism and constant interventions on behalf of the voiceless were legendary and helped ignite global interest on the plight of the masses and on Lagos as a liberal state that created an enabling environment for voices against oppression to be heard,” Ayorinde said.

    The 34-feet high statue will serve as one of the many iconic edifices that highlight the Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration’s quest to transform the landscape of the state with artistic aesthetics, while also signposting the belief in giving honour to whom honour is due, the commissioner explained.

  • Surgery: Davido donates N15m to staff of MMI Airport, Lagos

    A female worker at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, became a beneficiary of N15 million from popular musician Davido, a gesture to offset her medical bills.

    The `IF’ and `FIA’ hits maker posted the video on his Instagram Story @davidoofical to share the joy of being appreciated after the surgery was successful.

    “Aaww I paid for the surgery of a lady that works at the airport and they did this to thank ME! SO CUTE!’’

    In the video, some of the airport staff held placards with inscription that reads “OMO BABA OLOWO THANK YOU 15 MILLION NO BE JOKE ooo’’

    Though the name of the female colleague was not mentioned but the video clearly showed the appreciation to the `Aye’ crooner for his humanitarian gestures.

    It was learnt that the 26-year old HNK and DMW boss quietly gave an airport staff the sum of 15million naira for a surgery and medical bills.

    Read Also: Davido supports uncle’s gubernatorial campaign

    The singular act of philanthropy was not made public, not until April 18 when the airport threw a stunt at the airport to thank the music star.

    This was not the first time the self acclaimed OBO was dishing out philanthropy gestures to people in need in the country.

    Davido, who is known for his philanthropic gestures to the needy recently, built a house for Utibet, from Akwa Ibom who was recorded singing Davido’s `IF’ that went viral.

    He had also given scholarships to indigent students and assisted others with school fees.

    NAN

  • 2019 election: Group tasks media on accuracy

    The Open Government Partnership (OGP), a Non-Governmental Organisation, on Wednesday, called on the Nigerian media to allow professionalism to come to play in their reportage, especially as the 2019 elections draw near.

    The Consultant to OGP, Mr Uche Igwe, made the appeal during the organisation’s dialogue with the media in Lagos.

    Igwe said the dialogue was aimed at enlightening the media on what the public was expecting from them as the watchdog of the society.

    He said that the media should inform the public with clarity and engage government officials on the OGP national action plan commitments.

    “These thematic commitments are: fiscal transparency, anti-corruption, access to information and citizens’ engagement and empowerment.

    “We want stories generated from government officials, Civil Society Organisations and the general public to be presented accurately without bias.

    “This will help in actualising the OGP objectives in Nigeria,” he said.

    Igwe said that the media should reposition themselves to serve as watchdogs and ensure that government at all levels perform their roles in ensuring that the society becomes a better place to live.

    He also urged the media to allow transparency in their relationship with government officials and in their reportage.

    This, he said, would guarantee accurate and unbiased report based on facts and not falsehood.

    “Transparency builds trust in any relationship, which we want to be employed by the media in relating with government officials, and to ensure OGP commitments are tackled.

    “It has been observed that the media can play huge role in ensuring government at all levels stand up to their responsibilities.

    “That is the reason we have called on you to ensure your stories are void of biases but accurate message the speaker intends to pass across.

    “This will ensure speedy correction of our problems as a country; it will be done peacefully without rancour between the government and the people,” he said.

    Another facilitator, Mr Otive Igbuzor, also urged the media to ensure they align themselves with professional associations that govern each of the beats operating in each media organisation.

    He said this was to guide against security challenges faced by reporters that carry out investigative journalism which was seriously needed in the contemporary dispensation.

    Igbuzor said that whenever reporters are attacked or threatened, they should report such cases promptly at the nearest police station.

    “ You should align yourself with your association, NUJ, and those that are in charge of police, tourism, entertainment, business and sports, just to mention a few.

