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Tag: lagos

  • Lagos bans sponsorship of pilgrims to Mecca, Jerusalem

    Lagos bans sponsorship of pilgrims to Mecca, Jerusalem

    Lagos State Government Thursday said it will no longer sponsor Muslims or Christians pilgrims who embark on pilgrimages to Mecca in Saudi Arabia or Jerusalem in Israel, saying it was not a responsible way to spend tax payers’ money.

    Commissioner for Home Affairs in the State, Hon. Abdulateef Abdulhakeem, who disclosed this when members of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Home Affairs, led by Hon. Olayiwola Olawale, paid a visit to the ministry in furtherance of their oversight function, said the government decided to ban the sponsorship because it amounts to injustice for certain individuals to continue to benefit from the government to the detriment of other numerous members of the society.

    Abdulhakeem said, “Part of our mandate is the supervision of the Pilgrims Welfare Board. Recently the governor and the state executive council approved a policy for the state to stop sponsorship of pilgrimages and that is line with the policy thrust of the government and what the State House of Assembly also speaks to.

    “In this day and time when we are talking about paucity of funds coupled with inhibiting challenges that the government has to take care of. We can no-longer afford to spend the sum of one million on one single individual to go on pilgrimage when the scripture did not compel anyone to do so.

    “So it is most irresponsible way of spending tax payer’s money. That is why the government has taken a solid decision that we will be accountable and responsible for every kobo that the tax payers pay to the government. It is an injustice for the government to be spending millions on group of people when millions of Lagosians are yearning for government’s attention.”

    He said state government has commenced the process of gathering data of religious organizations and their locations in the state to be able to set standards give orientation and provide security for them.

    According to him, there is a symbiotic relationship between the executive and the legislative arms of government in the state, while thanking the Assembly for the quick passage of the 2016 Budget.

    “Your resolution is a compulsion it is not advisory. Even your motion that Mile 12 Market should be relocated to another area is being considered by the state government. The Ministry of Home Affairs has been restructured and some of its duties have been given to other MDAs.

    Responding to the development, Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Home Affairs, Hon. Olayiwola Olawale, said the decision was laudable, saying the Assembly was ready to back it with the necessary legislation.

    He said the visit of the committee to the ministry was homecoming, adding that the commissioner was a man of integrity and that the committee would work hand-in-hand with the ministry.

  • Harvest of Sports meets in Lagos

    Harvest of Sports meets in Lagos

    The 11th inter house sports took a special meaning at Dansol High School, Agidingbi, Ikeja, because it happened just after its 20th anniversary.

    The four houses, Vine (Purple), Cedar (Green), Olive (Yellow), and Palm (Red) worked hard in the march past and athletics events held at Agege Stadium, Lagos.

    The colourful march past featured a lot of acrobatics by the houses and well-dressed kings and queens.

    When it was done and the business of athletics got underway, Vine House gave others reasons to worry.

    The Invited Schools’ relay was also keenly contested with Strong Tower Academy, Ikorodu winning the gold in the boys’ category.  Doregos Private Academy, Ipaja, won silver, while Cayley College, Agidingbi won bronze.  In the girls’ category, Wellspring College, Omole, came first, Strong Tower Academy, second, and Doregos Private Academy, third.

    The sporting event was not all about the children.  Parents, grandparents and also participated.  The grandparents’ race was particularly interesting.  Grandmothers danced to the finish line picking gifts along the way.  Mrs Adun Akinyemiju, Director of the school, danced gracefully with them.

    Speaking about the benefits of sports to school children, Mrs Akinyemiju, said they learnt to cope well with various emotions.

    “Inter house sports competitions are meant to train children in the spirit of sportsmanship. They learn to take it when they lose, to rejoice when they win and they should still love each other in spite of winning or losing,” she said.

    Elder Niran Olowe, the school’s Sports Director, said the competition has exposed a new crop of talents.

    “Right now I have picked my relay team that will be representing the school.  In the junior category, they will continue training so they can graduate to the intermediate; then from intermediate team to the senior; then they automatically qualify to enter the school’s relay team,” he said.

