The Nation Newspaper

Tag: lagos

  • Lagos to reduce maternal, child mortality

    Lagos to reduce maternal, child mortality

    ctivities and strategies geared towards the reduction of maternal and child mortality will be strengthened through the Maternal and Child Mortality Reduction Programme, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Primary Health Care, Dr Olufemi Onanuga, said yesterday.

     Onanuga, dropped the hint, at a news conference to kick-off the implementation of the first round of the yearly Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCH) celebration in the Centre of Excellence.

    He said that the government will not relent on its oars but take preventive measures against maternal and child deaths.

     According to him, maternal, peri-natal and child (under five years) health indices have emerged as the most important health indices that determine global and national wellbeing, adding that the 2013 National Demographic Survey, the national indices for neonatal, infant, under-five children and mothers, were far from cheering.

     The special adviser added that the 2013 national Maternal Mortality Rates of 576/100,000 live births compared with the 2010 data of 545/100,000 live births is an indication that everyone has to up our antic concerning maternal and child health interventions.

     He said: “It is for this reason that I fully lend my voice and support to the integrated Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Strategy adopted in Nigeria as a panacea to frontally tackle the twin issue of maternal and child mortality.”

     Speaking on the state of preparedness by the government, Onanuga said the first round of year 2016 MNCH Week slated to hold between June 13 and June 17 will entail a wide range of high-impact and low-cost package of protective, preventive and promotive services will be provided to the whole family during the week in an integrated manner.

  • Unemployment: ‘Lagos needs more funds’

    Unemployment: ‘Lagos needs more funds’

    Lagos State needs more funds to tackle unemployment. the Governor,  Akinwunmi Ambode, has said.

    Ambode, who spoke in Lagos yesterday  at the first Stakeholders’ Summit of the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, said the state is  doing all it could to help tackle the problem, but stated that more funds was needed .

    He said the investment of N25 billion ETF for wealth creation purposes, would not yield the expected outcome if other complimentary efforts, like right attitudes to employment issues and employability of job seekers are not addressed.

    He said Lagos has identified wealth creation path as the direction for economic growth, saying the  state will offer the needed support to the establishment and growth of small businesses to enable them create job opportunities and generate wealth for collective prosperity of residents in the state.

    Ambode maintained that the present economic situation in the country presents opportunity to explore other areas of economic development that would reduce the adverse effects occasioned by the dwindling crude oil revenue.

    The Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Hon. Durosinmi Etti in his welcome address , said  the outcome of the summit would lead to a plan of action between government and the private sector and would assist government in creating needed atmosphere for employers of labour to excel.

    The said three Job Registration/Labour Exchange Centres have been established in Badagry, Lagos and Ikorodu divisions. ‘The centres are fully operational. In the next two months, we expect the Ikeja and Epe divisional centres to come on stream.’ He added.

    In his goodwill message, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo commended Governor Ambode commended the investment of the State governor in infrastructure and security of lives and properties across the State describing them as the needed ingredients for meaningful and sustainable wealth creation.

    The Vice President, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu, expressed the belief that economic activities only thrives in a secured atmosphere adding that Governor Ambode has already demonstrated  this through the creation of an enabling environment for SMEs to thrive.

  • Alarming rent in Lagos

    SIR: Lagos property owners have gone out of control. They fix rents arbitrarily without any recourse to rules or tenancy laws. Recently, a landlord in Surulere offered me a two bedroom flat for N1million and this for a house built in 1998 even when other houses within the same vicinity is N500, 000. Another says his three bedroom flat close to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) is N1.5million when similar apartment in the vicinity goes for N700, 000. He saw nothing wrong, even though the house in question was the old Lagos Executive Development Board (LEDB) built probably in the 1970s. Same goes for a landlord who told his tenants in a block of two bedroom flats to vacate if they are not ready to pay N800, 000 when their neighbours using the same two bedroom flat is paying N500, 000!

    From Surulere, Gbagada, Yaba, Jibowu, Ebutte-Metta all the way to the Island (Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki, particularly in Lekki/Ajah axis), almost 65% built houses have remained un-occupied due to high rents.

    Lagos hinterland like Ikorodu, Ipaja, Alimosho, Ayobo, Oke-Aro, Abesan, Ijaiye-Ojokoro etc. are no better. Property owners remain king and fix rents arbitrarily without recourse to the prevailing dwindling economic situation, control or regulation by the government. Considering that property appreciation is dependent on government’s provision of amenities like good roads, drainages, pipe-borne water, electricity etc., why is the government quiet when the citizenry are being fleeced so brazenly?

