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Tag: lagos

  • Lagos, FRSC to phase out fake number plates, drivers’ licenses

    Lagos, FRSC to phase out fake number plates, drivers’ licenses

    The Lagos State Government in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Vehicle Inspection Service has initiated moves to eliminate incidences of fake motor documents and drivers’ licenses.

    General Manager of the Lagos State Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA) Lateef Lawal stated this at the agency’s headquarters in Alausa yesterday.

    He said the collaboration will also ensure that the process of obtaining motor documents and drivers’ license are seamless and less cumbersome.

    Reacting to an online publication, which challenged the genuineness of number plates in the state, Lawal affirmed that number plates issued by the agency are genuine and authentic.

    He said that the production of the number plates is the responsibility of the Lagos State Number Plates Production Authority while his agency is saddled with the responsibility of issuing the plates to end users.

    To avoid falling victim of fake number plates, Lawal stressed the need for motorists to obtain their motor insurance policy from duly accredited insurance companies to complete their registration process.

    He equally stressed that motor vehicle administration services are fully automated, adding that the agency came first in a service delivery contest by the Office of Transformation, Creativity and Innovation under the Office of Head of Service in the State.

    He also restated his agency’s commitment to continue to offer qualitative service delivery to residents in the state.

  • AMAA BRINGS NOMINATIONS TO LAGOS

    AMAA BRINGS NOMINATIONS TO LAGOS

    The nominees in the 28 categories of the African Movie Academy Awards, the annual pan-African reward system for motion picture practitioners will be unveiled in Lagos today, May 15th, according to the organisers.

    A statement released by the Chairman of the 2015 AMAA Jury, Mr. Shaibu Husseini reveals that the nominees will be unveiled at a media event at the Protea Hotel, Isaac John, GRA Ikeja, Lagos, a departure from the usual practice of announcing the nominees at a Gala Night ceremony.

    According to statistics released by Mr. Husseini feature films, documentaries, animations and short films were submitted by film makers within Africa and the Diaspora for the awards which is in its 12th edition.

    “Only 25 feature films will make it into nomination stage however they may not all be nominated. But the 25 made it to the final stages of AMAA selection out of the over 280 feature films received this year from over 25 African countries including Nigeria, Cape Verde, Gambia, Morrocco, Uganda, Togo, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Cameroun, Mali, Ethiopia, Niger, Kenya, Algeria and Egypt. Also 15 short films (Africa and diaspora) made it to the final stages but unfortunately only 8 of the African documentary films will make it to nomination and 3 Diaspora short films,” he said.

    The Board of Jurors of AMAA which has members which include academics, film makers, critics and Film Festival curators from Nigeria, Germany, United States, Zimbabwe, Jamaica and Burkina Faso will decide on which film and individual talents that will make the nominations and also eventual winners.

    The award has a very thorough and four stages of pre-screening process before the College of Screeners who makes the final works will go to the Board of Jurors.

  • Lagos prosecutes 1,536 criminal cases in one year

    The Lagos State Government yesterday said that it prosecuted a total of 1, 536 criminal cases in all courts in the last one year through the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).

    The disclosure was made by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, during the ongoing ministerial press briefing to herald the one year anniversary of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration.

    He said that out of the total number of cases being prosecuted, judgments were delivered in 15 of the matters being handled by the directorate.

    He said out of the 1,536 cases, 1,375 cases are currently being prosecuted at the Federal and State High Courts as well as 122 and 38 respectively at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

    Kazeem said that in addition to the 1,536 active criminal prosecution files, the DPP’s office was also handling 137 applications for enforcement of Fundamental Rights.

    “With regards to criminal prosecutions, our Directorate of Public Prosecutions is committed to ensuring that all offenders are brought to book, thereby discouraging impunity in our society.

    The Directorate is also committed to speedy trails, especially so that suspects are not detained for too long awaiting trial.

    “The truism ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ is one of our guiding principles, especially in criminal justice administration. Both the victims of a crime and the alleged offender deserve to have their case resolved at the earliest possible time,” he said.

