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Tag: lagos

  • Lagos honours 867 public servants

    Lagos honours 867 public servants

    The Lagos State government has pledged to continue to promote excellence in service delivery.

    It also pledged to focus attention on the implementation of quality programmes in health, infrastructure, transportation, education and other sectors that impact on the life of the residents.

    Deputy Governor Idiat Adebule spoke yesterday in Lagos at the Long Service Merit Awards for 867 public servants.

    The event was part of activities marking this year’s Public Service Week.

    Dr Adebule said the state government would continue to invest in capacity-building of its public servants and expose them to international best practices to enhance their productivity at work.

    She said: “Our administration will continue to invest in capacity-building and expose our public servants to international best practices to enhance productivity at work. We will not relent in ensuring the best working environment for our workers and ensure the continued welfare for all categories of our officers.”

    Dr. Adebule described the state’s public servants as worthy ambassadors of productivity and excellence in service delivery for which the state is known.

    The deputy governor said they were celebrated for hard work, commitment, diligence, passion, devotion and dedication to duty over the years.

    According to her, the Long Service Merit Award is another important and auspicious occasion for the state government to thank and celebrate public servants who have served Lagos State and its residents meritoriously for no fewer than 30 years.

    “This event is to appreciate you as individuals having spent the greater part of your productive lives in serving the State. We are proud of you as worthy ambassadors of productivity and excellence in service delivery for which our State is known. Excellence has its reward, and this explains why you are being celebrated today for your hard work, commitment, diligence, passion, devotion and dedication to duty over the years,” she said.

     

  • Lagos hails Visionscape for Cleaner Initiative investment

    Lagos hails Visionscape for Cleaner Initiative investment

    The Lagos State Government has praised Visionscape Sanitation Solutions Limited, an innovative environmental utility group, for investing in Nigeria at a time others are learning.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, represented by the Environment Commissioner, Dr Babatunde Adejare, spoke at the soft launch of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) and the inauguration of Nigeria’s first 24-hour waste management depot at Ogudu.

    He said: “The soft launch of the new waste management policy is a dream comes true, and a demonstrable evidence of what determination and proper planning could bring into fruition.

    “We believe in Visionscape. We are standing by you. We know you can do it. With your capabilities and clout, Lagos State will be the cleanest city in the world. We will work with you in every way and we will make it happen together. This is your Lagos, our Lagos.

    “Coming here and seeing these fantastically looking vans and trucks of Visionscape that would be used for waste management is inspiring and encouraging. This is just a small bit of what we intend to launch through the CLI in days to come.

    “A lot of people thought that this would not be achieved but here we are today launching the first phase.

    “I just want to say here that we have always believed in Visionscape and if not, we would not have chosen the consortium to do this for us.

    “We are very glad and satisfied with the giant strides Visionscape is taking in ensuring that we achieve the aim that we have all sat down to set. I just want to admonish members of staff of the firm that apart from what they would be paid, they should see this as their own contribution to making Lagos what we all want it to be, which is to become the cleanest city in the world.”

    Visionscape’s Executive Director Harry Ackerman, said the company was delighted to be part of the journey to make Lagos a clean State, assuring that modern techniques and technologies in waste management would be deployed to provide top class services for the people.

    Ackerman said: “Our top priority is to ensure that the waste management needs of Lagos are met. We will do this by implementing sustainable long-term solutions that are tailor-made for Lagos specifically.”

     

  • Lagos partners UNICEF on justice

    Lagos partners UNICEF on justice

    Office of the Public Defender (OPD) in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, has partnered with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on ensuring justice for children in the state.

    OPD Director Mrs Olubukola Salami said UNICEF’s would help improving the method of working and provision of legal aid to children in various detention centres.

    “Since the commencement of the collaboration, 334 children have been represented by OPD, 221 cases have been concluded and 152 children have been released from custody and reunited with their family,” she said.

    According to her, there is the need for children to be represented in court, noting that they cannot be given up on, because they are the future leaders.

    She said: “Children running foul of the law can be reduced if parents give them more time and attention. The school must also put more cautiousness to ensure their safety. All the stakeholders must be their brother’s keeper. If you see that something has happened to a child, or an underage child is seen hawking, it should be reported. We should do something about it and take the necessary steps, either by taking the child to the police station, OPD or Ministry of Youths and Social Development.”

