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Tag: lagos

  • 31 monkey pox cases in Lagos, Ekiti, Ogun, others

    31 monkey pox cases in Lagos, Ekiti, Ogun, others

    Monkey pox, which started with an index case in Bayelsa on September 22, has spread to six other states, including Lagos.

    There are 31 cases, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said yesterday.

    NCDC National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu listed the states as Bayelsa, Rivers, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Ogun and Cross River.

    He said   samples had been collected from each suspected case for laboratory confirmation.

    Said Ihekweazu: “It is unlikely that many of the    suspected cases are actually monkey pox, but all are being    investigated.”

    He said all the suspected   cases were receiving medical    care and the patients improving clinically in their    various states.

    Ihekweazu said the centre    had activated an Emergency    Operation Centre (EOC)    to    coordinate the outbreak    investigation and response    across the affected states.    “The EOC is currently supporting    state    ministries    of Health in their response to the outbreak through active case finding, epidemiological investigation and contact tracing. Measures have been put in place to ensure effective sample collection and    testing to enable laboratory    confirmation. Risk communication activities have been    heightened to advise the    public on preventive measures. All 36 states and the    FCT have been notified for    preparedness,” he explained.

    The Lagos State Government confirmed yesterday that it had recorded two suspected cases and appealed to residents to remain calm and vigilant.

    Commissioner for Health Dr. Jide Idris told reporters that the two suspected cases were being investigated.

    “Though no confirmed case has been recorded, there is need to sensitise members of the public and provide adequate information on measures for prevention and control of the disease in line with the policy of the state government,” he said.

    Idris said the two suspected cases were recorded in a private hospital which he did not name.

    He added that one of the suspected cases just came from Bayelsa State and ate bush meat.

    Idris said the two suspected cases had been quarantined in their various houses pending the result of the investigation.

    The commissioner said in the wake of this outbreak, the government was reiterating the need for members of the public to observe and maintain a high standard of personal and environmental hygiene at all times as part of the precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the disease to the State.

    He urged the public to be vigilant and report any suspected case of the disease to the nearest public health facility or the Directorate of Disease Control in the Ministry of Health.

    “Also, health workers are advised to practise universal safety precautions in the management of suspected or confirmed cases, wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment when attending to cases, wash hands after each contact with patient or contaminated materials while surveillance system must be strengthened.

    “The state government has mobilised the Disease Surveillance Officers in the 57 LGAs and LCDAs in the state and health workers in both public and private health facilities have been placed on high alert,” Idris said.

    Idris called on residents to remain calm and go about their businesses without fear as the government had put in place adequate measures to effectively prevent and control the spread of the infection to the state.

    “In case of any suspected case of Monkey Pox, the Lagos State Ministry of Health should be notified through the following mobile lines: 08037170614, 09087106072,” the commissioner said.

     

  • Lagos to seek innovative ways to develop infrastructure

    Lagos to seek innovative ways to develop infrastructure

    The Lagos State Government has said it would continue to search for new and innovative ways to drive infrastructure development and economic independence.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said this at the 1st Lagos State Infrastructure Round Table hosted in collaboration with the Harvard Business School Association of Nigeria (HBSAN) in Lagos.

    He said: “The population of Lagos State today is estimated at 24 million people and still counting, equal to that of 30 African countries put together.

    “By 2050, Lagos is on track to be either a city of 36 million people or the 6th largest city in the world after Mumbai, Delhi, Dhaka, Kinshasa, and Kolkata.

    “It should also be ahead of Tokyo, Karachi, New York, and Mexico City. We have a migration rate of 86 people moving into Lagos every hour, higher than New York, London or Mumbai and a population density of 6,939 persons per kilometer.

    “We have an average of 5 persons per household. Lagos State requires 1 million housing units every year for five to 10 years to fix the housing deficit. As at 2015, our state had 16,000km network of roads but with a daily human traffic of over 7.5 million people and 2.8 million cars. The power needs of the state are over 10,000 mw of power but we receive less than 2,000 mw. We presently supply 210.5 million gallons of water per day (“mgpd”) as against a demand of 750 mgpd,’’ he said.

     

     

    He added that the state generated 13,000 tonnes of solid waste per day, noting that the deficit could only be imagined in 2017 as well as the challenges and pressures on the physical and social infrastructure that came with it.