    “Investigative journalism must be encouraged if we must move forward as a country, and to tackle our collective problems,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that OGP was launched in 2011 to provide an international platform for domestic reformers committed to making their governments more open, accountable, and responsive to citizens.

    Nigeria joined OGP in 2016 and had outlined 14 commitments. Over 2000 civil society organisations have become members and 76 countries are equally members across the world.

    It is a multilateral initiative aimed at securing concrete commitments from governments to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption, and harness new technologies that would strengthen governance.

    NAN

     

  • CAF Confederation Cup: Plateau United blames defenders for loss

    Nigeria’s representative to the CAF Confederation Cup, Plateau United FC, twice unlucky in the competition, on Wednesday attributed their 0-4 second leg loss to defensive errors.

    Media Officer of the team, Albert Dakup in a chat with the newsmen from Algiers said that the team paid dearly for its defensive lapses.

    “Our defenders let us down, they are not cautious enough to curtail the rampaging USM Algiers strikers,’’ Dakup said.

    The newsmen reports that the Savannah Boys endured a humiliating defeat as they lost 0-4 to USM at the Stade 5 Juliet 1962.

    Read Also: CAF reserves Friday, Saturday for Champions League

    A brace from USM Algiers’ Qussana Darfalous, 29th and 49th minute, and goals from midfielder Kaddour Beldjilali and Mohammed Benkhemassa condemned the Nigerian representative to a 2-5 aggregate loss and ouster from the competition.

    The Kennedy Boboye-tutored team has won the first leg at Agege Stadium 2-1, but succumbed to the superior fire power of their hosts in the second leg.

    Plateau United is the second Nigeria side after MFM of Lagos, to experience scandalous defeat in the space of two months at the same stadium.

    NAN

  • Lagos remits N9.56b into workers pension accounts

    ABOUT N9.56 billion has been remitted by Lagos State Government as its workers’ pension contributions in the last one year, Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has said.

    The governor, who  spoke while reeling out the state’s achievement on pensions in the past three years, stated that the amount was credited into the workers’ Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA) managed by their various Pension Fund Administrators.

    Ambode was represented by the Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson at the 3rd Anniversary of Governor Ambode’s Administration.

    He disclosed that there have been regular deductions of 7.5 per cent of monthly basic salary, rent and housing allowances from the salaries of workers and corresponding 7.5 per cent by the state government into the RSAs maintained by them with their appointed PFAs.

    According to him, there has been reduction in outstanding backlog of terminal entitlements of retired public servants, consistency in payment of pension and prompt payment of death benefits.

    He said: “From May, 2017 to date, contributions by employee and that of the employer credited into Retirement Savings Accounts was N9.56 billion. There have been regular deductions of 7.5% of monthly basic salary, rent and housing allowances from the salaries of staff and corresponding 7.5 per cent by the state government into the RSAs maintained by them with their appointed PFAs.

    “This has been achieved due to automation of the payroll which automatically ensures deductions and remittances of pension contributions. The Oracle application is regularly upgraded as indicated, for example, in the recent addition of the Additional Voluntary Contribution deduction field on the Oracle application.”

    The Governor further said there has been continued significant reduction in outstanding backlog of terminal entitlements of retired public servants.

    “The terminal entitlements of retirees, paid by the Lagos State Government through LASPEC into the RSA of 2,466 public retirees within the last one year, precisely from May 2017 to March 2018 was N9.29 billion.

    “This Administration commenced and has been able to maintain the trend of paying terminal entitlements of retired employees monthly since it started in August, 2015.

    “During the period under review, 80 beneficiaries of deceased employees had been paid the total sum of N220.7 million. The state government in the last 31 months has, through the Commission, paid 130 named beneficiaries, insurance benefit worth over N392 million.

    “The insured death is by Law to be paid to named beneficiaries to alleviate the immediate needs of the family members of a deceased person. The Estate of a deceased worker is also entitled to receive the balance in the RSA and accrued rights due, if the employee had joined service before the commencement of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS),” he added.