    He said the Legal Advisory Unit which focuses exclusively on the review of criminal case files, containing reports of investigation submitted by the police and issuance of legal advice has been able to hasten considerably the speed of criminal prosecutions by reducing the time spent on issuing legal advice.

    “In the period under review, out of 1,209 police investigation files sent to the DPP’s office for legal advice, the Unit has already completed work on 940 while the rest are still being processed, many requiring additional information or further investigation by the Police or other relevant agency,” the Commissioner said.

    He said the state government in order to ensure that its laws are kept updated and readily accessible to the general public has completed a new compilation of the Lagos Laws, which includes all amendment and additions.

    He said, “In line with the direction of His Excellency,  the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, the 2015  Revised Laws of Lagos State are now accessible online to the general  public, which provides access to all the Laws that have operated in the state since inception in 1967”.

  • FIRS shuts more firms in Lagos, Aba, Owerri

    FIRS shuts more firms in Lagos, Aba, Owerri

    The enforcement unit of the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) yesterday continued its closure of big companies in Lagos and across the country for non-payment of a variety of taxes. In Lagos, FIRS officials shut down the premises of  RT Briscoe Nigeria PLC, Sinopec Nigeria, an oil and exploration company in Ikoyi, over failure to remit their taxes.

    The Lagos enforcement team, led by Emeka Obiagwu, sealed up Briscoe Motors  located on  Fatai Atere Way, Mushin, over the company’s failure to remit  N1.9 billion in taxes. The team ordered  the  staff out of their offices and locked up the building.

    A top management staff of the company made efforts to pacify FIRS officials, saying the company had  N150million to the FIRS.

    Obiagwu, however, maintained that until “the company remits a minimum of 50% of the total amount owed in taxes, its premises will remain shut.”

    “My mandate is to get at least 50% of the total amount owed by the company, anything less  than that will not be acceptable,” Obiagwu said.

    At Sinopec Nigeria, the company which  owes $15million, the enforcement team had no trouble shutting down the office premises  and staff quarters

    The first company visited by the enforcement team, Hammoud and Saidi International, is located at Wuse Zone 5 Area of Abuja.

    The company is owing N5.9 million tax liability for the 2012. Only one official of the company who simply identified himself as Tony was available at the time of the enforcement’s team’s arrival.

    He could not present any evidence of payment  to the enforcement team. Consequently, the office of the company was shut.  Also yesterday, the FIRS team in Aba, Abia State, shut down the premises of Dan Dollars Limited and D.E Okafor and Sons Limited for non-remittance of taxes.

    It will be recalled that the FIRS team, on Thursday, shut the Imo Transport Company and Hotels & Tours Ltd in Owerri, Imo State.

  • Adiba.com opens store in Lekki, 3 more stores in Lagos

    Adiba.com opens store in Lekki, 3 more stores in Lagos

    Sequel to the growing population of online shoppers across the country, a top player in the e-commerce industry, Chris Udeji, Chief Executive Officer of adiba.com has disclosed that only 9per cent of the shopping class in Nigeria does it online.

    Access to internet on mobile has created massive awareness and players have taken advantage of this platform to launch out several platforms to sell to Nigerians and other shoppers.

    Udeji, who spoke to the media at the launch of Adiba.com offline store in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos said despite the fact that the future of shopping is online, most Nigerians still prefer to touch and feel their goods before the purchase them. Adding that “this is the reason we are setting up physical stores to create convenience for our customers.”

    Online is well defined, said the Adiba.com boss. “We found out that a lot of people have no facility to shop online. Only 9per cent of Nigerians are really shopping online. As a result, you cannot rule out the traditional shoppers and that is why we are giving our online shopping customers the opportunity to interface and know where Adiba.com comes from.”

    Since online really do not address the issue of customer complaints, Adiba.com has provided a channel. Customers of the ecommerce platform can now lodge their complaints of what ever form at the physical stores, which would set up in Ikorodu, Ikeja, and Ikota to complement the Lekki’s pilot store.

    According to him “If a customer shop at our platform online and he or she is dissatisfied, such customer con visit any of our stores and complaints and his or her challenge will be addressed appropriately.

