The Nation Newspaper

Tag: lagos

  • StanChart opens more smart branches in Lagos

    Today Standard Chartered has opened the fourth in a series of 10 smart branches to be opened in Lagos by the end of June this year.

    The latest smart branch is located in the Maryland Shopping Mall to support local growing businesses and Ikeja, the business district area of Lagos State.

    The smart branches compliment the bank’s ongoing investment into digital infrastructure, while aligning with its focus on supporting the rapid expansion of key cities across its global footprint in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

    Through its recently launched ‘Here for Africa’ campaign, Standard Chartered has reiterated its commitment to the continent and ongoing investment strategy, with Nigeria a key focus for expansion. One of the eight fastest-growing cities in Africa, Lagos generates 25 per cent of Nigeria’s total gross domestic product

    Attending the branch opening in Lagos, Jaydeep Gupta Regional Head, Retail Banking, Africa and Middle East (AME) reiterated, “Africa continues to benefit from the Group’s decision to invest $3 billion over three years in digital channels and systems, enhancing our strategic focus, customer experience and security.

    “We’re excited about the opportunities in Nigeria, and Africa as a whole.  We’re investing to bring the best in banking through our digital channels, as well as giving clients the choice of coming to a user-friendly branch when they want advice and a more personal touch.”

    Jaydeep Gupta opened the new branch alongside Executive Director of Finance for the Bank in Nigeria Yemi Owolabi and the Bank’s Head of Retail Banking for Nigeria, Ebehijie Momoh.  Maryland Shopping Mall Branch is a compact ‘smart branch’, incorporating digital elements such as iPads and free wifi, as well as on-hand experts to help customers maximise the advantages offered by the Bank’s enhanced digital channels.

    Executive Director, Finance for Nigeria, Yemi Owolabi, commented, “Our Retail Banking business in Nigeria has been growing from strength to strength.  Thanks to the support from Government and the Nigerian people, we will continue to invest in our capabilities to deliver increasingly efficient, cost effective and accessible banking for all our customers.  With these additional branches, we aim to extend the reach and accessibility of banking, while freeing up our clients’ time to focus on their personal priorities.”

    Head of Retail Banking for Nigeria, Ebehijie Momoh, commented, “We are aligning with our global retail strategy to streamline our business operations, and build scale in Lagos –  one of our African cities identified for growth, and already benefiting from the Bank’s global platforms, digital innovations and market leading online and mobile channels.

  • Work begins on Lagos model school

    With the turning of the sod for a new model school building at Awori College, Ojo on Friday, last week, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State kick started the construction of what promises to be a state-of-the-art facility.

    Ambode, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, said on completion, the building, which would have 36 classrooms, 12 laboratories, offices, library and multipurpose hall, staff rooms, principal/vice principal’s offices and modern toilet facilities, would compete with the best high schools in other parts of the world.

    The school, which sits on a land area of 16,172 square metres, would also boast of a football pitch, basketball and tennis courts, as well as car parks that can accommodate 42 cars.

    Ambode said his administration’s efforts were geared towards ensuring that all learners, irrespective of their socio-economic background, accessed quality education to boost self-reliance and enhance their productivity.

    “I wish to assure our students that our commitment is to build for you a future of great opportunities, possibilities and prosperity through the provision of qualitative education that is consistent with the demands of the 21st century. I therefore enjoin you to fully embrace this opportunity by showing serious commitment to your studies and shun all negative values that will not make you realise your dreams,” he said.

    Ambode also expressed joy about the improved performance of public school pupils as a result of the government’s investment.

    “I am happy to note that the results of these efforts are becoming manifest in the improved performance of public school students, particularly in the last West African Senior School Certificate Examination. This development is most assuring and a measure of what to expect when the various performance-enhancing programmes being put in place are fully implemented,” he said.

    In her welcome speech, as the Commissioner for Education, read by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr Adesina Odeyemi, Dr Adebule shed more light on the results of the government’s investment in education.

    She said: “Within the spate of one year of our administration, 22,233 out of 44,108 presented for the 2016 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) passed with at least five credits including English and Mathematics against the 15,542 out of 41,697 who passed with the same grade in 2015.”

    Dr. Adebule added that Lagos State public schools emerged the overall best in the 2016 Robotics Competition and would represent Nigeria at the World Robot Olympiad in New Delhi, India; while its Science Competition team was the overall “Best State Team” at last year’s National Festivals of School Science Competition, and represented Nigeria at the International Science Exhibition Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix, Arizona, United States last May.

