The Nation Newspaper

Tag: lagos

  • Religious tourism: Give ‘Ikotun-Lagos a facelift’

    Religious tourism: Give ‘Ikotun-Lagos a facelift’

    SOME residents of the Isolo-Ejigbo-Ikotun area of Lagos have called on the Lagos State government to pay greater attention to the area as, according to them, “this is the tourism corridor of the state.”

    They said they were disappointed when all the beautification projects to  improve the aesthetic nature of Lagos were done outside the area.

    One of the residents of Isolo, Mr. Keyinde Olajide, said: “I was among those that were elated when the Ambode government in Lagos, as part of the activities to mark Lagos@ 50, embarked on the massive facelift of the state. Iconic statues were erected and key locations like under the flyover bridge of the National Stadium, Surulere, Falomo in Ikoyi and other parts of Lagos were given facelift.

    “All these have added to the appeal of Lagos and I am sure they give positive vibe about the state to tourists and visitors.  But why our area was not included? Most tourists and visitors on religious pilgrimage to the Synagogue Church of All Nations of Pastor T.B. Joshua pass through Isolo. So, any project sited in this axis would have positive impact on the image of the state, but none was sited here. It is really unfortunate.”

    Another resident of Ikotun, Mr. Sunday Obot, said: “In terms of inbound tourist traffic to Lagos, no area in the state attracts more tourists like the Isolo-Ejigbo-Egbe-Ikotun area of Lagos. From available statistics, close to 40 per cent of tourist arrivals to Nigeria, not just Lagos, come to this area, to Pastor T.B. Joshua’s Synagogue Church of All Nations.  Yet there is no effort by the government to include this part in this urban renewal and face-lift of the megacity. The road to Ikotun from the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway ought to be expanded to reflect the image the state wants  foreign visitors and religious tourists to have.”

    “One would have thought that this area ought to have been the first area of concentration if tourism is being talked about because that is the tourism corridor of Lagos. The other areas are simply potentials that are not yet attracting the needed tourism numbers to be called a destination.  So, why the neglect of this goose that lay the golden egg?”

    They call on the government to focus greater more attention on the aixs as it is the window through which many tourist visitor have a glimpse of Lagos since the stay in the church premises while in Nigeria. The image they see to and from the airport is what they carry back to their

  • Lagos’ new lease of life for Epe

    SIR: In every society, people clamour for development; a change from good to better and ultimately a secured and more prosperous society. Epe, a prominent town on the northern shore of Lagos State and a few kilometres away from Ikorodu is not an exception

    Historically, Epe has a chequered history as it was somehow involved in the British-Lagos diplomatic rows of the colonial era. The defeat of King Kosoko and subsequent expulsion from Lagos by the British army brought a new lease of life to Epe community.  The waterway was an available navigation resource that brought King Kosoko and his entourage on exile to Epe in1852. The aura and exploits associated with king Kosoko’s business exposure in Lagos was replicated in Epe. With Kosoko’s entourage of about 1,500 people and other European traders, the economic potentials of Epe received a great boost.

    Prior to this time, Epe was only lively on Fridays after indigenes (Ijebu- Epe) might have returned from their various fishing camps across the lagoon. However, the presence of Kosoko and his team of business associates brought about a great transformation to the town.  Consequently, the town originally noted for aqua culture and agriculture, gradually translated into a melting pot of commercial activities due to various external influences. This extended to neighbouring lagoon front community like Ejinrin, which played host to the first post office in Nigeria.

    In the sixties, especially shortly after independence, the searchlight of development was beamed on Epe. This was a period the industrialization policy of the defunct Action Group brought about positive change through the activities of ODUA investments.  Epe Boat Yard and Epe Plywood became a major investment of repute that scaled up economic fortunes of the historic town. Epe Plywood Industry became a major player in the business of high grade furniture that could compete with any foreign product.