     

    ‘Education incomplete without sports’

    Principal of Wellspring College, Omole, Mrs Oluwayemisi Oloriade, has underscored the importance of education to sports.

    At the 10th inter-house sports competition of the school held at Agege Stadium, Lagos, Mrs Oloriade, said equal attention should be given to sports, which is part of learning because it helps brain development.

    “Education is not complete without sports.  In education, we have three domains – the cognitive, which deals with intellect; the affective, which deals with behaviour, attitude; and the psychomotor, which deals with sports.  So education is not complete without sports. It goes a long way to help the child develop very well.  It helps the brain to be more active; it also helps the child to be more alert in any area,” she said.

    Advising parents to pay attention to their wards’ wellbeing, chairman of the occasion, Mrs Ore Famurewa, who is also Corporate Affairs Director, Friesland Campina Wamco, said nutrition in addition to an active lifestyle helps children learn better.

    “When a child is learning, it is equally important for that child also to keep fit.  That is why we believe as a company that inter-house sports go hand in hand with learning and nutrition,” she said.

    Though the Tug-of-War event, arguably the highpoint of the annual inter-house sports competition was inconclusive this year because the rope was weak, the games were not lacking in excitement.

    Seun Ajidagba, compere for the event, lived up to his usual performance as announcer and comedian for the games.  He left parents in stitches with his funny comments.

    Grace (Blue), Favour (Green), Goodness (Red), and Praise (Yellow) houses battled gallantly for laurels in 22 track events that featured in the finals, including sprints, relays and lime and sack races.

     

    Proprietor seeks govt support for sports

    Proprietor of Mictec International Schools, Dr Michael Tejuoso, has appealed to the Lagos State government to support private schools to enhance sports development.

    Tejuoso, who spoke at the 2nd combined inter-house sports competition of the Mictec Schools located in Ogudu and Oko-Oba , said the support could come in form of ease of getting land for schools and reduction of dues/taxes.

    The proprietor said the school does not hold the sporting event yearly because of lack of space, which is hard to come by in Lagos.

    “In Nigeria, particularly Lagos, we have not got the support from government.  You hardly see private schools that have sufficient space for sports.  We find it difficult to make this inter-house sports regular because of lack of space.  They should follow the concept that education is a social service.  But annual dues for private schools go higher every year.  It is not so abroad where government gives support to schools to build a total child.  We are paying exorbitantly to use this government stadium.  There should be a kind of duty-free facility for anything that has to do with education,” he said.

    Dr Tejuoso said the combination of the inter-house sports of the school’s two branches has fostered unity, cooperation and friendship among teachers, parents and pupils.

    On his part, chairman of the occasion, My Ige Adetayo, urged government to send representatives of inter-house sports competitions to sport talents which can serve the country in future.

    Adetayo, who was very impressed by the performances of the pupils, both in sports and various choreographic presentations, underscored the need for a talent management programme for them.

    “These are the places they need to come to catch them young.  I like their assimilation.  I am amazed at what they have done.  If they can do this, it shows that their future is very bright,” he said.

    At the end of the competition, Onyx House came first; Emerald, second; Jasper, third; and Beryl, fourth.

     

    Obi House wins N50,000 at Queen’s College

    For winning the 54th inter-house athletics competition of Queen’s College, Yaba, Obi (Yellow) House got a special gift of N50,000 from the chairman of the occasion, Mr. Shuaibu Muhammed Lawal.

    The gift announced by Lawal, Managing Director of ALZAB Oil and Gas Ltd, was greeted with excitement at the end of the competition.

    Obi, which had 14 gold, eight silver and 12 bronze medals, was followed by Obong (Orange) with eight gold, 11 silver and seven bronze medals in second place.  Efunjoke (purple) came third with six gold, seven silver and six bronze; while Emotan (Green) was fourth with four gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

    Obasa (Blue) and Danfodio (Red) came fifth and sixth.

    The highlights of the competition held at Queen’s College Sport’s Ground, were the entertaining March Past and the calisthenics display, which is traditionally reserved for SS2 pupils of the college.

