The Nation Newspaper

Tag: lagos

  • Lagos to cater for abused girl

    The Lagos State Government may has decided to take over the welfare of the five-year-old girl, allegedly assaulted by her father at Ikotun, a Lagos suburb.

    According to Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP), the father, Surakat Idowu, 46, will be arraigned in court today.

    According to her, the Ministry of Youth and Social Development has indicated interest to be responsible for the child’s upkeep, who was still receiving treatment at the hospital.

    “The child is still recovering in the hospital. The suspect will be arraigned in court on Monday (today). The Lagos State government through its domestic and sexual response team of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development has shown interest in taking over the child,” she said.

    Idowu, a resident of 8, Kayode Toyoso Street, Off Liasu Road in Ikotun was nabbed after his neighbour reported a case of battery of the toddler to the police.

    He was alleged to have burnt the toddler with hot iron on her face and private part after the victim slipped and poured the waste meant for the latrine into the gutter.

  • Pickpocket leader, 21 others arrested in Lagos

    Pickpocket leader, 21 others arrested in Lagos

    The operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of Lagos State Police Command, have reportedly arrested a self-acclaimed Chairman of pickpockets in Oshodi, Lagos, Ibrahim Kasali, and 20 other suspects alleged to be involved in stealing and robbing innocent members of public in the area.
    During the arrest in the early hours of last Friday in Mosafejo, Bolade, Oshodi Oke, and Oshodi Under Bridge, hoodlums and social miscreants waiting for early rush to pickpocket passers-by and passengers were nabbed.
    The lead suspect who is popularly known as Ibrahim Babangida of Oshodi, was arrested while being chased by passengers of a bus which he boarded to pickpocket.
    It was gathered that Kasali is feared by his colleagues for his ruthlessness and popularity. “Some of his colleagues earlier arrested gave him out as their leader, and that he is the one that goes around to collect items stolen or snatched from passers-by to sell and share the proceeds to all of them,” our source added.
    Kasali, the source noted has been to prison four times while one of his accomplices also arrested, Ibrahim Yusuph, 18, from Ogun State, was just out of prison for the eighth time.
    According to the RRS, upon completion of preliminary screening, four out of 21 arrested suspects, who could provide satisfactory information about their identity, were released.
    Amongst the suspects arrested were, Bello Fatai, Oladimeji Ajisafe, Hassan Adeyemi, Jubril Olamilekan and Babalola Ahmed. Others were, Junior Vincent, Rilwan Oyinsola, Sadiq Taofeek, Kazeem Taiwo, Mutiu Rasheed, Ayodele Adeeko and Sola Omonije.
    While confirming the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Superintendent of Police, Dolapo Badmus, re-assured people of Lagos, of maximum security in place in the state, adding that the suspects would face the full wrath of law.
    The suspects have been transferred to the Lagos State Taskforce on Environment for prosecution.

  • TIFF: NIGERIA’S TURN, LAGOS’ DANCE

    2015 was particularly a strong year for Africa and Palestine at the annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), with films from Ethiopia, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and South Africa. A few titles also made their world premieres alongside films that launched their career in the Berlinale, Cannes and Venice. But South Africa hit the spotlight with six films, the most from a single African country that year – Nigeria had none. In fact, I was perhaps the only Nigerian at TIFF last year, save for Jude Idada, a screen writer and Lonzo Nzekwe, film director: two Nigerians based in Toronto.

    Although ‘Best of No Nation’ was the biggest film that defined Africa at the festival that year, it was promoted as an American film.

    This fall, Cameron Bailey, the Artistic Director of TIFF has programmed the selection from Africa and the Middle East. And it`s going to be an exciting year with a special spotlight on Lagos, Nigeria. To this end, eight films have been curated by Bailey. They include ’76’ by Izu Ojukwu; ’93 Days’ by Steve Gukas; ‘Green White Green’ by Abba Makama; ‘Just Not Married’ by Uduak-Obong Patrick; ‘Okafor’s Law’ by Omoni Oboli; ‘Oko Ashewo’ (Taxi Driver) by Daniel Emeke Oriahi and ‘The Wedding Party’ by Kemi Adetiba.