     

  • Lagos workers get leadership training

    The Lagos State Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr Benson Akintola has tasked public service officers to be visionary leaders.

    He said this during the opening of a three-day leadership and business communication training for selected officers of the State’s public service.

    Akintola said: “Only strong and trained leaders can envision the right and appropriate future for organisations. Where leaders do not possess the attitude, aptitude and skills that are relevant for the times, they become fundamentally flawed in any attempt to craft a beneficial and compelling vision for their organisations.”

    He called on the officers to develop excellent communication, listening, among other skills, to inspire their followers to build excellent institutions in the public service.

    “I agree with the facilitators of this training that an effective leader must be able to act as a communication champion and a sense giver rather than just as an information processor; must be able to use key elements of effective listening; utilize candor to appropriately improve communication effectiveness and recognize and apply the difference between dialogue and discussion; be equipped to incorporate metaphor and storytelling into leadership communications; select an appropriate communication channel for the message and effectively use social media and non-verbal communication. Furthermore, and perhaps, most essentially, he or she must be able to effectively communicate during times of stress or crisis,” Dr Akintola noted.

    He was optimistic that Dr Olaniran Fafowora and Mrs Shade Odebiyi, who led the facilitation of the training, would adequately coach the workers.

    “At the end of the day, our primary duty, as public servants, is to deliver value for the people of this state. His Excellency, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is passionately dedicated to this purpose. The Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions under my leadership is irreversibly dedicated to enlarging and expanding the scope of trainings for the people who can help deliver this value and I call on you all to open your hearts and minds to learn the skills that are vital and indispensable for this purpose,” he said.

  • That Lagos may be clean

    One striking feature of a capital city in any developed country is cleanliness. Most of the capital cities are very clean and this announces to visitors that they are in a capital city. No heap of refuse, no abandoned broken down vehicles, no abandoned bloated dead bodies on the road and no suicide beggars competing with moving vehicles and almost threatening to harm a motorist who fails to give out alms.

    Unfortunately, this could not be said of Lagos which used to be the nation’s capital and which remains the capital of Lagos State that international visitors must see on arrival in Nigeria after landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

    Other international capital cities such as London, Washington, Oslo, Dublin, Paris etc. are a beauty to behold because of their sparkling clean environment. The question then remains, how did these capital cities attain their cleanliness? The answer is simply that governments in those countries pay attention to personal hygiene and have a very effective waste disposal system right from individual households.

    While the efforts of the past and present administrations in Lagos State to keep Lagos clean in accordance with internal best practices in waste disposal should not be lost, much still needed to be done to attain the level of cleanliness as obtained in other developed capital cities across the world. There is no gain saying the fact that the Ambode administration in Lagos State has made giant strides in achieving the Lagos of our dream, in terms of a cleaner megacity that is not only environmentally clean, but a commercial hub that offers prosperity to everyone. It is in this sense that the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) was established as an extensive and sustainable waste management system for Lagos.

    This new waste management regime, (CLI) will create about 45,000 new jobs. The new waste management policy apart from creating the enabling environment for the private sector to harness international best practices, will also address the existing challenges in solid waste management in the state. The CLI will engage about 25,000 community sanitation workers who will work as street sweepers and they will reside in their wards so that they won’t have to spend so much money on transport to and from work.

    Besides, they will be well-trained with an attractive welfare package. The sanitation workers will be well-kitted with decent uniforms, gloves, boots, pickers, brushes, carts as well as mobile phones with which to communicate with the control centre and they will be well remunerated. This is no doubt a mass employment scheme that would take many unemployed youths off the street and with the propensity to generate additional indirect 500,000 jobs from its value chain. This will also be a boost on the economy of Lagos State.

    CLI is well tailored towards maximizing the state’s potential in solid waste management that would provide permanent solution to waste recycling, recovery and waste reduction challenges that have dimmed the shine of the state for decades, and offer innovative approach to liquid waste management, drainage management and waste water treatment in the State.

    It is therefore obvious that this new sanitation policy if properly executed, will most likely achieve in one year, what the cancelled monthly environmental sanitation could not achieve in the last 30 years. The new sanitation workers will take cleaning as a serious business such that residents would only take care of their abodes and surroundings as a complementary service. It is going to be a departure from the cancelled monthly environmental sanitation which many Lagosians saw as forced labour.

