The Nation Newspaper

Tag: lagos

  • Lagos asks Queens College to delay resumption

    Lagos asks Queens College to delay resumption

    The Lagos State government has recommended that Queens College, Yaba, delay its resumption till appropriate measures are in place for the safety of its pupils.

    According to Commissioner of Health Jide Idris, the recommendation was necessary to ensure that all sources of contaminants in the school, which have been causing the death of pupils be properly handled.

    Idris said the source of the problem was contaminated water.

    The commissioner said:  “Available health records from the sick bay showed that the date of onset of illness was January 16.

    The total number of pupils at the clinic on account of abdominal pain, fever, vomiting and diarrhea was 1, 222 from the first date of presentation January 16 to the last date of presentation February 15.

    “There were four peak periods of infection namely  January 31, February 2, February 8 and February 14.

    “The highest peak was   January 31. Sixteen cases were admitted in various hospitals.

    Nine have been discharged, two died, one is still on admission at the Intensive Care Unit of  Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja and three in Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba.

    “Water samples from six sources in the school were collected and analysed at LASUTH’s Drug Quality Control Laboratory.

    “Another day of water samples from 10 sources were collected and analysed at LUTH’s Microbiology Department.”

    Idris said the results from the two laboratories showed high bacterial content in the water samples from the kitchen, behind dining hall and Queen’s Delight, the school’s water factory.

    The bacteria range from Coliforms, Escherichia Coli, Salmonella, Klebsiella Ozoana and Aeromonas Hydrophila.

    He said specimens collected from 40 kitchen staff revealed cysts of Entamoeba Histolytica were isolated in the stool of 23 food handlers, Salmonella Paratyphi, the causative agent of Typhoid fever, was also isolated from three food handlers.

    “All these imply a common source (continuous) outbreak showing repeated or continuous infection from exposure to the infectious agent.

    “Findings from the investigation were consistent with Enteric Fever.

    “The infection was most likely spread through contaminated water sources and infection by good handlers,” said Idris.

    He said it is pertinent to once more enlighten the public on good, water-borne, sanitation and hygiene related diseases.

    “We advise that the resumption be delayed till appropriate measures have been put in place for the pupils’ safety.”

  • Lagos council poll: ‘We ‘ll resist imposition of candidates’

    Lagos council poll: ‘We ‘ll resist imposition of candidates’

    All Progressives Congress (APC) members in Lagos State hace urged the party leadership to conduct free and fair primaries for chairmanship and councillorship aspirants to avoid defeat at the local government polls.

    They urged the party chairman, Otunba Oladesle Ajomale, to provide a level playing ground for aspirants during the shadow polls.

    Aggrieved party members from Ojodu Council chapter complained to reporters in Lagos certain leaders were planning to impose their cronies as chairmanship and councillorship candidates, warning that the move could spell doom for the platform.

    There was pandemonium at the meeting of the chapter, following protests by members who alleged plans by some leaders to impose candidates, instead of conducting a credible primary.

    In the fraca, the protesters molested the Chairman of the party in the area, Hon. Kelvin Ajakaye, and other leaders. Also, the secretariat of the party was vandalised by party youths. A party chieftain said: “The meeting of the party ended in chaos. The secretariat was attacked by the protestersThe evidence were broken windows, damaged chairs and electronics. Apart from the destruction of the property, some leaders sustained injuries during the free for all fight.”

    Party sources said the local government chairman of the party had called the meeting of stakeholders  to deliberate on the proposed elections.

    However, broke out when some leaders canvassed consensus option, instead of primary. Aggrieved party members who suspected a foul play complained that the leaders rooting for consensus were projecting a former chairman of the local government.

    A source said the crisis would have escalated, but for the prompt intervention of the Area G Police Command, which restored peace to the secretariat’

    The source added: “This may be a sign of what is likely to happen, if credible primaries are not conducted in the APC local government chapters. This is a local election. The APC should learn from the lesson of the past when candidates were imposed on the party. Even, the son of the state chairman lost to the candidate of the PDP in Isolo council in the last elections.

    “That is why we are appealing to the state chairman to give assurance that the selection process will be democratic and there will be no imposition of candidates. It is in the interest of the APC at the poll.”