    But Nigeria’s outing is likely going to explode beyond the eight films to also include Kunle Afolayan’s latest flick, The CEO, which will enjoy a special industry screening. This is just as Afolayan will share the stage with sultry actress, Genevieve Nnaji and six other internationally celebrated special guests such as Hiam Abbass, Sônia Braga, Isabelle Huppert, Karan Johar, Mark Wahlberg, and Zhang Ziyi.

    Tagged “In Conversation With…”, this onstage conversation will explore Genevieve Nnaji and Kunle Afolayan’s inspiring stories, illuminating the complex dynamics behind Nollywood’s rise to prominence at home and all over the world. This is just as Lagos-born actor, singer and winner of the 2006 Amstel Malta Box Office reality TV show, OC Ukeje, alongside model and fashion executive, Somkele Iyamah-Idhalama are being identified by the festival as two fast-rising actors from Nigeria who are breaking the barriers of international collaboration.

    It is ironic how South Africa’s participation has dropped this year.

    In 2013, South Africa had six films at TIFF, including Mandela: Long walk to freedom, Khumba, iNumber Number, Of Good Report, Berea and Unogumbe (both short films). It was perhaps the first time that six local films have been selected at TIFF and all of them have not yet been released on cinema except for ‘Of Good Report’, which was on circuit at that time.

    Last year, South Africa rolled out the drums again with five films. The five were Oliver Hermanus’s ‘Endless River’, Charlie Vundla’s ‘Cuckold’, Zamo Mkhwanazi’s ‘The Call’, Jihan El-Tahri’s ‘Nasser’ and Ben Russell’s ‘YOLO’.

    A 20-member South African delegation, led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), was also at TIFF to promote South Africa’s attractiveness as a film destination to filmmakers attending the festival, and to provide exposure to emerging South African filmmakers.

    According to DTI Deputy Minister Mzwandile Masina, the participation of South African filmmakers in TIFF was part of the DTI’s strategy to create access to local film and video products and promote an increase in the volume of film production in South Africa.

    From indications, it is likely going to be a Lagos State show at TIFF, with perhaps little of Federal Government’s involvement going by the lukewarm attitude of the agencies like the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) and National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), which could have put the Ministry of Information and Culture in the front seat of this landmark celebration.

     

  • FESTIVAL OF INDIA EXCITES LAGOS

    THE maiden edition of the Festival of India-Lagos, has come and gone leaving behind, memories of a far eastern culture.

    Made possible by Mr. Bolaji Rosiji-inspired Gaurapad Charities and other supporting brands that have Indian imprint, the festival showcased the large gathering of Indian community in the country in one colourful banner.

    Earlier in the day, a procession of three Carnival of Chariots had walked all the way from CMS to TBS, venue of the show; it had thousands of people in tow. And when the festival started late in the afternoon, Indian performers, mostly children and women, took to the stage and entertained the audience with the various musical and performance styles of the different regions of the largest democracy in the world. The festival also featured music and performances from Bengali, Gujurati and a host of others. The dances ranged from traditional to classical and were typical of Indian dances.

    The main dance motifs were the hand gestures in their various manipulations that ended with the fingers seeming to weave invisible threads in the air; there were also the waist twists, the hand-clapping, the back and forth circular dances, the back and forth leg thrusts and heads nodding in particular directions that the Indian compere swooned over as ‘very charming and exciting,’ which they were in their own fashion.

    Other acts that performed included gospel musician, Sammie Okposo.

  • AFRIMA JURY STORM LAGOS

    MEMBERS of the jury for the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, have arrived in Lagos, Nigeria and have commenced the adjudication exercise ahead of the nominee announcement which comes up today.

    The screening/nominee selection is scheduled to hold in Lagos State just as the city was last Monday, declared the host city for AFRIMA 2016 by the African Union.