    He said that the offline stores will be used as collection centres for the customers in those locations where stores will be located.  For instance a customer who lives in Ikorodu but works on the island does not need to shop on the island. “a customer can play order in any of stores then indicates the store of collection. It is simple, ease and convenience,” he said.

    On further expansion on both online and offline, the eCommerce expert explained that the business particularly would looking to expand out of Lagos since the online is global. He said as the revitalization is going online, the offline platform would equally experience the same structure.

    “It has becomes very certain that we will expand. We will be looking to expand out of Lagos to other states as the request is made. The customers are the king here.

  • Lagos saves N5.9 billion in TSA

    The Lagos State government has so far saved N5.990 billion using the Treasury Single Account (TSA), the   Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Mustapha Akinkunmi, has said.

    Akinkunmi spoke with reporters at the ongoing Ministerial briefing in Alausa yesterday. He said the implementation of the TSA had helped  to enhance  transparency and efficiency,  besides boosting Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) through seamless generation, collection and improved cash management.

    He said: “The present administration has successfully re-engineered the state’s outstanding internal loans to reduce burden on IGR and technically saved N3.8 billion per month.

    “This was achieved by re-negotiating interest rates from an average of 18 per cent monthly (N5.35 billion monthly payment) to 12.5 per cent (N1.52 billion monthly payment). The state restructured its outstanding bonds from bullet payment to amortising payment to reduce debt service resulting in huge savings recorded from this initiative.

    “Through this, we have also achieved savings of over N500 million in monthly contributions to Consolidated Debt Service Account (CDSA) and over N40 billion saved in interest payments over the lifetime of the instruments.”

    Akinkunmi, said the state won virtually unanimous approval for the restructuring at the Bondholders’ Extraordinary General Meeting, reflecting the strong relationship between the state and the capital market. He added that such feat affirmed confidence in the strength of the state’s credit worthiness.

    “In fact, the International Credit Rating Agency, Fitch Ratings, released a report in March 2016. To quote the report, Fitch’s affirmation reflects its expectations of “strong operating performance in the medium term, outstanding sophistication and transparency management compared to local standards, as well as satisfactory debt metrics.

    “The state continues to make progress in financial management, on the back of progressive policy implementation.”

    In spite of competing sectors for the limited funds, he said the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode led government has ensured prompt payment of all employees’ salaries on or before 23rd day of every month with the payment of September, 2015 salary on the 17th of the month before the Sallah break and also the payment of March salary on the 22nd before the Easter holiday.

    “The state government facilitated the opening of the N6.25billion Lagos State Employment Trust Fund Account which will allow youths and unemployed citizens have access to adequate finance for entrepreneurial ventures in line with the initiative and campaign promises of Governor Ambode,” he said.

  • Architects consider high density, vertical buildings for Lagos

    Nigerian architects have been urged to position themselves to address the nation’s challenge.

    Former President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), gave the  charge at the just-concluded Lagos Architects’ Forum (LAF 7.0), with the  theme: Evolving architecture. The yearly forum was organised by the state chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA).

    “Architects should provide complete building solutions not just drawings; architecture is much more than designing buildings and then walking away,” he said, even as he charged the Lagos State government to appoint an architect from the public sector to oversee construction processes in the state.

    To this end, architects, under the aegis of their professional body, are calling for an urgent need to create parameters for high density, vertical buildings and establishment of safety factors for development of same in the state. This, they believe, has become expedient given the geographical landscape of the state, which has made land for building a scarce commodity. Such initiative, they agreed, would help in the management and usage of land in the state, as well as reducing the activities of quacks who take advantage of the scarce resource and endanger peoples’ lives.

    Besides, they observed that for the Lagos metropolis to undergo a rapid and dynamic transformation, especially in its quest to be a megacity, there is an urgent need to rethink its real estate development plans by encouraging investment in high density high-rise buildings.

    The President, NIA, Mr. Tonye Braide, while agreeing with Agbakoba’s submissions, revealed that there is a need for indigenous architects to reengineer their approach to the practice of their profession, if they hope to remain relevant locally and internationally.