  • I have stolen over 100 phones, suspect confesses

    Twenty-Eight year old suspect, Babatunde Ibrahim, who was arrested by the operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of Lagos State Police Command, has confessed stealing over hundred mobile phones within the metropolis.
    The suspect who was nabbed over the weekend  by the Policemen along Abeokuta-Expressway, Ikeja axis, said that stealing has become his act since childhood.
    He made this confessional statement at the RRS’ headquarters at Alausa, mentioning Sanni Azeez, 27, and Hakeem Kamoru,40, as receivers of the stolen items.
    According to him, ” The act of stealing has become part and parcel of me. I am a specialist in burgling unsuspecting members of public’s houses without their knowledge. I used to gain entrance into any house by cutting the door and window net with a razor blade. I derive pleasure in taking what’s  not belong to me.”
    “Apart from house burgling, I also operate during a traffic jam most especially most prone areas to traffic congestion such as Ikorodu road, Lagos-Abeokuta, Apapa-Oshodi Expressways and so on. The last operation I went was at Ilupeju where luck ran out of me on getting to Ikeja along,” he added.
    During an interrogation, he explained that  he entered  the building through the balcony door which was left opened before proceeding to the victim’s room to steal three handsets, two Nokia and one blackberry phones with other valuables.
    The  suspect revealed that the receivers of all his stolen phones were his friends living in Akala Street in Mushin local government.
    He  had successfully stolen the mobile phones and other valuables at ilupeju area before the Policemen suspected his movements along Ikeja upon seeing them during routine patrol on the highway.
    “We noticed his suspicious movement upon sighting us. He wanted to drop his cross bag at one corner but when he found out that we have seen him, he bolted. But we made a hot chase and later caught up with him before Ile-Zik. We interrogated him why he took  to his heels immediately he saw us, he could not provide satisfactory answers.  Then we conducted a thorough check on his bag where we recovered the stolen items,” the Police said.
    The police said that his confessional statement enabled them to apprehend his receivers of all the stolen handsets in Mushin.
    Confirming the arrest , the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Superintendent of Police, SP Dolapo Badmus, said the suspect will face the wrath of the law for the offence committed.
    The three suspects have been further transferred to Ilupeju Divisional Police station following a request from the station’s Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to continue the investigation.

  • Lagos to ‘land grabbers’: stop or face justice

    Lagos to ‘land grabbers’: stop or face justice

    The Lagos State Government yesterday said it would no longer tolerate the illegal activities of land grabbers otherwise known as Omo-Onile, warning that anyone found using such to disturb public peace and illegally disposing people of their property would be prosecuted.

    Speaking to reporters after the monthly Security Council Meeting chaired by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, said the state government was concerned about the menace of land grabbing, especially as their activities have escalated in recent times.

    Kazeem said the council strongly condemned the disturbing menace of land grabbing, and advised members of the public who are victims of such to gather enough evidence and send same to the appropriate security agencies for prompt action.

    He said: “Land is a very important asset in this state and the security of title is also very important; therefore, anybody who uses threat of arms or physical threat to disposes people of their legitimate property will be treated as criminals.

    “Land grabbing can be civil and criminal once you use threat of arms and other physical threat to disposes people of their property and so what I will advice the public is that when you are faced with situation like this, do not physically engage these people. What you should do is to get details, video and any other information you can get on them, pass such information to the security agencies who will in turn pass them to the government and I assure you that my office will work round the clock to prosecute these people for crimes.

    “It is criminal trespass when you seek to go on other people’s property that does not belong to you. Government will no longer tolerate these activities.”

    Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni said the council considered the need to build on the successes recorded so far with regard to providing safety and security for the people, and also looked at the need to sustain and improve on measures that have so far been put in place which resulted in successes against crimes.

    He urged the people not to relent in supporting the government and indeed security agencies.

    “Let me reassure members of the public that the government have the wherewithal to hunt and look for anybody that comes to Lagos to engage in any criminal activities and let me place it on record that such criminals will be pursued and be made to face the law.

    He added that the police would work with relevant agencies to stop the activities of land grabbers.