    Interestingly, Epe Boat Yard, on the other hand, was responsible for high performing boat barges and yachts to mention a few. Sadly, the once thriving businesses eventually went into extinction due bad management. Epe Boat Yard may have died without any physical relic of its past existence, Epe plywood Industry, in the heart of the town, has remained a jungle of dangerous reptiles for over 20 years. The company that once contributed to the gross domestic products of Lagos collapsed to the advantage of Chinese furniture products which now penetrate the Nigerian local market.

    However, the advent of the current Akinwunmi Ambode administration has brought a new lease of life to Epe.  The searchlight of the Ambode administration into the non-oil revenue potentials of the state has driven the government to identify the serene and alluring tourism opportunities that abound in Epe. With a number of historic landmarks such as the first ever post office in Nigeria, the second oldest seaport in Nigeria, the first comprehensive college in the state, the second police station in Nigeria among others, the tourism  prospect of Epe is being enhanced .

    It is in order to further develop tourism activities in Epe that the state government redesigned and restructured the old VIP chalet built by the Jakande administration into a luxurious 72-room tastefully furnished apartment. The chalet boasts of a swimming pool, bar, tennis court, football field and gymnasium.

    Additionally, current massive reclamation of the lagoon along Epe Marina is a project that cannot be ignored.  Fashioned after the Dubai Marina, there could not have been a better location than the historic site which was the trading cluster for King Kosoko among the Portuguese, Lever Brothers, UAC, who were prominent in produce buying during the colonial era. The project is planned to provide infrastructure such as Civic Centre for special purposes, food venues, museum, Aquarium, Boat club/services, Dock Amusement and other interesting fun spots. All these are expected to stimulate investors’ interest and direct their attention to the Epe axis.

    Thus, it could be rightly affirmed that Epe, the stone which the builders once rejected has now become the chief cornerstone. It now behoves on investors, tourists and residents to take advantage of this new development.

     

    • Bolaji Odumade,

    Lagos State Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa Ikeja.

  • MINISO’s $1.5b investment berths in Lagos

    MINISO’s $1.5b investment berths in Lagos

    The Federal Government’s quest for foreign direct investment (FDI) has yielded yet another positive boost. This comes on the heels of a $1.5 billion investment by MINISO, a Japanese designer brand  opening of outlets across the six high-brow shopping malls in Lagos.

    Announcing the arrival of the designer giant into Nigeria on Wednesday, the Country Manager, Mr. Chris Lee, said MINISO products include lifestyle essentials  and creative home necessities, health and beauty products, fashion accessories, gadgets accessories, digital accessories, stationeries gifts, unique toys series, seasonal products, Kitchen ware, etc.

    He said: “Miniso advocates a philosophy of quality life and is dedicated to providing premium and high-quality products to its customers, with a creative ideology of competitive and affordable pricing.

    ‘’MINISO continuously selects the best materials from all over the world for its products designs with a focus on the home and life. 80 per cent of the designs are from Japan, Korea, Sweden, Denmark, Singapore, China and Malaysia’’.

    Quoting Ye Guofu, a co-founder of MINISO, he said the higher the price, the better the quality.

    ‘’Those low price with bad quality products resulting from the profiteering desire are originated from the period of command economy.

    ‘’The time for good quality with low price products has just begun. In this era, the actual value of a brand should be beneficial to millions of people rather than providing services only to the noble and the rich. These very values and principles have induced the inception of MINISO,’’ Lee said.

    According to him, the brand has established a new type of shopping experience with cozier stores, which has become the main force within the department stores and shopping malls along with catering, fast fashion clothing and entertainment.

    “We strive to provide consumers with simple, natural and quality products, at lower prices, so as to give the consumers an exciting and happy shopping experience”, he added.

    He said the brand’s grand opening ceremony will hold in a forthnight simultaneously across three  premium shopping malls in the state- Ikeja City mall (Alausa, Ikeja), Circle mall (Lekki) and Novare Mall (Sangotedo-Ajah). Three more stores will follow suit by end of next month in Palms mall (Lekki), Festival mall (Festac), and Maryland mall (Maryland).