    She noted that the police are central in the process of ensuring that children get their rights, noting that they are the first point of contact for children in conflict with the law.

    Police, she said, must be constantly trained on preventing child offences, apprehension and investigation of child offenders.

    She said many parents are not aware of the Child Rights Law and the fact that the Child Justice System was not meant to criminalise or stigmatise children.

  • Lagos engages parents on child abuse prevention

    The Lagos State Government has engaged over 300 parents on issues relating to child protection.

    This is in furtherance of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s directives to ensure that Childs’ Rights are upheld and child abuse is eradicated.

    Tagged One-day Parents Teachers Association (PTA) Conference on Child Abuse, it was organised by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT).

    In a statement yesterday, DSVRT Coordinator Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi said the participants from public and private institutions consisted of PTA members FROM over 100 schools in Education District Six.

    She said the parents were engaged in an interactive manner and empowered with information as to what Child Abuse entails, and the ramifications and importance of child’s rights.

    Mrs Vivour-Adeniyi said: “Parents were further informed of the signs to look out for if there is a suspected case of abuse, and steps to take if a child is indeed being abused.

    “The provision of the Lagos State Mandated Reporting Policy was also communicated to participants. Child abuse is indeed criminal and everybody is mandated to report actual or suspected child abuse to the relevant authorities. The utmost importance is the need for parents to be empowered with resources and contact details of relevant organisations to report to if there is an actual or suspected case of Child Abuse.”

    The DSVRT Coordinator said participants received booklets, pamphlets and other materials containing vital information.

  • ‘Lagos needs more councils’

    ‘Lagos needs more councils’

    In this piece, Second Republic Secretary to Lagos State Government Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun urges state governments to reposition the local government system for better service delivery at the grassroots.

    Lagos State was initially made up of the Colony Province (Ikeja Division, Badagry Division and Epe Division) and Lagos Division.  In May, 1968, Ikorodu Division was carved out of the Ikeja Division; while in 1971 Imota portion of Ikosi District Council in Epe Division was added to Ikorodu Division; and Etiosa Local Council, formerly part of Ikorodu Division, was ceded to Lagos City Council to become part of Lagos Division.  It is in the context just described that I intend to discuss the Local Government System in Lagos State yesterday, today and tomorrow.

    Before 1955

    Between 1932 and 1955, like in other parts of Nigeria, the Colony Province which was part of Western Nigeria operated what was then known as Native Authority (NA).The Lagos Division, as represented by Lagos City Council, was being governed by a separate enactment, the Lagos Local Government Act, 1959.  Its predecessor, the Lagos Town Council was also created under a new Lagos Local Government Law.  It produced the first and last Mayor of Lagos, Ibiyinka Olorunnimbe, in 1950.

    1955 to 1971

    When a new local government system was introduced in Western Nigeria by Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1955, it extended to the Colony Province which was an integral part of the Region.  The intention of the Local Government Law was that a Divisional Council should be superior to a Local Council.  The Divisional Council was the rating authority for Local Councils in its area of jurisdiction while the District Council, really not under any Divisional Council, only less in status, was also a rating authority.  When it became necessary to appoint Caretaker Committees for Councils in Lagos State in 1969, Lagos City Council, the Divisional, the District and Local Council were those used.

    1971 to 1975

    A further development in Lagos State saw the scrapping of the three-tiered structure and gave way to an All Purpose District Councils structure for all the council areas as a result of Joel Ogunnaike Report of 1971 on The Tribunal of Inquiry into Re-organisation of Local government which the Government accepted.  Except for retention of name, Lagos City Council was affected.The Reform threw up the following council areas:

    Lagos Division: Lagos City Council; Badagry Division: Awori/Ajeromi District Council,            Egun/Awori District Council; Epe Division:               Epe District Council;  Ikeja Division:             Ikeja District Council, Mushin Town Council; Ikorodu Division:                Ikorodu District Council

    1976 to 1979

    In 1976, when the Military Administration, in its wisdom, decided to install a single local government system for Nigeria on the basis of Dasuki’s (deposed Sultan of Sokoto) Report, it approved eight “Local Government Councils” (the designation it chose) for Lagos State.

    Lagos Division: Lagos Island Local Government Council, Lagos Mainland Local Government Council; Badagry Division:  Badagry Local Government Council; Epe Division:         Epe Local Government council; Ikeja Division: Ikeja Local Government Council, Mushin East Local Government Council, Mushin West Local Government Council; Ikorodu Division: Ikorodu Local Government Council.