    Braide observed that there is a global change from the conception of urban space to the treatment of interior details. Besides, with new technologies, which improve environmental comfort and conserve energy, and construction materials, which greatly improve cost, including very low maintenance indices, an architect has to be on his toes always.

    “The demand for architects in the coming years will be enormous. Beyond this will be the demand for specialisations, which will provide a quality assurance programme, better buildings and better cities. We have no option but to institute change and catch up with the world before the world leaves us far behind. We have to act and act fast. We cannot be acclaimed leaders of the building industry and remain totally out of tune with the modern concept of design,” the NIA boss said.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, Mr. Bayo Dipe, who represented the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode at the forum, said in line with the state’s policy on wealth creation, the government planned to work with all the relevant building professionals to improve the construction industry. He assured that indigenous professionals will be fully involved in the construction of the proposed 4th Mainland Bridge.

    The Chairman, Lagos Chapter, NIA, Mr. Ladipo Lewis, expressed confidence that the economic activities generated by the state could be harnessed to create better quality buildings, which will lead to a reversal from the losses that usually arise from the development of substandard structures.

    The President, Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Alhaji Umaru Aliyu, regretted that the construction industry remained the most bastardised sector, challenging government at all levels to revamp the sector.

  • Lagos SUBEB holds health retreat

    The Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has organised a three-day health workshop aimed at increasing the productivity of its workers.

    The annual health programme, which took off at the SUBEB hall, Maryland, last Wednesday, featured health talks, screening for hepatitis B and C, HIV/AIDS, blood pressure, ophthalmic, and blood glucose, as well as a health walk from the SUBEB headquarters in Maryland to Ikeja bus stop.

    Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chairman of the Board, Dr Ganiyu Sopeyin said the workshop was the government’s initiative to increase its workers’ productivity.

    He said the government was partnering private organisations to take hepatitis B awareness to schools and the grassroots.

    “It is important for people to be able to deliver while on duty. So in line with the vision of our amiable Governor Akinwumi Ambode, we have observed that a lot of our workers do not really take care of their health, so this is a way to help them.

    “That is why we are going to partner with the ministry of health to create more awareness, especially for the parents of children in our public primary schools. We want them to conduct regular tests for their children and find solutions to their health problems early. We will also partner other stakeholders to bring this into fruition, including community heads, religious bodies, societies, individuals, among others. So that these screening points can be erected in all our schools and our pupils and teachers can take advantage of it.”

    He urged the workers to appreciate the benefits of periodic checks and take necessary actions.

    “I implore the civil servants to take advantage of these government programmes and subsidised health care organisations provided. They should take care of their health, eat right, do exercises,” Dr Sopeyin said.

    While coordinating the screening exercise, SUBEB Assistant Chief Nursing Officer, Mrs Modupe Odeleye explained the numerous benefits of the annual health event to SUBEB’s over 250 workers.

    She said: “The programme is part of staff welfare package to encourage staff to work better. A healthy being is always more productive. We also try to introduce new ideas every year. Last year, our emphasis was on HIV and cancer screening. But due to the current increase in number of people with hepatitis, we decided to focus on hepatitis B this year, with screening, vaccine and treatment plans available for everyone. The vaccine is expensive, usually about N2,400 and the Chairman has made it free for all of us. We appreciate this exercise so much.”

     

     

  • Lagos pays 260 retirees N1, 080b pension rights

    The Lagos State government has issued Retirement Benefit Bond Certificates for April worth  N1.080 billion to 260 retirees, the Director-General, Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC), Mrs Folasade Onanuga, has said

    Those covered are  from the Mainstream Local Government, State Universal Basic Educaion Board (SUBEB), TEPO and  government parastatals  under the Contributory Pension Scheme,  .

    In a statement, she said the payment brings to 3069 the number of retirees paid between August last year to April this year, adding that  the total accrued rights paid by the state government from the those months to date is N13, 701 billion.

    “The fact that this administration commenced and has been able to maintain the trend of paying terminal entitlements of retired employees monthly since it started in August, 2015 showed that it is committed to its retirees,” she said.