    Lee, however, assured that MINISO’s presence will soon be felt in other major stores across the country, to give more Nigerians opportunity to access the benefits and experience of MINISO’s array of products. With simple and quality features as well as leading the trend of intelligent consumption, he noted that most MINISO products are priced from N990, thus earning love from the major consumers aged from eight to 60.

    Aside the unique shopping experience, Lee said its presence in Nigeria will lead to increase in employment rate and boost local procurement.

    ‘’With MINISO’s strategic plan to have about 500 stores across Nigeria by 2019, the brand is committed to employing about 30,000 Nigerians and this will reduce the country’s current unemployment rate by at least 0.99 per cent.

    ‘’Over time, MINISO is committed to procuring most of its raw materials locally. We are also committed to transferring standard retail knowledge with an achievable projection of establishing a retail focused education system and transfer of knowledge to Nigerians. With this, individuals can carve a fulfilling career path for themselves in retail.

    The Marketing Communications Manager for the firm, Miss Colette Atane, used the launch to unveil the Brand Ambassador for MINISO Nigeria, Mrs. Stephanie Linus, a renowned Nollywood Actress, Director and Producer, emphasised that the brand philosophy of simple, natural and quality is the major reason for the choice of Linus as she exemplifies the very essence of the MINISO Brand.

    Responding, Linus expressed excitement about the breath of fresh air coming into the Nigerian Retail market as she echoed that MINISO represents the perfect mix of ‘quality and affordability’ with a wide range of products that appeals to all age groups.

    She said, she glad to be part of the phenomenal ideology of “simple”, “natural” and “quality” products.

    Listed as one of the fastest growing retail brands since its her establishment in Japan in 2013, MINISO has actively explored the international retail market by opening over 2,250 stores in more than 41 countries. It plans to increase same to another 15 countries  with a turnover of $750 million in 2015 and $1.5 billion in 2016.

    The firm is said to have beaten all  odds with an average monthly growth rate of 80 to 100 stores across countries including the United States, Canada, Russia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Korea, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, and Australia.

  • ‘Teach all religions in schools’

    THE Principal, Avi-Cenna International School, Ikeja, Lagos, Mr David Ogburn, has advised the government to tread softly on the issue of including a religion in the curriculum to ensure that all religions are taught together in schools.

    Speaking against the background of the outcry over the subsuming merger of Christian and Islamic religions in the school’s curriculum and he said worldwide, the practice is that no religion should stand alone in order not to give the impression that one is given preference over the other.

    Ogburn, who has spent nine years as the school’s administrator, said though the government had retraced its steps by reverting to the old practice of making each religion to stand alone, it would have been better if the government involved educationists in resolving the matter rather than treating it as a political issue. He warned: ”Religion is quite emotive. It should be at harmonious force in the society.”

    On early education, he said the best way to teach it is through plays, adding that children learn through various ways, rather than sit in one place.

    ‘”What we develop in children have emotions and they learn through them, but all these they do through plays,” he said.

    Ogburn also said there was the need to teach indigenous cultures, adding that though the school operates the British curriculum and it emphasises Nigerian cultures.

    “We inculcate values in our children, not necessarily the Nigerian or the Asian. However, we celebrate everything Nigerian, for example, the Independence anniversary on October 1. We do traditional dances and singing” he said.

    Besides, he said schools should go outside the box to teach their pupils. He said a topic subject like entrepreneurship should be of interest to educators.

    ”Education is much more than what happens in the classrooms.  We do a lot of home economics. We have banks that come here to teach our children basic financial practices. We hold a Marketing Day once a year. Pupils set up and run a business, make plastic cups and go through a process of business,” Ogburn said, adding that all these help to make the child a total pupil on graduation.

    Ogburn advised parents to look out for schools that can deliver quality education and treat their wards uniquely when choosing schools. He warned them against taking their children to quack schools where they will not be benefit at the end of the day.