    1980 to 1983

    The 1979 Constitution vested the creation and administration of Local Government Councils in the State Government.  Lagos State through a law enacted by the state Assembly created 23 local government areas in 1980.  When the Military struck again and took over the country’s administration on December 31, 1983, part of its early actions in 1984 was to scrap the 23 council areas and reverted to the 8 local government councils structure created in 1976 by another military administration.

    1984 to 2002

    Through military fiat, the number of Local Government Councils in Lagos State increased to 12 and 15.  In 1996, by another military fiat, the Abacha administration awarded an across-the-board 30 per cent increase on the existing number of local government councils in each state of the Federation. It brought the number in Lagos State from 15 to 20 (Kano from 34 to 44) which was the position as at 2002.  The council areas are:

    Lagos Division: Apapa, Etiosa, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Surulere; Badagry Division: Ajeromi/Ifelodun, Amuwo-Odofin, Badagry, Ojo; Epe Division: Epe, Ibeju Lekki; Ikeja Division: Agege, Alimoso, Ifako/Ijaiye,             Ikeja, Kosofe, Mushin, Somolu, Oshodi/Isolo; korodu Division: Ikorodu

    2002 to date:

    The civilian administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu took the giant and courageous step to increase the number to 57 in 2002 with a law duly passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly.  However, the last step to complete the exercise could not be accomplished because the National Assembly which was to make consequential provisions to admit the newly created Councils as in accordance with Section 3(6) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and as in Part I of the First Schedule to the Constitution failed to do so.  It resulted in a celebrated court case between the Lagos State Government and the Federal Government whereby the Supreme Court ruled that the Act of the State Assembly in creating the 37 additional councils was constitutional, but the process was inchoate.

    But the 57 councils stayed till today.  The recognised 20 local government councils took the additional 37 councils as the development areas and were christened “37 Local Council Development Areas”.

    The 57 councils have functioned for fourteen years with giant strides in developing their areas.  We now have 57 Council Secretariats with multiplier effect in physical structures, such as health centres, council buildings and extensive growth in human capital (employment generation). The gains of the council creation are too many to recount; we can only continue to appreciate the initiators and their ingenuity in creating the councils and making the system to function successfully.

    At least, three states in the Southwest, Ogun, Oyo and Osun, have adopted the Lagos Model.  I believe it will work out well.

    The future:

    • Lagos will need more councils in the future, at least 10 more in 2022.
    • The inhibition to let the councils function as full-fledged local government should be removed –

    (1) By deleting:  (a) Section 3(6) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and  (b) Section 8(5) and 8(6)

    (2) By using survey annotations to describe state boundaries in Part I of the    First Schedule to the 1999 Constitution instead of council areas.

    • The executive capacity of the councils’ staff needs to be shored up through recruitment and training of high quality personnel to improve on the services of the councils.
    • The state government should ensure strict compliance to the provision of section 162(7) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which states:

    “Each State shall pay to local government councils in its area of jurisdiction such proportion of its total revenue on such terms and in such a manner as may be prescribed by the National Assembly.”

  • 100 suspected Badoo cult group members arrested in Lagos

    100 suspected Badoo cult group members arrested in Lagos

    One hundred  suspected members of the dreaded cult group, Badoo who have been terrorizing residents of the State,  especially in the Ikorodu axis have been arrested.

    The suspects were arrested in a joint operation carried out by men of the Lagos State Police Command, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Odua People’s Congress (OPC), as well as local vigilantes including Onyabo in Ikorodu on Saturday.

    The team, in the operation which started early on Saturday morning , moved around Ikorodu and combed the suspected hideouts of the members of the gang from streets to streets.

    The combined security team led by Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Lagos Police Command, Mr. Imohimi Edgal and the RRS Commander, ACP Olatunji Disu, specifically combed black spots and suspected areas like Ikorodu, Ibeshe, Ita Maja, Ijede, Ipakodo and other areas, arresting about 100 suspects for questioning.

    The exercise was a follow up to a meeting which the National Coordinator of Odua Peoples’ Congress, Chief Gani Adams and Onyabo leaders held with security chiefs in the State last Friday.