     

  • Lagos, firm launch artisans’ portal

    Lagos State Government and Isabiwork Nigeria Limited have launched an online platform to promote artisans.

    The portal, isabiwork.ng, according to the company, came out of the desire to help project artisans’ work, connect them with customers and serve as a source for the services of artisans, such as carpenters, furniture makers, cobblers, electricians and fashion designers.

    Isabiwork Nigeria Limited Managing Director Mrs Oghenekevwe Omotosho told The Nation that the artisans would register with their phone numbers, business names, and proof of their handiwork. This company, she said, would help display their talents, which would culminate into referrals for them.

    Mrs Omotosho said the company has adopted measures to ensure that only credible artisans were captured.

    She said the platform would enable potential clients to have easy access to artisans in their localities.

    She said:  “We promise to always deal with only skilled efficient and reliable artisans after a thorough due diligence has been put in place as regards their credibility and expertise. There is a big gap between the artisans and their viable customers. We are also here to provide as much benefits as possible.”

    Through the government’s support, she said, the platform would also provide regular training for artisans to ensure that they are up to date with their work etiquette.

    “We have discovered that most of them lack good customer relations and time management. And some of them are half baked.  With the Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, we are going to train them,” she said.

    The platform currently has 2,000 artisans with group life insurance cover courtesy of the company.

    An artisan on the platform, Mr Kazeem Eletu, who is a member of the Nigerian Union of Tailors, Awoyaya Branch, said the portal has opened their eyes to benefits they never thought they could have.

    The effort, he said, would go a long way in growing the Micro Small-Medium Scale Enterprises (MSME).

    He said: “This platform has exposed us to benefits that we thought were only exclusive to those in government work. Now we know that we can insure our lives and future as artisans. And we can also save for the future. The platform has also organised trainings for us that have opened our eyes to how we can relate better with customers.”

  • Indians woo Lagos residents to free diabetes tests

    The president of the Indian Cultural Association in Lagos, Chief Sanjay Jain, on Thursday enjoined Lagos residents to avail themselves of the association’s Free Diabetes Tests.

    Jain told journalists at a briefing in Lagos that the association and the Bhojraj Chanrai Foundation had jointly imported a technology, worth about $40,000 to aid early detection of diabetes in Nigerians.

    The association’s president advised interested Lagos residents to feel free and come for the “free of charge” Diabetes Test, scheduled to hold from Saturday, March 18 to Saturday, March 25, 2017.

    “We are using this opportunity to invite Lagos residents and Nigerians in Lagos, to our free diabetes testing camps in Lagos. It is going to be completely free for all  people that would come.

    “On these two Saturdays, we going to open up Free Diabetes Testing Camps at our centre at No. 2, Capa Avenue, Palmgrove Estate, Ilupeju, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.,” he said.

    According to him, the association has found out that type 2 Diabetes is currently the most common with Nigerians, with more than six million Nigerians being exposed to the ailment.

    He also said that medical findings had reported that Nigeria currently had the highest mortality rate from diabetes.

    Jain said that the association and the company were worried at the number of Nigerian lives that had been lost to the manageable disease.

    The president said that the Indians had discovered that the high mortality rate from diabetes in Nigeria was due to improper diagnosis and the expensive nature of its management.

    He said that with the new technology, it would become easier and more accessible for more people to be diagnosed and be counseled  on how best to manage diabetes free of charge.

    Jain said that the benefits of the new system include early detection, no drawing of blood, quick test within 6 seconds, no fasting or pre-conditioning, different from the traditional diagnostic methods and immediate test results.

    He said that the association had over the years been involved in the free provision  of water facilities to schools, artificial limbs, eye surgeries, maintenance of Old People’s Homes and police/community relationships.

  • ACBF approves $1.4m for finance capacity-building in West Africa

    The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), an agency of African Union (AU) has approved a grant of $1.4 million for the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management to help it improve the training of financial and economic professionals in Nigeria and West Africa.

    “The grant will help the Institute to train a new cadre of experts locally, thereby saving the amount previously spent on sending them overseas,” ACBF’s Executive Secretary Prof. Emmanuel Nnadozie said in Abuja recently.

    The grant will also enable WAIFEM to conduct research in critical areas, including infrastructure and trade financing,” he said.