    The 13-person International Jury of AFRIMA, which represents the five regions of Africa, the Diaspora and AUC, are: Kawesa Richard (Eastern Africa-Uganda), Delani Makhalima (Southern Africa-Zimbabwe), Christian Syren (Southern Africa-Southern Africa), Rita Ray (Diaspora-UK), Kiki Toure(Central Africa – Equatorial Guinea), Rab Bakari (Diaspora –USA), Oscar Kidjo (Western Africa-Benin Republic), Laolu Akintobi (Western Africa-Nigeria), Tabu Osusa (Eastern Africa-Kenya), Robert E. Ekukole (Central Africa-Cameroon), Angela Martins (African Union Rep.)   promises to uphold the AFRIMA’s value of FACEIT (Fairness,Authenticity,Creativity,Excellence,Integrity,Transparency).

    The entry submission process that was opened to artistes, music professionals and other stakeholders living on the continent and in the Diaspora, commenced on Monday May 30 and closed on July 30, 2016, realizing a total score of over 2,714 entries from music practitioners across the continent for this year’s edition of the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA.

    According to the organisers, the purpose for this 7-day screening exercise and nominee selection is to provide for well-deserving artistes and music professionals to emerge as winners ranging from the regional categories to the continental categories. The adjudication process, organisers say, will be concluded by the final announcement of the nominees’ list in all 34 categories.

    Following this, the adjudication process will be concluded by final announcement of the nominees’ list in all 34 categories. The 2016 edition of the award will take place on 4-6 November, 2016.

  • Lagos earmarks N15.5m for student entrepreneurs

    Lagos earmarks N15.5m for student entrepreneurs

    The Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, has approved  N15.5 million as seed funds and grants for final year students of Lagos State tertiary institutions enrolled in the Ready.Set.Work (RSW) entrepreneurship/employability training programme.

    The N15.5million will be distributed as working capital among the top three teams to emerge from the RSW Business Pitch Competition, scheduled to hold September 3, 2016.

    The competition will feature as curtains lower on the initiative, which exposed 500 final year students of the Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), and the Lagos State College of Health Technology to 13 weeks of employability and entrepreneurship training since June.

    Special Adviser to the governor on Education, Mr Obafela Bank-Olemoh said in a statement that about 80 of the best performing students in the entrepreneurship stream of the initiative would undergo three-six months’ apprenticeship learning from seasoned entrepreneurs on how to run successful businesses.

    This is in addition to 90 students from the employability stream who would be placed on six-month internships with such firms as PwC, SystemSpecs, FCMB, GTBank, Access Bank, TOTAL, Jobberman, and Stutern, among others.

    He said: “Our focus from the onset has been providing students in Lagos State with the tools, knowledge, and know-how to become effective employees or job creators. We already secured 90 internship slots for students in the employability track of the program and we realised that students in the entrepreneurship track could also benefit from experience in a structured, supervised work setting, where they can learn the rudiments of running a business effectively.”

  • NGO takes etiquette training to Lagos teens

    Teenage girls in public secondary schools in Lagos State Education District I, have benefitted from a four-week summer camp organised by a nongovernmental organization (NGO), Ornaments of Grace and Virtue (OGAV) in collaboration with the district.

    The girls were exposed to etiquette training at the Government College, Agege, for the duration.

    President of OGAV, Mrs Olubusola Kolade, said the camp, with the theme: “Etiquette,” featured career guidance, safety guidance, character education, life coaching as well as academic and leadership skills development.

    She said: “We decided to fill a gap that we have seen in the society and the need for girls to be properly brought up for them to succeed in life.  Eighty-five per cent of what is required in life’s journey is the social skills, while personal development and academic knowledge just form about 15 per cent.  So, we decided to go to schools, especially public schools, where some of these things are not readily taught and to nurture girls using holistic approach to become proper ladies in society and to impact in the community positively.”

    Being a holiday camp, Mrs Kolade said activities were organised to hold on Tuesdays and Fridays at the College.

    Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary (TGPS) of the district, Dr Olufolayimika Ayandele, advised the pupils at the opening ceremony, to listen and conduct themselves well during the camp.