    The Cleaner Lagos Initiative scheme was informed by the need to correct the flaws in existing waste management system and to introduce modern technology into the management of solid waste. A new law to back the current waste management regime is in the offing and this will allow big time players in the waste management sector to do business with the government.

    Residents will still pay what they are paying presently to Private Sector Partnership (PSP) on waste management with the new name of (Public Utility Levy) part of which goes into an Environment Trust Fund.  The difference is that they will get more value for their money in terms of effective waste management system that would ensure government’s objective of a cleaner Lagos. The scope of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) shall be expanded to enable it enforce, regulate and generate revenue from the waste management process while the new policy will protect the environment, human health and social living standards of Lagos residents.

    Also, the need for the new initiative is a confirmation that the current waste management system has failed due to many obstacles which goes to show that it is high time the government re-strategised to ensure a cleaner Lagos which make the new environmental sanitation policy a welcome idea.

    The new sanitation policy will address the current problem of irregular waste collection which leads to irregular and poor payments, bin placement, transfer loading stations, and other supporting infrastructure that have been ignored while undue attention has been placed on waste collection only. In addition, LAWMA in its role as regulator/operator is overwhelmed by the responsibilities of having to coordinate the activities of 350 individual companies and still carry out its own collection services. The billing system is unduly complicated due to the differences and inconsistencies in charges and collection routes, therefore leaving the billing system open to manipulation and fraud while many individual operators have failed to fulfil their obligations on the trucks.

    One cheering news is that the current poor waste management situation shall be addressed holistically using modern technology. For example,  apart from the transformation of the existing Transfer Loading Station (TLS) and the introduction of no less than 25 Material Revolving Facility (MRF) where wastes will be sorted, 600 new compactor vehicles will be acquired, and waste dumpsites will be closed and replaced with engineered sanitary landfill sites.

    The planned shutdown of dumpsites such as the Ojota and Solus dumpsites which has become an eyesore and a threat to health of residents of those areas is a big relief. Dumpsites are dangerous to health and the environment. The leachate and gas to be recovered from the proposed sanitary landfills will be put to good use.

    In the plan, Olusosun dumpsite will be regenerated and turned into a park, where intercity buses will end their journey and would no longer be allowed to enter into the city. Passengers will from there take taxis and intra-city buses to their destinations in town. Emphasis will henceforth be on zero-dumping, recycling and generation of power from wastes. To achieve this, government will carry out a re-certification of all the 350 PSP operators, re-license them and audit the state of their compactors and there will be a control room where the tracked compactors shall be monitored.

    It also pertinent at this juncture to allay the fears of the present PSP operators that government has no intention of sending them away, but will only re-certify their vehicles and make them comply with the new rules and regulation towards ensuring cleaner Lagos befitting the status of a mega city. This should be supported by all without prejudice.

    The restructuring will benefit PSPs because the new environmental policies and laws will not only protect the citizens and the environment, but all waste management operators who painstakingly invest their resources into helping with the clean-up of Lagos.

    The investment in the waste management will ensure that all commercial entities have a valid contract with a registered operator; these contracts will prove to be a valuable component for any serious-minded operator with sustainable plans for growth.

    The restructuring will make new provisions that protect the interests of existing investments by requiring all commercial entities to have a valid and enforceable contract with a registered operator.

    It is also heart-warming to know that five new power stations, one in each division in the state, will be built to generate power from wastes, and the numerous dumpsites dotting parts of the state will soon be a thing of the past.

    Going by what the Ambode administration has done so far since its assumption of office over a year ago, Lagosians have confidence in the ability of the government to deliver on promises like it did in a couple of other areas like infrastructure and security. If Lagos must truly attain its status of a mega city, it must be as clean as any of the capital cities earlier mentioned and that is why the Clean Lagos Initiative is the appropriate Special Purpose Vehicle towards achieving this. Let all stakeholders support this bold move. Lagos must be clean!

     

    • Akintunde, a policy analyst wrote from Karimu, Surulere, Lagos.

     

  • Lagos launches IBILE Youth Academy

    Lagos launches IBILE Youth Academy

    The Lagos State government yesterday launched IBILE Youth Academy, an initiative designed to inculcate youths with the virtues of citizenship, leadership and volunteerism for the development of their personality, society, state and the nation.
    Speaking at the launch organised by the Ministry of Youth and
    Social Development, Deputy Governor Idiat Adebule said the project would ensure youths are not left behind.
    She urged youths to “commit to the programme and you will benefit a lot from it for development and leadership skills among others”.
    Commissioner for Youth and Social Development Mrs Akinbile Yusuf said the project would be annual.
    She said the collection of forms for the training will begin today and must be submitted personally by intending participants on or before February 24 at the designated centres.
    She added that only successful candidates will be contacted through text message.
    She said the forms are also available online via www.mysd.lg.gov.ng.