    The latest assistance brings to $8.4 million the total amount WAIFEM has received from ACBF since 2005, the Executive Secretary said.

    For more than 10 years, ACBF has supported WAIFEM in training more than 1,000 officials from West African central banks, ministries of finance and planning and private sector organisations. It has equally assisted it to establish a video conferencing and training facility to expand access to the Institute’s programmes.

    Based in Lagos, WAIFEM partners with major global bodies such as the World Bank, IMF and other regional organisations to deliver quality education to Nigerians and other West African nationals.

    Established in 1991, ACBF builds human and institutional capacity for good governance and economic development in Africa.

    To date, the foundation has empowered people in governments, parliaments, civil society, private sector and higher education institutions in more than 45 countries and six regional economic communities.

    ACBF supports capacity development with grants, technical assistance and knowledge across Africa. The establishment of ACBF was in response to the severity of Africa’s capacity needs, and the challenges of investing in indigenous human capital and institutions in Africa.

    ACBF interventions are premised on four principles: the centrality of capacity to the development process in Africa; the critical role of a partnership and demand-driven approach in tackling capacity challenges; African ownership and leadership in the capacity development process; and a systematic, sequenced and coordinated approach to the capacity development process.

     

     

  • Beware of dog bites, Lagos warns

    Beware of dog bites, Lagos warns

    The Lagos State Ministry of Health has warned that the public should be wary of rabies, especially in dogs.
    Pet owners, especially dogs  were asked  to get them vaccinated – The first dose at three months, booster dose at one year; and subsequently every three years.
    It also warned that all cases of dog bites must be reported, investigated and the victim adequately treated.
    The Commissioner of Health, Lagos State Dr Jide Idris gave the warning  on Thursday while announcing cases of rabies that were admitted at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba.
    Dr Idris said two cases of rabies happened within two weeks and both were admitted at LUTH.
    He said: “The first case was that of a 49 year old male living at Igbogbo in Ikorodu. He was bitten by his three months old dog that was earlier bitten by a new dog he bought six weeks before the incident. The two dogs were observed to be behaving abnormally and then killed. The patient was admitted at LUTH on the 8th of this month and died within a few hours of admission.
    “The second case was that of a 33-year-old male living in Ajara Badagry. The patient presented at LUTH on March Nineth with a history of restlessness, agitation, hydrophobia and aerophobia. The patient was given Tetanus Toxoid after the bite and the dog was killed. The patient died on the 13th of this month.”
    Dr Idris said it is good to educate the public that rabies is a disease caused by the rabies virus of the Lyssa genus but it is is a vaccine preventable viral disease which occurs in more than 150 countries.
    Rabies is one of the 17 major neglected tropical diseases and it occurs mainly in the poor vulnerable populations whose deaths are rarely reported and where human vaccines and immunogbobulin are not readily available or accessible.
    It is 99.9 percent fatal. Children between the ages of five and fourteen are very vulnerable to dying of rabies because of their frequent interactions with dogs and their small size.
    “People are usually infected following a deep bite or scratch by an infected animal. More than 99 percent of human rabies is caused by dog bites while other mammals such as bats, foxes and raccoons can transmit rabies to humans. It affects the central nervous system and is transmitted through the saliva and nervous tissue of an infected animal,” Dr Idris stated.
    He said once a dog bites anybody First aid measure should be administered.
    The first treatment involves immediate and thorough flushing and washing of the wound for a minimum of 15 minutes with soap and water, detergent, providone iodine or other substances that kill the rabies virus. 
    “Post-exposure prophylaxix (PEP) vaccines should be given to the victim on 0, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days of the incidence at a registered health facility which are given,” Dr Idris said.
  • Lagos urges Queens College to delay resumption