    “You should always remember that character defines who you are and what you will be in future. This empowerment programme is meant to build your character and academic performance; teach you how to build yourself positively and how you relate to the economy and the society; and also how to overcome negative influences; to make the right decisions and be confident with truth; leadership skills and ethical behaviour,” she said.

    Some of the participants described their experience at the summer camp as worthwhile.

    Oluwademilade Ogo said: “I was enlightened more on sleeping, walking, eating, sitting and talking etiquette and I was taught how to dress outside school in order for people to respect me.”

  • Lagos dazzles with model projects

    Lagos dazzles with model projects

    Since emerging as the governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has turned the state to a huge construction site. From Oshodi to Agege to Abule Egba, Lekki and many others, one major project or the other is going on. ASSOCIATE EDITOR OLUKOREDE YISHAU x-rays the several actions taken by the administration in the last two weeks

    Lawrence Olawale lives in Ilupeju, Lagos Mainland. His mother stays in Agege, where he grew up. His love for his widowed mother forces him to go and see her at least once in a week.  If not for the mother-child bond, Olawale would hardly go to Agege, because of the constant traffic gridlock that is the lot of Pen Cinema bus stop, which leads to his mother’s Orile Road abode.

    Soon, Olawale and others who use the popular Pen Cinema route will not have to worry about traffic gridlock.  A fly-over bridge that will ease the burden of road users is about to be constructed. All thanks to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    The bridge is one of the multi-faceted projects designed to improve people’s living standards. The Pen Cinema Fly-over is the third from the Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration. Those at Abule-Egba and Ajah Roundabout are already being constructed. The pedestrian bridge at the ever-busy Berger Bus Stop on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is already facilitating easy human and vehicular movement.

    Speaking at a news conference in Alausa last week, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ganiyu Johnson said the Pen Cinema fly-over bridge would be completed within 18 to 24 months. He added that the project would start after the conclusion of the preliminary work.

    According to him, the fly-over would be constructed from Oba Ogunji via Ijaiye Road into Agunbiade. It will be 700 meters long.

    Johnson said: “We will expand Oba Ogunji Road and create barriers. The project will also accommodate a generous walkway similar to the Ikorodu Expressway, and the bridge will have a free flow all the way to Agunbiade.”

    The administration is also concerned about the traffic gridlock on the Lekki-Epe Expressway. To ease this, three roundabouts— the 4th Roundabout (Elegushi); 5th Roundabout (Jakande) and the 8th Roundabout (VGC)—are to be removed. They will be replaced by traffic lights, expansion of the roads, provision of dedicated turning lanes and additional lay-bys.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Prince Olanrewaju Elegushi said the removal of the roundabouts on Lekki-Epe Expressway was part of the junction works and traffic system management designed to enhance free flow of traffic.

    Elegushi added that the road was constructed to accommodate about 30,000 vehicles per day, adding that the vehicular movement has now increased to over 50,000 daily. He also said the project would be completed in six months.

    The fly-over bridge and the Lekki-Epe Expressway project are not the only good news residents of Lagos have heard from their governor in the last two weeks.

    The state showed its pace-setting status when it inaugurated the first state-owned helipad for medical emergencies. Ambode and some members of his team were at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja to inaugurate this project geared towards saving lives.

    Ambode said: “This is a life-saving asset and critical complement to the efficient functioning of this Unit (LASUTH) and other emergency services being rendered by the state. The helipad will also aid the movement of patients from remote areas where health care facilities to provide the level of emergency medication required are not readily available.

    “Over the years, we have witnessed emergency situations which require timely movement of victims to appropriate medical facilities. Keeping in mind that every minute matters in securing the lives of people involved in these incidents, the usual movement by road is not the best option in such situations.

    “Helicopters have, therefore, become an efficient and reliable option which can only be made possible with the availability of helipads within the hospital environment.

    “Given the status of LASUTH, as the state’s flagship tertiary health institution, offering referral services for other public and private medical institutions, it was obvious the helipad had to be located here.”

    The governor added that about a month ago, he inaugurated a 27-bed Critical Care Unit in LASUTH to provide life and organ support system for critically-ill patients, adding that the helipad would facilitate medical evacuation and air ambulance transfer of patients to Trauma Centres.