    He urged schools to give back to society as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He noted that Avi-Cenna gives out 15 scholarship yearly,  has installed an oxygen machine at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), built a domestic science laboratory at the Ikeja High School among others.

  • Baze varsity woos students in Lagos

    The admissions team of Baze University, Abuja, is in Lagos till next week to conduct on-the-spot admissions for eligible students for the 2017/2018 academic session.

    The team made up of Dr Mani Ibrahim Ahmad, the Director, Academic Planning, and Mr Oshioreamhe Aghedo, Dean Students’ Affairs, will meet parents and schools at the Protea Hotel, GRA, Ikeja on Saturday, and the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, on Monday next week to offer admissions into 30 degree programmes of the institution.

    A statement by the institution noted that eligible students could be offered admissions even if they did not choose the university in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

  • Diezani to lose 56 houses in Lagos, Port Harcourt

    Diezani to lose 56 houses in Lagos, Port Harcourt

    THE ASSETS

    • 29 terrace houses comprising eight four-bedroom penthouse apartments
    •Six three-bedroom apartments
    •Two three-bedroom maisonettes
    •Two twin bedroom apartments
    •One four-bedroom apartment. 
    •No. 7, Thurnbull Street and 5, Raymond Street, Yaba
    •16 four-bedroom terrace houses in Heritage Court Estate, Plot 2C, Omerelu Street, Diobu, GRA Phase 1 Extension, Port Harcourt
    •13 three-bedroom terrace houses
    •Six flats of three bedrooms and one boys’ quarters each, a lawn tennis court, a gym and “matured garden”.

    Court orders forfeiture of mansions valued at N3.3b

    A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the interim forfeiture of 56 houses allegedly bought between 2011 and 2013 for $21,982,224 million (N3,320,000,000 billion) by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    Justice Abdulaziz Anka, a vacation judge, made the order yesterday following an ex parte application filed on August 16 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Justice Anka authorised the EFCC to appoint a firm to manage the property and gave the respondents 14 days to show cause why the property should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

    The judge directed the agency to publish the order in any national newspaper and adjourned till September 8.

    The application, brought pursuant to section 17 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud related offences Act 2006 and Section 44(2)(k) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) sought a temporary transfer of the property to the Federal Government.

    Listed as first to sixth respondents in the suit are Diezani, Donald Chidi Amamgbo and four firms— Chapel Properties Limited, Blue Nile Estate Limited, Azinga Meadows Limited and Vistapoint Property Development Limited.

    EFCC counsel Mr. Anselem Ozioko told Justice Anka that Mrs Alison-Madueke paid $16,441,906 (N2.6billion) cash in several tranches and another $5,540318 (N840,000,000) cash for the properties through four “front” firms which held the titles in trust for her.

    The firms are Chapel Properties, Blue Nile Estate, Azinga Meadows and Vistapoint Property Development.

    Ozioko said the commission had discovered 14 other firms incorporated for the ex-minister for holding the titles to those property.

    Mrs. Alison-Madueke, he added, bought the properties from the proceeds of suspected unlawful activity during her tenure as minister.

    The properties include 29 terraced houses comprising eight four-bedroom penthouse apartments, six three-bedroom apartments, two three-bedroom maisonettes, two twin bedroom apartments and one four-bedroom apartment.

    The houses, located at No. 7, Thurnbull Street and 5, Raymond Street, Yaba, were allegedly bought by Mrs. Alison-Madueke for the US dollar equivalent of N937,000,000 through Chapel Properties Ltd.

    Others are 16 four-bedroom terrace houses in Heritage Court Estate, Plot 2C, Omerelu Street, Diobu, Government Residential Area (GRA) Phase 1 extension, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, bought for N928,000,000 through Blue Nile Estate Ltd.

    The former minister allegedly bought 13 three-bedroom terrace houses with one-room maid’s quarters ensuite for N650,000,000 through Azinga Meadows Ltd.