    Confirming the operation, Public Relations Officer of Lagos State Police Command, ASP Olarinde Famous–Cole said about 40 police and RRS vehicles were used for the operation, adding that the exercise was part of the ongoing efforts to rid the State of the activities of the dreaded cult group.

    “We can confirm the arrest of 100 suspected members of the dreaded cult group, Badoo and they are helping with ongoing investigation into the activities of the gang.

    “Government is on top of the situation and we like to use this medium to caution the people to desist from jungle justice.

    “We also like to assure residents that they are free to go about their normal activities without let or hindrance, as the police and other security agencies in the State are poised to make the State uncomfortable and hot for criminal elements to perpetrate their nefarious activities,” Famous–Cole said.

  • Celebrities rock ‘Baileys Bake Fest’ in Lagos

    THE maiden edition of the Baileys Bake Fest went down on Monday, June 26 with Nigerian celebrities slugging it out at the Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island, Lagos. The baking festival, an initiative of Baileys Nigeria, was developed to showcase the versatility of the Baileys crème liqueur.

    The celebrity bake off comprised Team Funke and Segun, Team Waje and Yemisi, Team Alexx and Tolu, Team Mai and Fimi, who had the chance to test their baking skills and prowess as they went at it in a three-round bakeoff, with the winner announced after each individual round and an overall winner at the end of all three. Round one, Cakes and tarts, was won by Team Waje and Yemisi; Team Alexx and Tolu won the cocktail round with their KuliKuli inspired cocktail, while Team Mai and Fimi won the final dessert round.

    The panel of Judges consisting of Lara Rawa, Ify Mogekwu, Chef Eros and Alex Oke announced the overall winner of the first ever Baileys Bake Fest; Team Alexx and Tolu, who won with a narrow victory. All four upcoming bakers were presented with Beko appliances as reward.

    Apart from the main Baileys Judges, there were also some independent tasters picked randomly from the large audience at every point in time to have a taste and also give their own judgement on what had been baked.

    As part of the festival, over 40 treat vendors showcased their merchandise, with accompanying fun and lawn games like tic-tac-toe, dart games, tennis and table soccer to thrill the crowd which gathered to witness the celebrities and their partners work tirelessly to impress creatively and deliciously with everything Baileys-infused. Baileys provided cocktails for guests as the Originial Madam, Lolo 1 and Chuey Chu alias King of the chop knuckle put on an impressive show, dishing out rib-cracking goodness to the delight of those present.

    In her closing remark, Baileys Brand Manager, Ufuoma Udjoh stated, “Everyone deserves a little bit of sweetness from time to time. We promised the first ever baking festival in Nigeria and delivered a festival of epic proportions. We can only hope that you picked up on more ways to indulge.”

  • 2,000 students get Lagos employability skills

    2,000 students get Lagos employability skills

    On Saturday, 2,000 final year students of six tertiary institutions in Lagos State will begin the first of 24 sessions for the second edition of the Ready Set Work (RSW), a skill and employability initiative of the Lagos State government aimed at preparing young graduates for the labour market.

    The students were selected from the three institutions that participated in the maiden edition last year and another three schools. The schools include Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), and Lagos State College of Health Technology. Participants were also drawn from Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, (MOCPED), Norforija, Epe, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Ijanikin, and the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

    Unlike the other schools, UNILAG is not owned by the Lagos State government, but the opportunity was extended to its students on the request of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who is an alumnus of the school.

    During the 13-week programme, the students will be exposed to sessions by industry leaders, soft skills, employability and entrepreneurship training that would culminate in a business grant competition and paid internship placement in reputable companies for the best of the lot.

    Skills they would gain include: critical thinking, team work, analytical, problem solving, creativity, communication, how to run businesses, among others.

    With the inclusion of two colleges of education this year, there would also be a teaching tract to expose trainee teachers to skills needed to deliver quality tuition in a 21st century classroom.

    Last year, 192 successful students out of 500 were placed on six-month paid internships with firms like PWC, SystemSpecs, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Guaranty Trust (GT) Bank, Access Bank, Total and others.

    This year, the Special Adviser on Education, Mr Obafela Bank-Olemoh, whose office is driving the project, said efforts are being made to increase the internship slots to 700.

    Ahead of the programme, led a team to all the institutions to sensitize students to register and prepare to do things differently.  He said the programme was the Lagos State government’s response to the problem of unemployable graduates from schools, and warned them that punctuality and regular attendance were necessary for graduation.