    He said the provision of the facilities was in line with his administration’s commitment to raise the service delivery capacity of LASUTH and other health facilities.

    He promised that an air ambulance would be provided, adding that the helipad would be manned by specially-trained personnel who will guarantee safe landing at all times.

    The inauguration of the helipad provided the platform for Ambode to inspect some of the abandoned and ongoing projects at LASUTH. Before he left, he announced that the upgrading of the 247-bed and five theatre suits Ayinke House would be ready for use next year.

    The governor added that the Bola Tinubu Health and Diagnostic Centre would soon start operation, saying that approval had been granted for the rehabilitation and upgrade of the state’s 20 secondary and 21 primary health facilities. The bulk purchase of medical equipment required by these facilities is also being carried out.

    For those who have seen the old Nursing School in Ikoyi as abandoned property, new beginning is on the horizon. A Medical Park is springing up there. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been activated in that respect.  Now, the state is on the verge of becoming a hub for medical tourism.

    The governor said: “With the support of our hardworking and dedicated personnel in the health sector, we are confident that we will achieve our set objectives in the health sector, save lives and guarantee a healthy state.”

    The need to continue to do more to improve the security of lives and property in the state has not escaped the attention of the governor in the last two weeks. He has signed two bills aimed at eradicating land grabbing and improving security into law. The laws are Lagos State Properties Protection Law and Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Law. The signing of the laws was witnessed by the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem, lawmakers and top government officials.

    Also last week, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, announced plans to deploy 13,000 Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, additional 6,000 street lights and security sensors for surveillance and crime prevention. This will begin in October.

    Another major development in the last two weeks is the visit of members of the Indices and Disbursement Committee of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). Their mission: they came to announce that the Federal Government has approved four oil wells for Lagos and would soon start disbursing the 13 per cent derivation fund to the state.

    With this, Lagos has emerged the first oil-producing state outside the Niger Delta.

    The governor said: “We are very glad to receive this delegation. We also want to thank the Federal Government, most especially President Muhammadu Buhari for making this to happen very promptly. I want to say that this has been the quickest action that has been taken by RMAFC since I have known the Commission.

    “I used to be a former Accountant-General; so, I had a lot of transactions and relationship with the institution called RMAFC. Within a span of about 60 days of when we wrote our letter, and even before we wrote the letter, this technical committee was set up. It gladdens me to say that the institution worked and is working for the good of Nigeria.”

    The governor urged other states to activate their mineral deposits to boost their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    “It would also give us revenue independence in a manner that there would be equal growth from all the nook and crannies of Nigeria. I am happy that RMAFC has taken this step.  They should also encourage other states to engage in such activities that would allow them to be able to activate whatever mineral deposit that we have in the various states in conjunction with the Federal Government, so that we can start to diversify revenue and growth and then create a balanced growth and development for the whole country,” Ambode said.

    Other issues that got the attention of the administration in the last two weeks included the Smart City Project and the Integrated Land Administration Automation project, which Commissioner for Science and Technology, Olufemi Odubiyi said would help promote and encourage a secondary mortgage market and facilitate investment in properties.

    He added that the project would witness the installation of information highway-metro fibre and deployment of 4GLT across the state. Ultimately, he said the government would fully implement e-services, such as e-health and e-agric, among others.

    The way things stand, Ambode seems to be activating his major slogan-Itesiwaju Ipinle Eko Loje Wa Logun, which means the progress of Lagos State is paramount to this administration.

     

  • Lagos votes N10b for schools’ renovation, teachers’ training

    Lagos votes N10b for schools’ renovation, teachers’ training

    Lagos State Government has approved N10 billion for the ongoing construction and renovation of public schools and training of teachers

    Deputy Governor Dr Idiat Adebule made this known yesterday at a three-day Medium Term Strategy Retreat on the Year 2017 Budget Framework and the 2016 Budget Review for the Education Sector, organised by the Ministry of Education.

    Mrs Adebule said government recognised the role of education in the progress and development of the nation and would not relent in placing high priority to the sector.