  • ‘No leadership tussle over Eze Ndigbo of Lagos’

    ‘No leadership tussle over Eze Ndigbo of Lagos’

    The Council of Ndi Eze and the entire Igbo Community in Lagos State have said the position of Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State has not been in contention. They maintained that Eze Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu is the authentic Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State since 1999.

    Speaking to reporters at the Igbo Community Centre, Okota Lagos State the groups said “the clarification became necessary in order to correct some tissues of falsehood published in the Vanguard of March 1, 2016.”

    In a press statement signed by Eze Nwachukwu on behalf of the Council of Ndi Eze Lagos State, Igbo Community Lagos State and the 13 leaders of the two groups, they said: “The Council of Ndi Eze and the entire Igbo Community in Lagos State wish to draw the attention of the public and particularly the Governor and Government of Lagos State to the misleading and malicious falsehood published in the Vanguard Newspaper of Tuesday, March 1, 2016 on page 15 wherein it stated that ‘ a council of Eze Ndigbo is now established for Lagos State with a council of 12  Eze Ndigbo from which a chairman was chosen in the person of Eze H.N. Ohazuluike, with Eze Ndigbo Christian U. Nwachukwu designated as a member.’

    “The same falsehood was also published in the Sun Newspaper of February 25, 2016 wherein it stated that ‘the protracted leadership tussle over Eze Ndigbo Lagos State was laid to rest yesterday [February 24] following the intervention of the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Enwo Igariway and other traditional rulers from various states… With this development, Eze Ohazuluike, Eze Ndigbo Lagos State has emerged the interim chairman of the council in Lagos…However, Eze Nwachukwu, who declined the Vice-Chairmanship position has pledged to work with the council and embraced Eze Ohazuluike.’”

    The statement continued: “The genesis of the so-called protracted leadership tussle over Eze Ndigbo Lagos State started since December, 1998. The Igbo Council of Chiefs of Lagos State, Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State, jointly invited applications from Igbo in Lagos State for the Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State.

    Many Igbo sons, including Chief Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu, Chief H.N. Ohazuluike and others applied and after thorough screening by the three bodies and others, Eze Nwachukwu was selected as the Eze Ndigbo Lagos State after an election was conducted.

    “On April 22, 1999, the Igbo Speaking Community Lagos State issued Eze Nwachukwu a certificate as the duly selected Eze Ndigbo Lagos State after his coronation. On May 19, 1999, the then Chairman of Igbo Council of Chiefs, Chief Ralph Uwazurike and the then Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State Chief Solomon Okonkwo organised a press conference during which Eze Nwachukwu was presented to the public as the Eze Ndigbo Lagos State and on December 6, 2008, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State appointed him as its patron.

    “On October 5, 1999, Eze Nwachukwu was presented with a certificate by the then Oba of Lagos, Oba Adeyinka Oyekan, as the recognised Eze Ndigbo Lagos State, after which he was presented to the Council of Obas and Chiefs Lagos State by the then President-General of Igbo Speaking Community, Chief Uche Momah during which Chief Ohazuluike was ordered by Oba Oyekan to stop parading himself as Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State or he would go to jail.

    “Since then, Eze Nwachukwu has been accorded full recognition by past and present Governors and Governments of Lagos State. For instance, wife of then Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Senator Oluremi Tinubu inaugurated the Igbo Community Centre built by Eze Nwachukwu as venue for meetings and other cultural activities of the Igbo Council of Ndi Eze and other Igbo organisations.

    “We urge the public to disregard and discountenance the charade of a meeting held at Colnades Hotel Ikoyi Lagos and their illegal and unwarranted actions and publications…regarding the issue of Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State that is not yet vacant…”

    In a separate briefing, Eze Nwachukwu revealed that on November 5, 2009, the Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers invited him to its meeting held at Nike Lake Resort Hotel, Enugu on the issue of the problems caused by Igbo Cultural leaders in the Diaspora, especially with regard to traditional title of Eze reserved for traditional rulers in the Southeast.