    The government has been accused of not doing enough in housing provision especially for the low-income earners. It is common knowledge that the houses being built by the government presently is far beyond the capacity of the majority of citizens, particularly salary earners. Since government is a social service and not for profits, then it behoves on it to look inward for delivery of mass houses with a social template. This will surely mitigate the continued arbitrariness of property owners in Lagos State.

    I call on the governor of Lagos State, AkinwunmiAmbode to resume work on the unfinished housing estates left behind by his predecessor, specifically in Ijora, Surulere, Ilubirin/Osborne, Gbagada, Lekki, Akerele, Imota, Ikorodu etc. Completion of these estates must be with a social intent that will benefit the majority, mostly low-income earners.

    The government owes it a duty to the citizens to protect their interest from inconsiderate property owners who want to exploit them. More than before, the Lagos State government needs to intervene in the control of rents so as to protect the citizens from predators. The government will need to revisit its edicts and tenancy laws, some dating back to the regime of Mobolaji Johnson up until the last attempt by the immediate past government of BabatundeFashola. The laws need to be re-jigged and fine-tuned for optimum performance, implementation and enforcement.

     

    • Badejo Adedeji Nurudeen,

    Surulere, Lagos.

  • ‘Let peace reign in LASU’

    ‘Let peace reign in LASU’

    Staff and students of the Lagos State University (LASU) have been urged to ensure peace on the campus.

    Lagos State Governor Akinwummi Ambode and Chancellor, Justice Adesola Oguntade made the call during the recent 20th Convocation of the institution.

    In an address the Governor told the graudands, members of staff, students and well wishers that he could not hide his happiness that the state university was being repositioned as one of the best in Nigeria.

    He also congratulated the management on their vision to provide the next leaders that will be job creators rather than just job seekers.

    The Govenor noted that  “Good reason has prevailed” in the University while the subvention has been  increased to ensure better functioning of the institution.

    He however restated the unrelenting stance of the Government to push the institution to greater heights.

    Justice Oguntade said what has been lacking in the University was peace, adding that there was need for peace at the inst9itution.

    ” You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs; we should bid a goodbye to the act of crisis and making things ungovernable,” he stressed.

    It can however be recalled that the university’s 20th convocation ceremony earlier scheduled to hold last year was postponed to this year due to the crisis which occurred between the immediate past Vice Chancellor, Professor John Oladapo Obafunwa, and other members of the Non teaching, Academic and Senior Staff Unions of the institution.

    The former Vice Chancellor was accused of  being a failure  in steering the affairs of the institution.

    Oguntade, who is pleased by the peace on the campus since the arrival of Professor Olanrewaju Fagbohun, the current Vice-Chancellor of the institution, encouraged all staff and students alike to continue the peace.

    The Chancellor ended his address by congratulating all the graduands conferred with the degree from the institution as he urged them to go all out to represent the new LASU.

  • Lagos reinstates commitment to affordable houses

    Lagos reinstates commitment to affordable houses

    Lagos State government has reinstated its commitments to providing affordable houses in Lagos.

    While commissioning the Oko Oba Housing Estate, the Lagos State governor,  Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, who was represented by Hon.Musilim Folami (Commissioner for Local government and community affairs, in speech, assured Lagosian and the entire people of Ojokoro, Agege and Orile Agege LCDA’s of government’s commitment to providing affordable housing units as promised during the campaigns.

    Responding, Mr.Akeem Oladapo Adeyinka, the Executive Secretary of Orile Agege LCDA, commended the governor and APC for fulfilling their campaign promises to the electorate. He implored the state government to bring more life changing opportunities to Orile Agege and his environs.

    In attendance were party leaders and Obas

  • Lagos opens enrolment into primary schools

    Lagos opens enrolment into primary schools

    Last Friday’s Children’s Day celebration marked the beginning of registration of pupils into the Early Child Care Development Education (ECCDE) and Primary One classes of public primary schools for the 2016/2017 academic session in Lagos State.

    The Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule, registered the first few children after the Children’s Day parade at the Police College Parade Ground in Ikeja.

    The registration continued at the nearby Local Government Primary School behind Archbishop Vining Memorial Church, Ikeja.

    Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Ganiyu Sopeyin, said the registration, which took place simultaneously in various centres across the state, would last until July 31.

    He urged parents with children aged six and above to register their wards in any of the state’s 1,007 public schools and 31 inclusive units close to them.

    He said the registration required only for them to present the birth certificate of the child and provide details of the home address.