    According to him, there is the need to carefully assess situations and take careful and deliberate actions to handle the challenges that face the state.

    He said that it was important to take actions that would not only affect the people’s livelihood today, but also protect the future of the younger generations.

    Ambode said that the state decided to collaborate with HBSAN to tap into the alumni expertise and help address the infrastructure challenges in Lagos State.

    In his keynote address, Prof. John Macomber identified massive urbanisation, worsening resources scarcity and inability of most governments to invest in infrastructure as three trends driving economic development in the world.

    Macomber is the Faculty Chair, Harvard Business School, Africa Research Office.

    He said that large global capital with technological breakthrough was now combining to a new era in private investment in public infrastructure around the world.

    “It is now time for companies and investors to look more closely at financing and developing sustainable, resilient cities like Lagos with infrastructure.

    “These actors can be attracted when government creates the enabling environment by making friendly policies that will reduce bureaucracies, reduce corruption and embrace technology framework.

    “This will drive infrastructure development and make cities like Lagos more competitive and better the quality of lives,’’ Macomber said.

    In his remarks, Dr Andrews Nevin, an Economic Strategist from Harvard University, urged the Lagos State Government to review its land registry policy and tie it to identity management to help boost tax revenue.

    “I have been in Lagos for a while now and realise that revenue can be generated from land registry but only if the owners of lands and property are identified and appropriate tax system accrued to them.

    “This revenue can be used to drive infrastructure development in Lagos because if Lagos develops, the value of land and properties will go up; and these land owners will also benefit,’’ Nevin said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Harvard Business School Association of Nigeria (HBSAN) is a non-profit organisation set up in 1983 by Harvard Business School Alumni.

    The alumni are those who have benefited from management education at the institution.

  • Lagos kicks-off campaign on drug abuse in public schools

    Lagos kicks-off campaign on drug abuse in public schools

    The Lagos State government yesterday flagged-off a sensitization programme on drug abuse in public schools within its education districts across the state.

    At a press briefing by Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf said the aim of the campaign was to curb illicit consumption of drug, cultism and other social vices among school children.

    She said: “Studies have shown that children with poor academic performance and inappropriate social behaviour at ages seven to nine, are more likely to be involved with substance abuse by age 14 or 15.

    “Meanwhile, drug abuse among school children may affect them to become major perpetrators of crime as a result of mental disorders as they grow up. On the part of our government, many efforts have been tailored towards curbing this illicit drug use, cultism and other social vices among school children.

    She urged parents to ensure proper monitoring of their children, noting that parental supervision of children has a critical role to play in ensuring moderation of their conduct.

    “The risk of becoming drug and other substance abusers become evident at different stages of a child’s life. For example, early risks such as out-of control aggressive behavior may be seen in a very young child. If not addressed through positive parental actions, this behaviour can lead to additional risk when the child enters school,” Akinbile-Yussuf added.

    A youth activist and consultant, Baye Adebowale urged the state government and other regulatory authorities to check exposure of children to lewd and vulgar music videos of Nigerian hip hop artistes.

  • Gbenga Daniel says no plans to step down

    Gbenga Daniel says no plans to step down

    A national chairmanship aspirant of the PDP, Chief Gbenga Daniel, said on Monday in Lagos that he had no plan of stepping down for any of the other contenders.

    Reacting to speculations that he might be stepping down for Chief Olabode George, another aspirant for the position, Daniel said he had no intention of stepping down for anybody.

    Daniel is a former Governor of Ogun, while George served as a former national deputy chairman of the now opposition PDP.

    The zoning of the PDP’s chairmanship position to the South West, five major contenders are currently jostling for the position.

    The other contenders are Mr Jimi Agbaje, the 2015 governorship candidate of the PDP in Lagos State, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, a former Minister of Education and Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, a former Minister of Sports.

    Daniel told reporters that although George was a respected leader of the PDP, he would not back down for the Lagos chief but would see the race to its logical conclusion.

    “All the aspirants for this position are my friends and competent people but I am the bridge builder and the best man for the job.

    “I will not step down for anyone because I did my consultations during our convention in Port Harcourt and I know so many leaders in Yorubaland who support me.