    The commission also stated that Mrs. Alison-Madueke paid N805,000,000 through Vistapoint Property Development Ltd for six flats of three bedrooms and one boys’ quarters each, a lawn tennis court, a gym and “matured garden”.

    According to an affidavit in support of the application by an EFCC investigative officer, Mr Sombori Mayana, the commission got wind of the properties in 2016 following its execution of a search warrant on the office and premises of the former minister’s acquaintance, Mr Donald Chidi Amamgbo.

    Mayana said: “…among the documents recovered from the office of Mr Donald Chidi Amamgbo was an undated report titled ‘HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT – AUGUST REPORT’

    “The report contained a list of 18 companies and several properties located in the United Kingdom, Nigeria and the United States of America.

    “During the course of his interview, Mr Donald Amamgbo told us that he registered the 18 companies to assist Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke in holding titles of the properties.”

    On August 7, Justice Chuka Obiozor of the Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the permanent forfeiture to the Federal Government of a $37.5million Banana Island property bought in 2013 by the former Petroleum Minister.

    The property designated as Building 3, Block B, Bella Vista Plot 1, Zone N, Federal Government Layout, Banana Island Foreshore Estate, consists of 24 apartments, 18 flats and six penthouses.

    The judge also ordered that $2,740,197.96 and N84,537,840.70 realised as rent on the property be permanently forfeited to the government.

    On August 8, The Nation revealed that the EFCC had traced N47.2 billion and $487.5million to the ex-minister.

    The agency also claimed that Mrs. Alison-Madueke has N23,446,300,000 and $5milion (about N1.5billion) cash in various banks which are yet to be forfeited.

    The commission is also investigating properties in Britain and the United States allegedly purchased with stolen government funds.

    Mrs. Alison-Madueke has consistently denied the allegations.

     

  • Lagos lauds Fidson’s support for children’s education

    Lagos lauds Fidson’s support for children’s education

    Lagos State Government has commended Fidson Healthcare Plc for its commitment to the academic development of children through its Astymin brand’s annual flagship programme, Astymin Brilliance Reward.

    At the 7th edition of the programme held at the Ndubuisi Kanu Park, Alausa, Lagos, Deputy Governor Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule said the programme was a commendable initiative that would go a long way to enhance the academic performance of pupils and, ultimately, contribute to educational development.

    Dr. Adebule, who was represented by the Director of Special Duties, Mrs. Feyisayo Obadofin, said Fidson had done well in encouraging children to strive for excellence in their academics by rewarding the best-performing pupils in Nigeria. She emphasised that children’s education was a significant aspect of national development that must not be pushed aside, encouraging stakeholders, including teachers, parents and corporate bodies, to support the government by playing their parts in the education of Nigerian children.

    The Astymin Brilliance Reward, which berthed in 2010, is the brand’s biggest and most prestigious event.  The programme is aimed at developing mental and academic performance, while rewarding hard work and academic excellence amongst primary school pupils, through special acknowledgment and provision of educational materials.

    The kids were recognised and rewarded with certificates of excellence and valuable prizes, including educational materials. These were presented by Mrs. Obadofin and the Sales and Marketing Director, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr. Olugbenga Olayeye; General Manager, Sales and Marketing, Mr. Ola Ijimakin, and Marketing Manager Mr. Friday Enaholo.

    Enaholo said Fidson was proud to support children in education, health and general well-being.

    “Like we have always emphasized, the ABR is our attempt to bring back the glory days of our education by throwing our weight behind the children’s drive for academic excellence. This is another season of delight for the kids who have worked so hard and perform exceptionally in their academics; but for us as a brand, it is another day of celebrating excellence”.

    He emphasised that the choice of the new venue for the event which formerly held outside the Grange School since the inception was an indication of the company’s persistence in its commitment to supporting pupils in their academic  endeavours.