    He said after deliberations, it was agreed that the Igbo traditional leaders in the Diaspora should be addressed as Onye Ndu Ndigbo (Leader of the Igbo) to avoid conflicit. It was in the light of that meeting that the Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers, by their letter dated November 16, 2009 (Ref No SECTR/CH/VOL.2/0238) written to ex-Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) confirming me as the Onye Ndu Ndigbo Lagos State in view of the fact that I am the recognised Eze Ndigbo Lagos State.

    “Being an ally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ohazuluika and his cohorts had no official or government recognition by the Lagos State Government. Fortunately, when PDP was defeated at the centre, Chief Ohazuluike and his group realised that they were floating without any kind of recognition by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos as they worked against the APC during the last election, they ran to Enugu to invite the Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Enugu where they have close friends and political allies to come and handpick him as the recognised Eze Ndigbo chairman in Lagos State.

  • Breaking News: Four dead, many trapped as building collapses in Lagos

    Four persons have been confirmed dead and many others feared trapped after a five storey-building collapsed at Lekki Phase one in Lagos on Tuesday morning.

    The incident occurred at Chisco bus stop, opposite Oando Gas Station.

    According to Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Rasaq Fadipe, five people have been rescued  alive, while search and rescue continues.

    More details soon.

  • PDP has no future in Lagos, says lawmaker

    PDP has no future in Lagos, says lawmaker

    Hon. Lanre Ogunyemi is the former Secretary of the Lagos State Alliance for Democracy (AD) and Special Adviser to the former Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain is representing Ojo Constituency 11 in the House of Assembly. He spoke with ENITAN SERIKI on the Ambode administration, the controversy over the proposed council poll, the anti-graft battle and other issues. 

    How have you fulfilled your mandate to your constituency as a member of the House of Assembly?

    If you are looking for the mandate of any member, first  and foremost,  the most critical of it is a state wide mandate not limited to the constituency and that is ensuring that we make good laws that will enhance a better standard of living for our people; laws that will engender good governance and ensure the provision of adequate  social amenities to the people because that is the essence of governance . The welfare and security of the people  is what is upper most to governance. But, if we now want to narrow it down to the constituency, we would be saying what impact have I brought  in terms of employment generation for my constituency, in terms of empowerment, in  terms of ensuring and also influencing the provision of social amenities from the state to my people and I think in all of these, I have done so well. The truth of the matter is that my fulfillment of the mandate gave the constituency the confidence to give me a second term in the House of Assembly.

    What are the problems of your constituency  which you have articulated on the floor of the House?

    Our problem  might be peculiar to our constituency in some circumstances, but in all of the general circumstances is the usual problem of accessible road and there  are on-going  road projects, which are expected to be completed in no distant time. Of course, we know that the problem of unemployment is a very big one. It is a problem that  is confronting our youths in the constituency and we also talk about the protection of life and property. Recently, we had some upsurge in crime rate, but we thank God that the governor has put  so much money into providing security instruments and apparatus for the security outfit in Lagos. My constituency is about  55 per cent riverine and 45 per cent upland and I will say that we have a link bridge between the upland and the riverine area. Our riverine communities will be provided with more adequate facilities . There is electricity in some of these communities, but we can do more. Also,  there is lack of adequate schools in our riverine communities and government needs to also provide incentives for  teachers who teach in the riverine communities and the rural areas. These are some of the problems we have raised over time on the floor of the House and I think our government is doing it beautifully in the face of contending requests and demands all over the state for funding of developmental projects.

    How do you access the Ambode administration in the last nine months?