  • Lagos joins 100 resilient cities club

    Lagos joins 100 resilient cities club

    Lagos State has been initiated into the network of 100 Resilient Cities (100RC), a brain child of the RockFeller Foundation.
    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday received the state’s certificate of admission into the group from its President, Mr Michael Berkowitz.
    Ambode said cities should capitalise and exploit their massive opportunities, rather than dwell on their challenges.
    The governor said despite its challenges, the state remained resilient and ever progressive.
    “You may want to ask how we have coped in the face of these challenges. The answer is simple; innovation, determination and resilience,” he said.
    Ambode said the state’s admission into the network was a right step as resilience had always been part of the Lagos story.
    “Being a part of the network of 100RC comes at a good time when our state is hoping to join the leading city-states of the world. We are open to new ideas, new technology and new methods,” he said.
    The governor said membership of the network would be beneficial to the state, noting that it would offer more opportunities to access investments and partnerships that would foster massive infrastructure development in the next couple of years.
    Commissioner for Finance, Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Akinyemi Ashade, described the development as a signpost of a new dawn for the state.
    This, he said, would enable the state adapt to some of the risks and shocks it might be exposed to, and effectively overcome them.
    Ashade explained that the feat would complement the Ambode administration’s vision to make Lagos Africa’s model mega city of choice.
    Berkowitz, who gave an insight into why Lagos was selected, said it was chosen for its innovative leadership, infrastructural strides and influential status, not just in Africa, but in the world.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ambode signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Mayor of Paynesville, Liberia, Mrs Cyvette Gibson to facilitate information sharing around resilience in both cities to foster economic development.
    The 100RC, pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation, is dedicated to helping cities around the world become more resilient to the physical, social and economic challenges that are a growing part of the 21st century.
    It supports the adoption and incorporation of a view of resilience that includes not just the shocks—earthquakes, fires, floods, etc.—but also the stresses that weaken the fabric of daily or cyclicaly.
    Examples of these stresses include high unemployment; an overtaxed or inefficient public transportation system; endemic violence; or chronic food and water shortages.
    By addressing the shocks and the stresses, a city becomes more able to respond to adversities, and is better able to deliver basic functions in good and bad times to the people.

  • Lagos CP decries state of National Theatre

    Lagos CP decries state of National Theatre

    The National Theatre Lagos drew the concern of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni who lamented the state of the edifice during a recent visit.

    “How could they have left this bush to grow like this? Is there no one responsible for this place?

    “I expect that they should know that not clearing a bush like this exposes residents to security risks, as hoodlums can capitalise on the situation to dispossess residents and passersby of their valuables,” said the Police chief.

    Owoseni, who was not on a planned visit, then sought the attention of those in charge of the edifice.

    The situation is also worrisome for commuters and residents who ply the access road daily. Some of them said “the area has now become a security risk and a clear danger to lives and property in the neighbourhood.”

    A resident who spoke with The Nation, said: “there is still need to light up the whole area and the overgrown weeds should be cut.

    “Most of the Area Boys around now use the place as toilet at night. Everywhere smells during the day. As you can see that it is now a thick bush which doesn’t befit this place apart from the hazard it poses to the residents.

    “For government to sanitise the place, let them start by securing the place because there are fears that the people go through the place at their own risk except the issue of security is taken care of.

    Meanwhile, indications emerged recently that the National Theatre, which used to be the premium entertainment hub will return to its past glory, as the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government have agreed to give the edifice a facelift.

    The Nation reported recently that the Minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed is midwifing the process of partnership between the two governments on the renovation of the national edifice.

    Speaking after an inspection tour of the theatre in Lagos on January 28, 2017, ahead of the renovation, Alhaji Mohammed described the facility as a valuable national asset that cannot be allowed to become derelict.

    “We are here today to take physical stock of what the Lagos State Government has offered to help us with – that is the rehabilitation of the National Theatre,” he said, adding that “The National Theatre is an asset we can boast of, and what we need to do is to bring it back to a working condition.’’

    The minister promised that after the renovation, the national edifice will not be allowed to go into a state of disrepair again.