    ”We believe it is better to catch them young and put them on the right path to success. Therefore, Astymin will continue to take the giant stride in rewarding brilliant primary school kids in a way that motivates them to stay focused on their studies, believing that merit and hard work can still be rewarded”, he said.

    The NdubuisiKanu Park provided a fun-filled experience that also featured friendship, fun, sharing, networking, and excitement. There was also enough to drink and eat for both kids and their parents.

    The 2017 edition of Astymin Brilliance Reward is an evidence of Fidson’s continuous commitment to support the kids in all their academic endeavors, through its Astymin brand. This is in line with the corporate brand promise of valuing lives.

  • Eid-el-Kabir: Lagos to begin sale of Lake Rice tomorrow

    In preparation for the Eid-El-Kabir, the Lagos State government will begin sale of Lake Rice tomorrow at designated centres.

    Commissioner for Agriculture Oluwatoyin Suarau, who announced this yesterday at Alausa in Ikeja, said Governor Akinwumi Ambode approved some centres for distribution and sale of the rice.

    The centres, he said, include the 57 local government and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), Agricultural Development Area Complex at Oko-Oba in Agege; LTV Blue Roof Complex at Agidingbi in Ikeja.

    The commissioner said the prices remained at N12,000 for a 50 kilogramme bag, N6,000 for a 25 kilogramme bag and N2,500 for a 10 kilogramme bag.

    According to him, the rice is for Lagos residents, irrespective of religion or tribe.

    Suarau said the Ambode administration would continue to ensure adequate production and fair distribution of the rice, adding that it will also be made available to the people at accredited centres.

    The commissioner said the government had started policies and programmes to enhance availability of food across the state.

  • ‘Lagos could become Africa’s Hong Kong in 50 years’

    LAGOS, Nigeria’s industrial and commercial nerve centre   has the capacity and potential to become the African version of Hong Kong in the next 50 years, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Tunji Bello has said.

    Bello spoke on Monday at the special “Lagos State Showcase Session” at the annual conference of the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at the Landmark Event Centre, Oniru Estates.

    He identified the federalist structure of the country as the greatest challenge against the ambition.

    The SSG said: “Let me give you a clear poser. Would the Apapa Port and the Lagos International Airport remain so derelict and obsolete if they were allowed to be managed by proper private investors under the local authorities as it is in most advanced economies?

    “The promise of true federalism is to unbundle and exploit the untapped and hidden potential of each state, create employment opportunities for our teeming working population, particularly for the large army of unemployed guarantee a better future for us all. It is time to move forward and truly practice what is just for a true federation.”

    Bello called for a stoppage to the present practice of skewed federalism or ‘military federalism” being camouflaged as genuine federalism, stating that most states have been hemorrhaging socio-economically.

    He described as unfortunate that a nation that should have a federation governed by federalist concepts and principles, was being run as a nation on a unitary platform.

    The SSG emphasised that Lagos has been championing the principles of true federalism since 1999, added that this has been done at a great inconvenience and humongous sacrifice.

    According to him, in the last two years, the present administration has sustained a blend of progressive vision with robust and exemplary action.

    “Lagos is the most cosmopolitan, economically viable and hospitable state in West Africa.  It has become a sprawling megacity which is characterised by rapid urbanisation and the attendant increase in population”, he said.

    Bello urged lawyers to join forces with the state government in genuine institution building, stressing that the time was ripe to collaborate and unlock the states.

    “The time of sitting on the fence is over”, the SSG said.

  • Lagos shuts illegal plank market

    The Lagos State Government yesterday ordered the immediate closure of an illegal plank market in Oko-Baba Extension in Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

    A statement by the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Muslim Folami, said the market had become a security threat as well as a hide out for hoodlums who attack innocent citizens and commuters in the area.

    He said government was committed to the safety of lives and property of residents and would not allow any potential security threat to thrive.

    Folami warned that those who flout the order would face the wrath of the law.

    Government, he said, would not hesitate to also close down any of such illegal market in any part of the State in the overall interest of the people.