    He said: “RSW is an opportunity for you to improve your skills.  For those that will get into the programme, I ask you to give your best.  It is serious business; it is for people who want to get ahead in life.  We start 9am -5pm.  If you are late we will shut the doors.  You have to attend 21 out of 24 sessions to get a certificate,” he said.

    Bank-Olemoh also said that participants that will take part next year would have to register this year and complete an online course to make them eligible for the programme next year.

    “For this year, we will have face-to-face classes for 2,000 people, while we will open the RSW Academy online for 10,000 students in their penultimate year.  They will take online courses for three to six months.  If you don’t take part in your penultimate year, you cannot take part in your final year,” he said.

    Alumni of the Season 1 of the RSW shared testimonies of how the programme changed their lives.

    Jamiewill Onotoju, a graduate of LASPOTECH who interned at Total, said RSW taught him punctuality and accountability, which stood him out during his internship. He urged those coming behind to be committed.

    “Every day, I got to work by 6.15am though I live at Ikorodu. My bosses wondered how I made it when even workers don’t get there that early.  RSW taught us to be accountable.  When my boss asked about 12noon what I had done each day, I was able to tell him a number of things.  He asked if I anticipated the question,” said Onotoju.

    Another alumna, Temitope Kasali, whose internship was extended by FCMB, said it was a good learning experience.  She called for more companies from various sectors of the economy to key into the programme, “so there can be more slots for internship placement.”

  • Lagos set to deliver ‘Right of Way’ for Alapere Road

    Lagos set to deliver ‘Right of Way’ for Alapere Road

    Determined to ease the traffic on Ibrahim Babangida Boulevard, at the Ketu/Mile 12 end of Ikorodu Road, the Lagos State Government has begun the recovery of conservative of Right of Way of Alapere-Agboyi-Ketu.

    The gridlock on the road, according to the state, usually originates at Alapere Junction and its contiguous roads.

    The project, which is a four-lane road of 18.6m width, inclusive of a carriageway, will see the development of Oluwakemi/Ajiboye Street with additional ingress into adjoining streets from Alapere to Agboyi. It is being developed to carry traffic from Alapere through Agboyi towards Ikorodu. The project is a follow up to the first phase of the Alapere layby, constructed to ease traffic off the major road into Alapere.

    Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Wasiu Anifowoshe, in a statement said the Right of Way project began with the marking of affected buildings.

    The statement indicated that the owners of affected structures had been engaged and notified as well as given enough time to remove their wares and salvage their property before the  commencement of the operation.

    The statement, attributed to Anifowoshe, read in part: “We run an all inclusive government and do not embark on any removal of structure without first obtaining the buy-in of the affected people and communities through the engagement of stakeholders in interactive meetings. Some weeks ago, the state government embarked on a stakeholders’ meeting with the Alapere -Agboyi-Ketu community and interestingly, they embraced the idea, which led to this development.We know what it takes to put up a structure. So, we have planned this project and pledged minimal removal. It is all in the overriding public interest and the economic growth and development of the community and Lagos State as a whole.”

  • Lagos warns Lekki-Epe land trespassers

    The Lagos State Government yesterday warned illegal developers and land speculators in the Lekki-Epe corridor to stop forthwith their unlawful activities or face the law.

    Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Co-operative, Prince Rotimi Ogunleye gave the warning when he toured the area where the 16,347 hectares Lekki Free Zone (LFZ) project is sited.

    The government, he said, was worried by the trespassers activities who have been swindling buyers. The land he said, was under acquisition.

    Ogunleye explained that buyers who did not do “proper investigation at the Land Bureau and the Surveyor General’s Office” risked losing their money. Besides being being acquired, the land, he said, was committed to LFZ projects, the resettlement of affected communities and other schemes.

    He noted that signposts of private estates, private universities, companies, a military zone and host of others were some of the “visible encroachments” on the land.

    The commissioner said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had approved that stern measures be taken against the illegal developers and the structures removed.

    Ogunleye advised the public to be wary of dubious advertisements on “land purchase beside the Lekki Free Zone” sponsored by private estate developers on almost all radio stations in the state.

    He said the development projects the land was acquired for were in progress, citing the LFZ project and Dangote Refinery and Petrol Chemical Plant as part of the multi-billion dollars investments there.