    This administration has done well and I am not saying this because I am an insider. I am saying it because of the evidences  that are on ground. You will see that one of the policy trusts of his administration and campaign promises was that the government was going to address the issue of unemployment, particularly amongst  the  youths in Lagos. In this year’s budget, the governor proposed N 6.5 billion for employment trust fund. The programme of street is on. Lagos is beginning to wear a new look. Thus, the city is safer now at night. The 24-hour economy is being brought back. Also, the government is  doing so much in the direction of ensuring that we provide employment for youths. For example, in education, the teaching profession would  witness  the recruitment of 1,500 teachers in the primary schools. Other sectors like LASTMA, the fire service, just to make sure we open up the space and create opportunities for a lot of people to have one job or the other. These are some of the things that the government is doing. Beyond that, government is looking at the fire sector to give them enough equipment and resources. So,  the government is doing a lot to make sure that it surpasses the previous performance of the former administration. Ambode has a very good rating, an above average performance. At the the local government level, the government has also kick-started the construction of 114 roads, that is, two roads per local government /LCDA. If you look at the Alimisho axis , the Ikorodu axis ,virtually everywhere in the state, the government is making sure that on-going projects are completed and new ones are started . So, this is a government  that is focused and determined to make sure that we improve upon the rating that Lagos has had as a Center of Excellence .

    The PDP is boasting that they will take over from the APC in Lagos in the next election. What is your opinion?

    Well , it is a pipe dream as far as I am concerned. They are used to boasting. In the past, they boasted that they will rule Nigeria for 60 years. But, that has collapsed. They have boasted that they will capture Lagos before and up to now, they keep falling like a pack of cards.  So, I think that the PDP, as it is now, is a completely disoriented party. It is a party that is in total disarray and Idon’t know what surgery can be performed on that party. Nigerians have not forgotten the corruption that has prevailed these country in the last five and the half years ,we see mind whooping amount of money that PDP sternwards have carted away from the treasure of these country so Nigeria don’t forget easily and you now think that Nigeria will want to return that kind of government into power no it just a pipe  dream like i said and it will never manifest

    How prepared is APC for the local government election

    If you talking about the preparation of the party, I would say the party will speak to that. But, I know with the benefit of insight and as a leader in the party, we are always prepared  for any election any day and any time. We have the structure, linkage, network to win elections in Lagos. So, we are fully prepared for the local government elections and a lot of people are really looking forward to it. The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission has also approach the House wanting to amend certain parts, of the law and particularly the one that talks about the issuances of notice of election. They want to change that from 60 days to 90 days.

    That is the pipe line and, prior to now, we never had appeal tribunal they also have to look at that so that they can give more window for opportunity of fear hearing by people whom I want to appeal against their  lost at election so we are  look how to help amend these areas that  they are bringing for now and once we are able to do that for LASEC and the government give it the back up and of cause INEC that is suppose to issue LASEC with the voters register do so, I want to believe that we should be able to hold local government election this year

    What your position on the anti-corruption battle of the Federal Government

    I think it very good if we must bring Nigeria out of the woods ,the state of our economy  is near comer tones and it is mind bugling .the amount of money that has been stolen from the coffers of these country which ordinarily should have gone to provide infrastructure and made life better for the average Nigerian  so i think the president is doing well because if you look at our national budget , how do we fund all of these proposal that we are talking about and what is our internally generated revenue capacity ,we are looking at borrowing to also serves the budgets and i was also help when the EFCC chairman said we have gotten billion of stolen funds have being recovered and i think is good for our country if the government should go ahead and fight corruption headlong and make sure that everybody that has stolen the resources of these country should be brought to justices and be made to account for  every penny they have stolen because it is that way we can provide infrastructure in electricity ,road ,good education even the one bill per day that  the federal government is proposing children in school is realizable if we have the fund so these are some of the fund that are here that i think that the corruption drive of the federal government is commendable and any Nigerian who fails to support it is not a patriotic Nigerian.

    What have being your achievement so far

    i have  done a lot of empowerment to my constituency , i am an accomplished political leader , i empowered widows, i have assisted  the student ,i have provided assistance to many of my constituency and have being to commandeer  state president in my constituency in some areas for examples ,the state government have provided transformer to some communities who are n need of it and distributed free life jacket to the riverine area ,some of our schools are also getting  state presence in the area of information technology and provision of solar power in electricity option

     

     

     

     

  • Non-Motorised Transport system for Lagos

    Non-Motorised Transport system for Lagos

    The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) is promoting Non-Motorised Transport system (NMT) for the state.

    Its Acting Managing Director, Iyiola Adegboye, said this is to promote Non-Motorised Transport to check traffic congestion, environmental pollution, promote good healthy living through exercise as well as curbing climate change.