    “People contest for various reasons. Some people contest to enrich their curriculum vitae, some contest to get donations while some run to win.

    “It is not a do-or-die affair. It is an in-house contest and I’m running to win so as to bring my experiences to bear on the party and work on re-positioning the party,’’ Daniel said.

    According to him, with 2019 around the corner, the PDP cannot afford to make mistakes in choosing its leaders because it is germane to the rebuilding of the party.

    “PDP is spread across the length and breadth of Nigeria. The fragmentation in the party cuts across all political parties in Nigeria.

    “However, most of our members who defected to other parties left, due to the internal challenges within it.

    “The moment those who leave see a new leadership committed to fairness and justice, they will return’’ the former governor said.

    On the PDP’s zoning of the presidential slot to the North, Daniel described the decision as sacrosanct, noting that it was commonsense for the party to look for a candidate from the northern part of the country to square up with the APC.

    Speaking further, he debunked an alleged strife between him and Sen. Buruji Kashamu from Ogun, stating that they had no personal issues and that they had no quarrels.

    Daniel, however, expressed his support for the clamour for Nigeria to be restructured, arguing that the nation’s potential would be maximised when restructured.

    “We must begin to examine the system to give equal opportunities to all parts of the country,’’ he added.

    NAN

  • EU pledges job creation support to Nigeria

    EU pledges job creation support to Nigeria

    The new EU envoy to Nigeria, Amb. Ketil Karlsen, has expressed the desire of the union to support the Nigerian government in creating employment opportunities for young Nigerians.

    He said that creating employment opportunities for Nigerians would discourage them from embarking on dangerous trips to European countries.

    The EU’s pledge of assistance comes against the backdrop of the increasing rate of young Nigerians embarking on dangerous trips to European countries in a bid to secure better living conditions.

    Speaking In Lagos on Monday, Karlsen, who is the Head and Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said the union was eager to support Nigeria to facilitate a better future for youths.

    “It is really heartbreaking to see many young Nigerian girls being trafficked and made to suffer so many difficulties.

    “It is natural that young people everywhere should look for job opportunities and better living conditions outside their countries.

    “But, I must say that the right way to do it is not to be allowed to expose themselves to dangers and different forms of abuses, while taking dangerous routes from their countries.

    “We would, therefore, want to see more efforts at creating sustainable job opportunities and better living conditions for these young Nigerians in Nigeria.’’

    He said the EU was prepared to support Nigeria on a long-term strategic planning for sensitising young Nigerians on the dangers of travelling illegally.

    Karlsen said that the EU was willing be part of any initiative by the Nigerian Government to create employment opportunities for young Nigerians in Nigeria.

    He argued that it was imperative to create better living conditions for young Nigerians to reduce their desperation for migration abroad.

    The envoy said that young Nigerians should not be allowed to continuously expose themselves to dangers and abuses in their bids to travel to Europe and other countries.

    “I think that we need to work together, create more investments and job opportunities for these young Nigerians in their communities.

    “We have to make these young Nigerians know that there are currently better opportunities for them in their country than abroad,’’ Karlsen said.

    NAN

  • Domestic airlines airlift 3m passengers in 6 months

    Domestic airlines airlift 3m passengers in 6 months

    Domestic airlines in Nigeria lifted a total of 3,287,310 passengers in the first six months of this year.

    The figure, however, represents a 21 per cent decrease, compared to the 4,193,862 passengers airlifted within the period last year.

    According to the Consumer Protection Directorate of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA ), the decrease is due to the current economic hardships in the country, which is affecting air travels adversely.

    Records obtained from the NCAA show that only 45 airplanes are currently in active service out of the 74 planes in the fleet of the eight domestic airlines servicing Africa’s most populous nation at present.

    The airlines are Aero Contractors, Arik Air, Azman Air, Dana Air, Med-View, Overland, First Nation and Air Peace.

    The top three performing domestic airlines in the first half of this year are Air Peace, which leads the performance chart with 6,715 flights, Arik Air 4,069 flights and Dana Air 3,261 flights.

    But the flights operated by the airlines also declined by 28 per cent as they were only able to operate 21,662 flights in the first half this year.

    The eight airlines collectively operated 30,100 flights within the first six months of 2016, according to NCAA records.

    The drop in the number of flights operated by the airlines was not unconnected with the steady depletion of airplanes in the fleet of the airlines.