    “The Lagos State government led by Mr Akinwunmi Ambode pays premium on the right of children to have qualitative education in a conducive atmosphere. We are urging our parents whose children are already six years old to take advantage of the exercise to register their wards in any primary school of their choice. We also have 31 inclusive schools to take care of children who need special education,” he said.

    Last year, 97,000 pupils were registered for the 2015/2016 academic session.

  • Physically challenged and Lagos’ inclusive governance

    SIR: At a political rally in January 2015, Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode made a solemn pledge to stand by the physically challenged if elected as governor. True to his promise, he has sent out a positive signal that his government has a special place for the physically- challenged. At a recent event at the Lagos House, Ikeja, tagged ‘Ability in Disability’, he launched the N500million Disability Trust Fund for physically challenged persons in the state.

    The event, which afforded physically challenged persons the opportunity to showcase their talents, readily highlighted the saying that ‘there is ability in disability’. Governor Ambode used the occasion to enjoin Nigerians to encourage and show love rather on physically challenged persons.

    Without a doubt, the Lagos state government is fast adjusting to the needs of physically challenged persons in order to give them a sense of belonging. Governor Ambode is on record to have urged corporate organizations to collaborate with the state government in its efforts to make life more comfortable for People Living with Disabilities by fulfilling their own part of the obligation.  It is, perhaps, in keeping to his promise of standing by the physically-challenged, that the Ambode government has initiated Special People’s fund. The establishment of the people with disabilities fund was to create the right environment for them to live life more meaningfully. This is really an initiative capable of closing the structural nature of the wealth gap between those who are able bodied and people living with disabilities.

    Another show of care on the part of Governor Ambode is the order given to Bus Rapid Transit and LAGBUS operators on free ride for physically-challenged. In our clime, where it is difficult for the physically-challenged to get on and off a bus, the governor has directed that all physically-challenged should ride free, on all Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and LAGBUS buses. Hitherto, they wait endlessly on the benevolence of good hearted compatriots to get into the bus. The newly introduced BRT busses have facility for the physically challenged.

    Equally, the Ambode administration has strengthened the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) which was created “to safeguard people living with disability against all forms of discrimination. Through the Office, the governor recently awarded scholarships to 60 students of the School of the Blind, Oshodi.

    The Ambode’s example has, indeed, given hope to the physically challenged in the society. What people the physical challenged need is enabled environment and not discrimination. It is disheartening that in Nigeria, discrimination against physically challenged persons has been prevalent. Here, the reality of being physically-challenged affects not only the physicality of a person but also how others judge them culturally, spiritually, financially and emotionally.

    The point here is that we ought to learn from what a nation like America has achieved with its Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA. Thanks to the Act in USA, transportation, public facilities and many services in the United States are more accessible to all. Thanks to ADA, for example, many city buses and trains have lifts or ramps for wheelchairs, priority seating signs, handrails, slip-resistant flooring, and information stamped in Braille. Emergency call centers are equipped with telecommunications devices for the deaf (TDDs), and federally funded public service announcements have closed captioning. Most importantly, ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in job recruitment, hiring, promotions, training or pay. ADA’s provisions have enabled many people to live independently, despite any physical or mental disability, and have helped protect their rights.

    At least, the law and the office created to implement it as well as special people fund established by the Lagos State government are stepping stones to achieving what exists in decent nations. Overall, emphasis should be on fuller “inclusion” within the community. It is imperative that we put in place a National Disability Rights Commission with innovative deal and commitment to enable and not disable people with deformity to attain their God-given potentials. With that in place, physically challenged people will walk through life with hope.

     

    • Rasak Musbau

     Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Ikeja.

  • Lagos ‘handled 4, 035 rape, child abuse cases in one year’

    Lagos ‘handled 4, 035 rape, child abuse cases in one year’

    Lagos State Government handled 4, 035 cases of rape, child abuse, sexual assault and abuse, defilement, divorce, matrimonial issues and child custody and maintenance in the last one year, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Mr Adeniji Kazeem said yesterday.

    It said it would prosecute perpetrators of domestic violence no matter how highly placed they may be.

    Kazeem was briefing reporters at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, on the activities of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) in the last one year. He said the agency handled 192 cases.

    Of the 192 cases, 89 were domestic violence, 62 defilement, 18 rape, six attempted rape, 10 child neglect and seven child abuse. Ninety cases are pending in court.

    Kazeem said the government has zero-tolerance for domestic violence and child abuse and would not relent until they are curbed.