    She advised the retirees to carefully take decisions on how the funds would be utilised and urged them to be wary of pension fraudsters who deceive retirees into believing  that there are balances to be paid to them and make demands.

    She assured that in the not too distant future, all retirees will receive their entitlements.

    In appreciation, one of the retirees, Mr. Animashaun Taoheed, prayed for the state governor,  Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode for his magnanimity. He said, since the governor would not like to see those who had laboured for the state suffer, God will give him the wisdom to steer the affairs of the state.

     

  • Rotary donates borehole to Lagos community

    Rotary donates borehole to Lagos community

    It was prayer answered for residents of four communities-Olusanya, Papa Uku, Agbajowo and Ifesowapo Community Development Association (CDA), in Fanimokun area of Agege Local Government Area when they took delivery of a borehole donated by the Rotary Club of Agege.

    The communities, located around Ipaja Road in the Agege suburb, had been living under acute shortage of potable water over the last two decades, with children and nursing mothers, running the risk of being knocked down by reckless motorcyclists or motorists as they move about busy roads, scouting for water in the adjoining neighbourhood.

    Handing over the borehole to the Baale-elect of the community, before a crowd of dignitaries among who were the past District Governor for D9110, Dr. Dele Balogun, the Baale-elect Taiwo Oke, and other

    community leaders, the President of the club, Mr Kolawole Ojelabi said the project was borne out of a needs assessment conducted by the club for residents of the area.

    He said: “When I was coming in as the President of the club, I carried out the assessment of the needs of the people of this area. In this particular community, it was discovered that water is a very critical issue. Incidentally, as we were rounding off our assessment, I witnessed a kid carrying water that was hit by an okada as she made to cross the road into this community. That confirmed to me that this project is a must, to give relief to these people and put a stop to avoidable loss of life while looking for this essential commodity.”

    He described the project as one of the six focal areas of Rotary International, under water and sanitation, adding that the club couldn’t embark on the second leg, which is sanitation, because it was usually school-focused.

    He said the borehole, which is about 165 feet deep, was partly funded by District Grant and contributions from members of Rotary Club of Agege. He said the project was located in front of the Baale’s house in order to ensure that the community would take ownership of the project, maintain it and to ensure that there is regular supply of electricity with which to pump the water.

    He assured that the club will always be available to maintain the borehole, even as he urged the community to set up a community corps to monitor all Rotary projects in the community.

    “The next phase of the project is to provide a generator with which to power the borehole so that people would not lack water anytime there is electricity outage in the area.”

    The former District Governor Balogun said the club had been active in so many public schools and other public institutions in the area, pledging that more infrastructure would be donated to the communities if proper care is taken of the water project.

    “We promise that if they take very good care of this water project, many more projects would come to other communities around here,” Balogun said.

    A community leader Bishop Julius Babatunde Olusanya commended Rotary Club of Agege for bringing such a laudable project to the area, adding that the project will, no doubt, serve millions of residents living in the

    area.

    He assured that the community will take care of the project and ensure that it is preserved even for generations unborn.

    The Chairman of the CDA, Alfa Ayodele Ayuba, popularly called Baba Sala, who spearheaded the location of the project in the area, commended the club for a promise fulfilled. He said the community will not forget the gesture as it would put a stop to their frustration concerning water.

    “We know how much we spend on water in these communities and to now think that we can get water free. It is unimaginable. We are very happy, may the Lord continue to keep all members of the club who made this dream possible,” Ayuba said.

    Another community leader, Mr Sola Lawal Tijani said: “We are happy that Rotary Club of Agege could give us life in this community, because water is life. We have been mounting pressures on politicians who used to come here to campaign to give us water. But look at a club that has come to provide water for us with no strings attached.

    The Baale-elect Taiwo Oke said residents of the community cannot express how happy they were to see that they have water. He said he is happy that the risk associated with looking for water around the neighbou-rhood would drastically reduce and no child would die of accident, which he said was a usual occurrence in the area.

    Southwest Report gathered that the four communities of Olusanya, Papa Uku, Agbajowo and Ifesowapo, in Animokun area have no fewer than 3,500 residents and have survived without potable water for ages.