    Commenting on the development, the President of the Airline Operators of Nigeria ( AON ), Capt. Noggie Meggisson, argued that a safety and economic policy must have to be put in place for the airlines to survive.

    He noted that some critical issues also needed to be addressed before the sector could actualise its potential fully.

    Meggisson said that some of the issues that needed to be addressed included removal of value-added tax for domestic airlines and a review of the five per cent ticket sales charge to a flat rate.

    The AON chief also called for a harmonisation of what he called the over 35 multiple charges that were becoming huge burdens to the airlines.

    Meggisson named other problems plaguing the airlines as poor navigational and landing aids that were limiting operations to only daytime at most Nigerian airports.

    He similarly, identified high cost and epileptic supply of aviation fuel, Jet A1, saying that the problems were hindering the ease of doing business in the aviation sector.

    Also, the President of the Aviation Round Table, Mr Gbenga Olowo, advised the Federal Government to urgently review Nigeria’s Bilateral Air Service Agreements ( BASAs ), which he said, had granted multiple entry points to foreign airlines.

    “The issue of giving multiple destinations to the foreign airlines is not good for the country economically because it is killing our domestic airlines.

    “My advice is that the BASAs should be reviewed to stop this open-sky arrangement, where one foreign airline can fly to Abuja, Lagos or any other of our international airports.’’

    He also advised the domestic airlines to consolidate to survive the harsh operating environment in Nigeria.

    Olowo said that operators should stop their cut-throat competition, which according to him, is doing no good to the aviation industry.

    http://nan.ngNAN

  • ‘4,281 deportees return through MMIA from Jan. to June’

    ‘4,281 deportees return through MMIA from Jan. to June’

    No fewer than 4,281 Nigerians were deported from several European, American and African countries through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport ( MMIA ), Lagos, between January and June this year.

    Figures obtained from the Ministry of Interior showed that the deportees comprised of 2,823 males and 1,458 females.
    According to the document, 2251 of the deportees arrived in the country through chartered flights while 2030 others came by regular flights.

    Some of the deportees, who were allegedly involved in criminal activities in their host countries, were handed over to the Police, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons for further prosecution.

    Also, a total of 691,934 travellers departed while another 560,988 arrived in the country through the Lagos airport during the same period.

    Out of these numbers, 519,215 were Nigerians while another 179,739 were foreigners departing the country.

    During the period, 550,988 passengers arrived in Nigeria through MMIA comprising 392,237 Nigerians and 158,751 foreigners.

    NAN

  • Elumelu to host 1,300 African Entrepreneurs from 54 countries

    Elumelu to host 1,300 African Entrepreneurs from 54 countries

    The Tony Elumelu Foundation ( TEF ), Africa’s leading philanthropy, on Friday announced plan to host 1,300 African Entrepreneurs, Business leaders and Policymakers from 54 countries in Lagos.

    Mrs Parminder Obe, the TEF’s Chief Executive Officer, who made this known at a briefing in Lagos, said the 3rd Annual TEF Entrepreneurship Forum was slated for Oct. 13.

    She said the 2017 invitation had been extended beyond the usual 1,000 Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs to include selected SMEs, media, hubs, incubators, academia and investors from across Africa.

    “Assembled SMEs will build networks, share knowledge, connect with investors and link with corporate supply chains.

    “Since launching the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme and committing $100 million to empowering 10,000 African entrepreneurs in a decade, we have unleashed our continent’s most potent development force, its entrepreneurs.

    “In just three years, our first 3,000 entrepreneurs have created tens of thousands of jobs and generated considerable wealth.

    “On Oct. 13 and 14, the global entrepreneurship community will gather in Lagos to build a New Africa, a thriving, self-reliant continent capable of replicating the results of our ground-breaking programme.

    “The two-day forum will feature plenary panels, master classes, sector specific networking opportunities and policy-led forums focused on enabling African business growth.

    “This is the first year we have opened the forum up to include the full pan-African entrepreneurship ecosystem.

    “In doing so, we are enabling African SME communities to come together and expand the possibilities for intra-African partnerships.

    “I am looking forward to welcoming our invited policy-makers and investors to join us at the forum, as we empower the next generation of African business leaders,’’ she said.