     

  • NYSC set to orientate 2,500 corps members in Lagos

    The National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ) has concluded plans to welcome at least 2,500 corps members to Lagos State for the 2018 Batch A orientation.

    The state Coordinator of NYSC, Mr Muhammed Momoh, made this known in an interview with the newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos.

    “The camp opens on April 19 and ends on May 12; the camp ground is ready; we have perfected arrangements with security agencies and community leaders to maintain security.

    “We expect to orientate 2,500 corps members within the period, and we will ensure that their welfare and security are not compromised,” he said.

    Momoh appealed the incoming corps members to be law-abiding and security-conscious.

    Read Also: NYSC lists requirements for 2018 Batch ‘A’ camp registration

    The newsmen reports that NYSC on Thursday presented Honours’ Award and cash prizes to 14 outstanding corps members who served in Lagos in the  2016 Batches ‘A’ and ‘B ‘ and 2017 Batch ‘A’, Stream I.

    The honour was bestowed on the corps members at their passing out ceremony at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Iyana-Ipaja.

    Momoh said at the occasion that 4,876 corps members successfully completed their service, adding that 23 would repeat their service for absconding from duty, and 17 would have their service extended.

    NAN

  • RRS forces robbers to abandon bus, gun, flee into bush

    The operatives of Rapid Response Squad ( RRS ) of the Lagos State Police Command  on Thursday forced four armed robbers to abandon a hijacked danfo commercial bus, a gun and six passengers whom they had held hostage while in transit.

    The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Imohimi Edgal disclosed this today at the Command’s headquarter while parading some suspected criminals the police arrested.

    The four robbers who boarded the bus heading to LASU – Iba route from Iyana Ipaja hijacked the bus from the driver immediately one of the passengers alighted at Diamond Estate, Isheri, Lagos.

    According to the driver of the bus, Sherrif Dada, “at around 11:00 p.m on Thursday, after returning from a chartered trip to Sango, my conductor and I went straight to our usual route at Egbeda to make some more money before the closing for the day. We saw lots of passengers at Egbeda Bus Stop who were heading to Igando.

    We picked the passengers and we dropped the first passenger at Diamond Estate Bus Stop. Just after leaving the Bus Stop, one of the passengers, four guys in their 20s brought out a gun and told me to stop”.

    “Just after pinning the gun to my head, the other robbers began to ransack the  passengers particularly, a lady suspected to be carrying a handbag and her Infinix Note 4 android phone. The robbers began to scuffle with the lady to dispossess her of her belonging but the lady refused to surrender her bag to the gun wielding bandits.

    It wasn’t quite long my conductor escaped that they threw me down on motion after sighting an RRS patrol vehicle chasing them. They felt I was not fast enough”, he stated.

    According to the conductor, Hakeem Hassan, “I was also  held down at gun point after attempting to jump down from the moving bus to stop me from raising alarm.

    Unfortunately for them for them I managed to escape from the bus after the driver slowed down. I ran for my dear life. They threatened to shoot me but I defied all their threat to stop me from calling attention of those around the area”.

    He stated further, “immediately I manage to jump from the bus, I ran backward screaming for help and also hearing the robber telling me to stop that he was going to shoot me but I continued running until I ran into a filling station.

    It wasn’t quite long I had been screaming for help when I saw an RRS patrol vehicle speeding towards me. I guessed other road users who saw me had told them”.

    “The chase by the police vehicle unsettled the four robbers. They instantly stopped collecting our valuables and were thinking of how to escape. As soon as we left Igando General Hospital, they drove the danfo into a bush and escaped leaving behind their only gun and mobile phone they took from one of the passengers”, one of the commuters stated.

    Recovered from the bus were a locally made gun and an Android mobile phone, which they collected from one of the passengers.

    Both the danfo bus and the mobile phone were handed over to their owners at the RRS Headquaters in Alausa.

    Commenting on the development, the Police PRO, SP Chike Oti said “Lagos is not a safe zone for any criminal to operate, if they risk it, we will get them”.