  • Lagos needs $30b for 30 capital projects in five years

    Lagos needs $30b for 30 capital projects in five years

    •Inaugurates economic team

    Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode has said the state requires $30 billion to execute 30 capital projects in the next five years.
    The governor said this yesterday at the inauguration of a 12-member Economic Advisory Committee at the Lagos House, Ikeja.
    He said the projected figure represents about $6billion per annum, whereas the provision for capital projects in the 2017 budget is pegged at N500 billion (about $1.6billion).
    The governor said the inauguration of the committee was important, considering that government alone cannot address the infrastructure deficit in the state.
    According to him, “If Lagos was a country and we are the fifth largest economy in Africa, then we have to start thinking about the number five.
    “In that regard, you must not think taxes or IGR, you must create some kind of platform that would allow some other people who are outside to tell us how to run a country in a state.
    “Let me crave your indulgence to present a picture of what we are confronted with. Our 2017 budget earmarked about N500 billion (about US$1.6 billion) as capital spending.
    “Whereas our recent infrastructure needs analysis shows that over $30 billion would be required to achieve the 30 most impactful projects for the state over the next five years.
    “It is evident that government cannot address this from current resources. A key task of this committee is therefore to provide specific advice on the overall finance strategy to bridge the massive infrastructure gap.
    “I am glad and privileged that nine competent and well respected Lagosians have accepted our request to serve in the committee,” he said.
    Highlighting some of the key functions expected of the Economic Advisory Team, Ambode said they would be expected to bring an independent perspective on economic and business issues with a primary role of offering advice to his administration under the four strategic 2012-2025 Lagos State Development Plan (LSDP) pillars of economic development; infrastructural development; social development and security as well as sustainable development.
    The governor said whilst the committee is independent and largely constituted by members from the private sector, the need for integration and collaboration to ensure that the views are taken on board necessitated in having three members of the State Executive Council, led by the Commissioner for Finance in the team.
    He expressed optimism that the team would further expand his administration’s all-inclusive governance mantra and achieve the key objective of getting independent views on economic and business issues in delivering the mandate to the people.
    Ambode inaugurated renowned economist Olabode Agusto as Chairman. Commissioners for Finance Akinyemi Ashade; Energy and Mineral Resources Olawale Oluwo and Commerce Rotimi Ogunleye are members.
    Other members include former Skye Bank Managing Director Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti; Former Country Senior Partner, PwC, Kenneth Igbokwe; Founder/CEO Bestman Games Ltd Mrs. Nimi Akinkugbe; Managing Partner, Dalmeida, Ogunlana & Co, Mrs. Adenike Ogunlana; Managing Director, Vetiva Capital, Dr. Laolu Mudashiru; former Minister of Science & Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson; Deputy Managing Director, Wema Bank Plc, Mr. Moruf Oseni and Mrs Yetunde Akinloye who doubles as secretary.
    Agusto assured that they would work diligently and focus on the government’s priorities aimed at making life more comfortable for Lagosians.

  • #IStandWithNigeria Abuja protesters reach Villa gate

    #IStandWithNigeria Abuja protesters reach Villa gate

    Despite the pull out of hip-hop musician, Innocent Idibia, known as Tuface from the One Voice Nigeria protest against the federal government, various groups took to the streets in Lagos and Abuja on Monday.


    Abj Protest 1

    Abj Protest

    Protest 3

    The conveners of the protest, Coalition of young Nigerians promoting good governance and citizen engagement, tweeted: “It is not about where you are from or your religion. We are first Nigerians before anything else that defines us!”

    Protest 4

     

     

    Protest

     

    Protest 1

     

    Protest 2

     

     

     

  • Remains of late Rivers CP arrives Lagos

    The remains of the late Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr Francis Odesanya, on Saturday arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Odesanya died on Jan. 31 in India where he had gone for medicare.

    The remains of the late police chief arrived aboard an Emirates Airline aircraft at about 4.30pm.

    It was received by the the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, the Lagos Airport Police Commissioner, Mrs Victory Menta, and the consignee,  Dr Adegboyega Oke.

    Spokesman of the Lagos Airport Police Command, DSP Joseph Alabi, confirmed to NAN that the remains of the deceased was later deposited at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) , Ikeja.

    The late Odesanya joined the Nigeria Police Force on Feb.2, 1986 as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent

    He assumed office as the 37th Police Commissioner in the state on July 28, 2016, taking over from DIG Folunso Adebanjo.(NAN)