    Lagos urges Queens College to delay resumption

    The Lagos State Government has recommended that Queen College delays its resumption till appropriate measures are taken to ensure the safety of the students.
    According to the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, the recommendation is necessary to ensure that all the sources of contaminants in the school which had been causing the death of students are properly handled.
     Idris said the source of the problem is contaminated water.
    “Water samples from six sources in the school premises were collected and analysed at Drug Quality Control Laboratory of Lagos State Ministry of Health at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja. Another water samples from 10 sources were also collected and analysed at the Microbiology Department of LUTH, Idi-Araba.”
    The commissioner said the results from the two laboratories showed high bacterial content in the water samples from the kitchen, behind dining hall and Queen’s delight, the school water factory. The bacteria range from Coliforms, Escherichia Coli, Salmonella, Klebsiella ozoana and Aeromonas hydrophila.
    He said specimens collected from 40 kitchen staff revealed cysts of Entamoeba histolytica were isolated in the stool of 23 food handlers, Salmonella Paratyphi, the causative agent of Typhoid Fever, was also isolated from three food handlers.
    ” All these out together implies a common source (continuous) outbreak showing repeated or continuous infection from exposure to the infectious agent. Findings from the investigation were consistent with Enteric Fever. The infection was most likely spread through contaminated water sources and infection by food handlers,” Idris. said
    He said it is pertinent to once more enlighten the public on food, water-borne, sanitation and hygiene related diseases.

  • Man bags 2 years imprisonment for stealing phone

    An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday sentenced a 20-year-old man, Hassan Badmus, to two years imprisonment for stealing a mobile phone valued at N85,000.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs B.O. Osunsanmi, did not give Badmus an option of fine.

    She held that the accused was guilty of a two-count charge of stealing and burglary levelled against him.

    The chief magistrate sentenced the accused to one year imprisonment on each of the counts.

    She hoped that the sentence would serve as a deterrent to criminal acts.

    The accused who resides at Badagry, Lagos, was arraigned on Feb. 22.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Simeon Inuoha, had told the court that he burgled the residence of Mr Chibuike Okonkwo and stole his Samsung phone valued at N85,000.
    Inuoha said the accused was apprehended by security guards as he was about leaving the house.

    He said that the theft occurred on Jan. 26 on Agumaje Street, Badagry, adding that the offences contravened Sections 21, 285 and 305 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused had pleaded not guilty on arraignment, and was granted bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    He, however, could not meet the bail conditions and had been in prison custody until he was found guilty as charged.

  • Security guard docked over car theft

    A 31-year old security guard, Emmaunel Eche, charged with conspiracy and stealing, was on Tuesday arraigned at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

    Eche, who resides at Oke Ira area of Ogba, Lagos, was said to have stolen a car worth N650, 000, property of Mrs. Lucy Bissong, a resident of the estate where he works as a guard.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Raji Akeem, told the court that Eche conspired with others now at large to steal the car.

    Akeem said that the offences were committed on Feb. 20, 2017 at Anipupo Street, Oke Ira, Ogba, Lagos.

    According to him, Bissong parked the car outside her compound in the estate at about 6.30 p.m., but woke up next morning to discover that the car had been stolen.

    He said that Eche denied seeing anybody driving out Bissong’s car through the estate gate.

    The prosecutor told the court that Bissong consequently reported the case to the police and Eche was arrested as suspect in the alleged theft.

    He said that the offences contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The Magistrate, Mr. T.O. Shomade, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N700, 000, with two sureties in like sum.

    Shomade ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed and should show evidence of two year’s tax payment to Lagos State Government.

    He adjourned the case till March 20.

     

  • Man in court for disrupting church service, damaging N5m property

    A 49-year-old man, Abiodun Adeyinka, who allegedly damaged  property worth N5 million belonging to the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), on Monday appeared before an Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    Adeyinka is facing a six-count charge bordering on malicious damage, conspiracy, unlawful assault and manner likely to cause breach of peace.

    The accused, however, pleaded innocence to the charge.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Cousin Adams, said that the accused committed the offences on Jan. 3, 2016, at noon, at No. 64, Adekunle Banjo St., Magodo, Lagos.

    He said that the accused forcibly entered into a Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) building located at the address during worship.

    Adams said the accused caused panic among the worshippers before damaging the church property.

    He said the damaged property were Jazz musical instrument, Konga drum, piano, five wireless microphones, six pieces of altar clothes, assorted church perfumes, wedding gowns and sacred pictures of Mary and Jesus.

    The prosecutor said that the accused also assaulted the presiding head of the church and tore her church garment.

    He said the offences contravened Sections 50, 126, 166, 170, 309 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Helen Omisore, admitted the accused to a bail of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Omisore said the sureties must be gainfully employed and show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    She adjourned the case till April 10, for further hearing.