    She said: “Governor Akinwunmi Ambode led-administration recognised the role of education in nation building and has been giving adequate attention to the needs of the sector.

    “This strategy session is important as it will assist the government to plan properly and adequately budget for the sector in the coming year to make education in Lagos State meet international standard.”

    She reiterated the government’s commitment to a continuous and more robust strategy to improving and ensuring a functional education system in the state.

    Mrs Adebule urged participants to make meaningful contributions and recommendations for an effective, efficient and transparent budget for the education sector.

    Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary Mr Adesina Odeyemi, said the retreat would evaluate, re-appraise, identify goals and set objectives to reform the budget process and improve the education sector.

    “This retreat is vital to help us review our activities in the past year and then project into the future, looking at the needs in the education sector with respect to available resources,” he said.

    The ministry’s Director, Policy, Planning, Research and Statistics, Dr Christiana Shofolahan said the outcome of the retreat would enhance and reform education in the state.

  • In Lagos, wonders are not ceasing

    In Lagos, wonders are not ceasing

    Since emerging as the governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has turned the state to a huge construction site. From Oshodi to Agege to Abule Egba, Lekki and many others, one major project or the other is going on. ASSOCIATE EDITOR OLUKOREDE YISHAU X-rays the several actions taken by the administration in the last two weeks

    Lawrence Olawale lives in Ilupeju, Lagos Mainland. His mother stays in Agege, where he grew up. His love for his widowed mother forces him to go and see her at least once in a week.  If not for the mother-child love, Olawale would hardly go to Agege, because of the constant traffic gridlock that is the lot of Pen Cinema bus stop, which leads to his mother’s Orile Road abode.

    Soon, Olawale and others who use the popular Pen Cinema route will not have to worry about traffic gridlock.  A fly-over bridge that will ease the burden of road users is about to be constructed. All thanks to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    The bridge is one of the multi-faceted projects designed to improve people’s living standards. The Pen Cinema Fly-over is the third from the Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration. Those of Abule-Egba and Ajah Roundabout are already being constructed. The pedestrian bridge at the ever-busy Berger Bus Stop on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is already facilitating easy human and vehicular movement.

    Speaking at a news conference in Alausa last week, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ganiyu Johnson said the Pen Cinema fly-over bridge would be completed within 18 to 24 months. He added that the project would start after the conclusion of the preliminary works.

    According to him, the fly-over would be constructed from Oba Ogunji via Ijaiye Road into Agunbiade. It will be 700 meters long.

    Johnson said: “We will expand Oba Ogunji Road and create barriers. The project will also accommodate a generous walkway similar to the Ikorodu Expressway and the bridge will have a free flow all the way to Agunbiade.”

    The administration is also concerned about the traffic gridlock on the Lekki-Epe Expressway. To ease this, three roundabouts— the 4th Roundabout (Elegushi); 5th Roundabout (Jakande) and the 8th Roundabout (VGC)—are to be removed. They will be replaced by traffic lights, expansion of the roads, provision of dedicated turning lanes and additional lay-bys.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Prince Olanrewaju Elegushi said the removal of the roundabouts on Lekki-Epe Expressway was part of the junction works and traffic system management designed to enhance free flow of traffic.

    Elegushi added that the road was constructed to accommodate about 30,000 vehicles per day, adding that the vehicular movement has now increased to over 50,000 daily. He also said the project would be completed in six months.

    The fly-over bridge and the Lekki-Epe Expressway project are not the only good news residents of Lagos have heard from their governor in the last two weeks.

    The state showed its pace-setting status when it inaugurated the first state-owned helipad for medical emergencies. Ambode and some members of his team were at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja to inaugurate this project geared towards saving lives.

    Ambode said: “This is a life-saving asset and critical complement to the efficient functioning of this Unit (LASUTH) and other emergency services being rendered by the state. The Helipad will also aid the movement of patients from remote areas where health care facilities to provide the level of emergency medication required are not readily available.