    Also speaking, Mrs Owen Omogiafo, the TEF’s Chief Operating Officer, said speakers at the forum would include Wale Ayeni of International Finance Corporation, Stephen Kauma, Afrexim Bank and Andre Hue, African Development Bank.

    “Others are Stephen M. Haykin, USAID Nigeria, Heikke Reugger, European Investment Bank and Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, United Nations Development Programme,’’ she said.

    Omogiafo said TEF’s long-term investment in empowering African entrepreneurs was emblematic of Tony Elumelu’s philosophy of Africa Capitalism, which positions Africa’s private sector, as catalysts for social and economic development.

    She said the foundation, which was founded in 2010 by Tony Elumelu, was aimed at empowering a generation of successful pro-profit entrepreneurs who drive Africa’s economic and social transformation.

    According to her, the foundation received 20,000 applications in 2015 from residents of 53 African countries out of which 1,000 applicants were selected, with Nigeria contributing 64 per cent.

    “In 2016, 45,000 applications were received with Nigeria contributing 30 per cent with 1000 selected applicants.

    “Agriculture leads the sectors represented with 26.67 per cent: a great number are into poultry and fish farming.

    “Fashion and ICT followed in second and third with 10 and 8.8 per cent respectively.

    “This year, we received 93,246 applications out of which 1,300 applicants had been selected in 52 African countries with 57.1 per cent from Nigeria for the forum.

    “Entrepreneurs are coming from Kenya. Uganda, Ghana, Tanzania, Cameroon, South Africa, Rwanda, Botswana and Cote d’Ivoire,’’ she said

    NAN

  • Lagos seeks full control of waterways

    The Lagos State Government has restated its control of her waterways, insisting that the Appeal Court ruling was clear and unambiguous in giving the control of all inland waterways to the states.

    The government canvassed this position at a one-day stakeholders’ forum on waterways transportation, where it also sued for the cooperation of all stakeholders, including dredgers and boat operators.

    The forum, the second in the series, was organised by the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), in Ikoyi, Lagos.

    Canvassing the state’s position, the Acting Commissioner for Transportation Prince Anofiu Elegushi said the state would continue to exercise full control of her water resources and unlock its potentials for the growth and development of the state.

    Represented by the Director of Transport Policy Dr Taiwo Salem, Elegushi equally challenged the regulator to be firm in enforcing standards of all operators on the waterways as no one according to him is entitled to imperil any life while carrying out their businesses.

    He said LASWA must carry out regular inspection of all operators and they must ensure that all operators fully complied with the International Maritime Operators (IMO) regulations.

    Director of Litigations Mr Dave Oyenuga, said the judgement was very clear.

    “It clearly stated that all states, including Lagos, has a right to control all water bodies within their territories, while all inter-state water bodies are under the exclusive control of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).”

  • TEF to host 1,300 African entrepreneurs in Lagos

    TEF to host 1,300 African entrepreneurs in Lagos

    The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) will be hosting over 1,300 African entrepreneurs in Lagos at this year’s edition of its entrepreneurship programme.

    The scheme is targeted at empowering the next generation of African business leaders.

    The event, which is third in a series,  remains the most diverse annual gathering of African entrepreneurs and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

    The  forum, holding from October 13 to 14, would be attended by 1,300 African entrepreneurs, business leaders, and policymakers from 54 countries.

    According to a statement from the TEF, this is the first year that invitation to the forum is extended beyond the 1,000 Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs from the 2017 cohort to include selected SMEs, media, hubs, incubators, academia and investors from diverse nations across Africa.

    It said the assembled SMEs would build networks, share knowledge, connect with investors and link with corporate supply chains.

    The TEF Founder, Tony Elumelu, said, “Since launching the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme – and committing $100 million to empowering 10,000 African entrepreneurs in a decade – we have unleashed our continent’s most potent development force, its entrepreneurs.

    “In just three years, our first 3,000 entrepreneurs have created tens of thousands of jobs and generated considerable wealth.  On October 13 and 14, the global entrepreneurship community will gather in Lagos to build a New Africa, a thriving, self-reliant continent capable of replicating the results of our ground-breaking programme.”

    The forum would feature plenary panels, master-classes, sector-specific networking opportunities and policy-led forums focused on enabling African business growth.