    He said agencies of government, including DSVRT, Office of Public Defender (OPD) and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), have been mandated to ensure that perpetrators of these acts are brought to justice and victims are given succour.

    “As regards provision of shelter for victims, the Ministries of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and Youth and Social Development and their strategic partners have played key roles in ensuring that victims are evacuated to a safer environment of shelter homes.

    “All the victims of sexual assault received medical attention from Mirabel Centre and state hospitals, and so far, 50 of such cases have been charged to court,” he said, adding: “As we all know gender violence, violence against children and all forms of inhuman treatment against the less privileged have been very critical issues for Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. Right from when he was sworn in, he has said that these are issues he would pursue with passion and diligence. He has since then given support to the DSVRT, OPD and related agencies including the police to fight this scourge in other that it should be eliminated.

    “Let me sound a note of warning here that no matter how highly placed you are in the society, if you commit any domestic violence crime, Lagos State will go after you and prosecute you in court.”

     

    He said the DSVRT would on Friday hold a free clinic for victims of domestic violence, rape at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat. The victims can seek counselling with trained professionals via 08137960048.

  • Ambode promises better, more prosperous Lagos

    Ambode promises better, more prosperous Lagos

    Lagos State Governor  Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday reassured Lagosians that his administration would not rest on its oars, but intensify efforts to deliver more infrastructure across the state in the next one year.

    The governor, in his one year anniversary Address to Lagosians, titled, “Daring to dream and ready to actualise”, said despite the fact that the global economy is in turmoil and the Nigerian economy is facing huge challenges, Lagos has continued to march on with confidence and a clear vision.

    Outlining some of his plans for the next one year, Ambode said plans are underway to install a fiber optic network around the State to boost broadband access to our homes and offices, improve the transportation system as well as continue the massive infrastructural development ongoing across the metropolis.

    “We shall build and rehabilitate more roads; we shall ignite our Tourism and Entertainment potentials by approving a new International conference center and entertainment and theatre district; our television and radio stations will be fully overhauled to make them first class.

    “We shall automate our bus system and introduce new buses; we shall overhaul our garbage collection system to make it more efficient; we shall build and refurbish more schools; we shall commence disbursement of loans to entrepreneurs and our youth under our Employment Trust Fund; establish a Rent-To-Own housing scheme and many more initiatives.

    The governor said more importantly, greater attention would be paid issues involving the elderly, the youth and the people living with disabilities in the coming year, while schools and hospitals will receive special attention comprehensively.

    “Fellow Lagosians, I renew my oath and pledge to serve you diligently, with passion, love and perseverance. I have always wanted to serve and I just ask that you continue to give me the cooperation to serve you and together, we will all realise the Lagos of our dreams where we thrive and not just survive.

    “I also ask you to dream along with me as we actualize a vision of a vibrant, non-discriminatory, clean, prosperous, safe Lagos that we can all be proud of and God will help us all achieve our dreams,” he said.

    The governor, who also spoke at a thanksgiving service held at the Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, Ikeja to mark his  first year anniversary, said his election despite many challenges, was a clear indication that God was involved right from the beginning and as such he would continue to draw strength and inspiration from the Almighty.

    The governor  thanked the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) , Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu for believing in him and supporting him.

  • Akiolu: councils’ funds seizure affected Lagos growth

    Akiolu: councils’ funds seizure affected Lagos growth

    Oba Riliwanu Akiolu of Lagos has said the seizure of Local Government funds by former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration contributed to the slow pace of the state’s development.

    Akiolu spoke at an inaugural lecture, which is part of activities for the Lagos State at 50 Anniversary in Lagos.

    The Obasanjo-led administration withheld Lagos state local government funds, following the creation of 37 new local council development areas (LCDAs) under former Governor Bola Tinubu.

    The state’s refusal to cancel the LCDAs as directed by the Federal Government led to the withholding of funds meant for the 20 existing local governments.

    Akiolu said Tinubu, with all his development plans would have done much for the state, but for the seizure of the allocation.

    According to the monarch, Lagos state would have been far developed by now.

    “Senator Bola Tinubu came with robust development plans for Lagos State, but he could not do so much because of the seizure of local governments’ funds. But he laid the foundation upon which his successors had been building.

    “The state was blessed with Governor Babatunde Fashola, and now, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. These governors have taken Lagos to an enviable height with unassailable internally generated revenue,” he said.

    Akiolu urged political office holders to be sincere and honest in all their dealings.

    He also urged residents to support the government as it strives to develop the state and make life comfortable for them.