    “Over the years, we have witnessed emergency situations which require timely movement of victims to appropriate medical facilities. Keeping in mind that every minute matters in securing the lives of people involved in these incidents, the usual movement by road is not the best option in such situations.

    “Helicopters have, therefore, become an efficient and reliable option which can only be made possible with the availability of helipads within the hospital environment.

    “Given the status of LASUTH, as the state’s flagship tertiary health institution, offering referral services for other public and private medical institutions, it was obvious the helipad had to be located here.”

    The governor added that about a month ago, he inaugurated a 27-bed Critical Care Unit in LASUTH to provide life and organ support system for critically-ill patients, adding that the helipad would facilitate medical evacuation and air ambulance transfer of patients to Trauma Centres.

    He said the provision of the facilities was in line with his administration’s commitment to raise the service delivery capacity of LASUTH and other health facilities.

    He promised that an air ambulance would be provided, adding that the helipad would be manned by specially-trained personnel who will guarantee safe landing at all times.

    The inauguration of the helipad provided the platform for Ambode to inspect some of the abandoned and ongoing projects at LASUTH. Before he left, he announced that the upgrading of the 247-bed and five theatre suits Ayinke House would be ready for use next year.

    The governor added that the Bola Tinubu Health and Diagnostic Centre would soon start operation, saying that approval had been granted for the rehabilitation and upgrade of the state’s 20 secondary and 21 primary health facilities. The bulk purchase of medical equipment required by these facilities is also being carried out.

    For those who have seen the old Nursing School in Ikoyi as abandoned property, new beginning is on the horizon. A Medical Park is springing up there. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been activated in that respect.  Now, the state is on the verge of becoming a hub for medical tourism.

    The governor said: “With the support of our hardworking and dedicated personnel in the health sector, we are confident that we will achieve our set objectives in the health sector, save lives and guarantee a healthy state.”

    The need to continue to do more to improve the security of lives and property in the state has not escaped the attention of the governor in the last two weeks. He has signed two bills aimed at eradicating land grabbing and improving security into law. The laws are Lagos State Properties Protection Law and Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Law. The signing of the laws was witnessed by the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem, lawmakers and top government officials.

    Also last week, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, announced plans to deploy 13,000 Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, additional 6,000 street lights and security sensors for surveillance and crime prevention. This will begin in October.

    Another major development in the last two weeks is the visit of members of the Indices and Disbursement Committee of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). Their mission: they came to announce that the Federal Government has approved four oil wells for Lagos and would soon start disbursing the 13 per cent derivation fund to the state.

    With this, Lagos has emerged the first oil-producing state outside the Niger Delta.

    The governor said: “We are very glad to receive this delegation. We also want to thank the Federal Government, most especially President Muhammadu Buhari for making this to happen very promptly. I want to say that this has been the quickest action that has been taken by RMAFC since I have known the Commission.

    “I used to be a former Accountant-General; so, I had a lot of transactions and relationship with the institution called RMAFC. Within a span of about 60 days of when we wrote our letter, and even before we wrote the letter, this technical committee was set up. It gladdens me to say that the institution worked and is working for the good of Nigeria.”

    The governor urged other states to activate their mineral deposits to boost their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    “It would also give us revenue independence in a manner that there would be equal growth from all the nook and crannies of Nigeria. I am happy that RMAFC has taken this step.  They should also encourage other states to engage in such activities that would allow them to be able to activate whatever mineral deposit that we have in the various states in conjunction with the Federal Government, so that we can start to diversify revenue and growth and then create a balanced growth and development for the whole country,” Ambode said.

    Other issues that got the attention of the administration in the last two weeks included the Smart City Project and the Integrated Land Administration Automation project, which Commissioner for Science and Technology, Olufemi Odubiyi said would help promote and encourage a secondary mortgage market and facilitate investment in properties.

    He added that the project would witness the installation of information highway-metro fibre and deployment of 4GLT across the state. Ultimately, he said the government would fully implement e-services, such as e-health and e-agric, among others.

    The way things stand, Ambode seems to be activating his major slogan-Itesiwaju Ipinle Eko Loje Wa Logun, which means the progress of Lagos State is paramount to this administration.