    Speaking at a workshop organised by LAMATA and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Lagos, Adegboye said the damage done to the environment by motorised transportation, in form of emission and pollution, must be checked to save our future and preserve the environment.

    Adegboye added that NMT promotes reduction in road crashes, economic savings, energy conservation, roadway cost saving, reduced risk of mortality, improvement in value of time, reduces congestion, mitigates climate change, among others.

    The workshop’s facilitator, UNEP Share the Road Global Programme Lead, Mrs. Carly Koinange, said there was the need for a paradigm shift from car-oriented to a people-oriented means of transportation.

  • Mile 12 fracas: Lagos Assembly calls for relocation of market

    Mile 12 fracas: Lagos Assembly calls for relocation of market

    Lagos State House of Assembly at plenary on Monday  called for the relocation of Mile 12 Market along Ikorodu-Ketu expressway from its current location to a more conducive place.

    Reacting to the crisis that occurred in the market last week, where some people lost their lives and properties destroyed, the House said, under matter of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Jude Idimogu, that the incident was unfortunate and should be avoided.

    The Assembly consequently called on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to relocate Mile 12 and Owode Onirin Markets to another location after conducting necessary feasibility studies and when accompanying infrastructures must have been provided.

    While commiserating with the family of those, who lost their lives in the incident, the House condemned the killings and the attitude of soldiers stationed at the market, but who could not prevent the crisis.

    The House then called on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to constitute a high-powered enquiry into the crisis and punish the perpetrators.

    The Speaker of the House, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa had earlier said that the incident was a result of disagreement amongst brothers, adding that the state government should summon courage and come up with a political will on the issue.

    “Soldiers have been stationed at the market since 1999, yet they have not been able to solve the problem. There is a police station there, what did the DPO do, when the incident occurred.

    “It is a market without structure, we can move the market to another place if we can provide an alternative. We should look at a new planning, we cannot have such a market at the centre of a megacity,” he said.

    He emphasised that the matter should be investigated and that the culprits should be brought to book, and that the military men stationed at the market should be investigated since they could not do anything about the matter before it got out of hand, while also suggesting provisions of CCTV in our markets.

    Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu suggested that the matter should be properly investigated to avoid a -re-occurrence rather than just relocating the market.

    The Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Wasiu Sanni Eshinlokun stressed that the market was not well organised and that a visit to the place would revealed that it is not a conventional market.

  • Lottery has potentials  to increase government revenue , says regulator 

    …Says operators are  statutorily mandated to remit 20 % of earnings into government coffers 

    Director-General of National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Mr. Adolphus Ekpe has said that lottery has the potentials  to increase revenue  for government , create wealth and generate  employment for Nigerians.

    This revenue source, as form of  economic diversification , he said should be exploited in the face of sharp fall in global  oil prices, which has dipped the revenue of Federal Government .

    He spoke at the opening of Naija Lottery office in Jibowu Lagos.

    According to him, lottery operators are mandated by regulation to remit 20 per cent of their earnings into government coffers.
    Such funds remitted into the National Lottery Trust Fund according to statutory regulations should be used to intervene on critical social infrastructure including roads, hospitals and other people – oriented causes.
    The project  he said will create employment for Nigeria as is the experience in other parts of the world.
    He listed the employment opportunities in lottery to include those directly and indirectly involved in the marketing of the product as well as staff of the firm.

    Operators in the business, he said according to regulatory requirements ought to remit 20 per cent of their earnings to government as revenue while 50 per cent of the proceeds is geared towards prizes for winners.

    The outstanding 30 per cent, he said is the supposed income for the lottery operator. He said, “This business has potentials to create wealth and jobs for Nigerians .

    Also speaking at the event, Majority Leader , House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila said the National Assembly will amend relevant sections of the Nigerian Lottery Act to ensure all players in the sector operate in level playing field.

    Chairman of International Lottery and Gaming Limited, Prince Adesegun Oniru expressed his certainty that Naija Lottery will prove to be a most successful operation.