The Nation Newspaper

Tag: lagos

  • Lagos abolishes special adviser status at council

    Lagos abolishes special adviser status at council

    The Lagos State government has abolished special adviser status and reviewed other administrative procedures for the 57 local governments and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

    The changes were effected yesterday at a stakeholder’s meeting with executive secretaries, council managers on the revised guidelines on administrative procedure for local government.

    The Head of Service (HoS), Mrs. Folashade Jaji, said parts of the reform included the change in the designation of council managers to heads of administration, abolition of special advisers at the local government level, limitation of technical department to two and the pegging of the number of units to five in each LCDA.

    According to Jaji, the  guidelines would change and maximise returns on how resources are managed in the councils and ensure community participation.

    The HoS reiterated that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had directed that the 2010 administrative guidelines should be reviewed.

    “As you all aware, the governor has assured residents of grassroots development.

    “He has urged stakeholders to collaborate with the government in the provision of infrastructural amenities in our communities,” she said.

    Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Jafar Sanuth said the guidelines were parts of government’s reforms in ensuring proper accountability and promoting cordial relations.

    The Chairman of  Conference 57, Kolade Alabi, praised Ambode for the inclusive reform and assured that all the cardinal points as adopted would be used in line with the guidelines.

  • Firm to invest N14b in Lagos

    A German investor, Mrs Isabel Knauf, is poised to establish an arm of her construction and manufacturing firm, Knauf Group International, in Lagos.

    Knauf made this known during a visit of a group of diplomats and investors, led by the German Ambassador, Mr Michael Zenner to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at Ikeja.

    She solicited the support of the governor in siting a $70 million (N14 billion) building and construction tools manufacturing company in Lagos.  She said the choice of Lagos was informed by its proximity to the ports, gas pipelines and a ready market.

    “We are looking to invest and build a factory here and we want your support. We have been to Lekki Sea Port and want to proceed on investing straight off. I wish to express our interest in investing about $70 million in construction tools factory in Lagos for the first stage,” Knauf said.

    Zenner canvassed the increased presence of German businesses in Lagos and improved bilateral trade relations with the state government.

    ”We are here to introduce and express our interest in business and economic cooperation, especially in food processing and building materials. A lot of allied companies in Germany also wish to join hands in the investment drive of the governor,’’ he said.

    Ambode described Lagos as the economic hub of Nigeria and fifth largest economy in Africa, making it investors’ destination in Nigeria. He said his administration was ready to receive German investors and activate a state-sister relationship with Hamburg to boost cooperation.

    His words: “As the economic hub of the country, we pride ourselves as the largest of the nation’s economy with the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of  $131 billion.For any German company that wants to do business in Nigeria, Lagos is your best bet.”

    Assuring of a secured environment for business, Ambode said the investment would boost Lagos as an investor-friendly state.

    “I want to say openly that we are committed to giving everything required by this group to start work immediately,” he said.

  • Supermart.ng : delivery in three hours across Lagos

    Raphael Afaedor is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Supermart.ng. He was also co-founder and Managing Director of jumia.com.ng for Lagos Nigeria from March 2012 toJanuary 2014. In this interview with TONIA ‘DIYAN, he speaks on his online business journey so far, some challenges the business is facing. Excerpts:

    Share your journey so far in online business.

    Actually, it’s been quite some years of adventure. I began my career at Monster.com where I rose to become Senior Manager in charge of Software Product Development for 18 Western European countries. I later worked at Goldman Sachs and Notore Chemical Industries before co-founding Jumia Nigeria in 2012.

    In 2014, we saw a need to solve more every day problem of households in Nigeria especially Lagos, so we started Supermart.ng, Nigeria’s leading grocery delivery service.  We have observed the stress that people go through in order to shop for groceries. Most time they move from one shop to another before going to local market to buy local ingredients. This is due to the unstructured nature of the traditional retail and wholesale system.

    Supermart.ng, however through its partnership with leading supermarkets and local markets has developed the largest one stop online market for customers to shop from over 60,000 items and have it delivered to them in as early as three hours across Lagos.

    What was the initial response from customers?

    Nigerians have come a long way in terms of accepting the e-commerce solution. At first they were actually reluctant but over time they have come to trust the system. From what it used to be when it started a few years ago, there has been significant progress. For instance earlier in 2012 ecommerce sites were recording 2,000 orders per day. Between 2012 and now we have had an exponential growth to the tune of 50,000 orders per day. At Supermart.ng, for instance, we currently record 30 per cent growth month-on-month. The major thing is to put in place a structure that customers can trust.In our own case, supermart.ng has put a system in place that customers can trust to deliver their groceries to them in as early as three hours without any hitch.

    What are the challenges?

    There are several challenges in the course of this business I must tell you but more importantly we have been able to surmount all of them.

    First, the market itself is not organised. By the market I mean the traditional wholesale and retail system. This is quite visible in the fact that it is quite hard for someone to get everything he or she wants in just one supermarket.Sowhat Supermart.ng, has done is to partner with leading supermarkets and local markets in Lagos. This ensures that Nigeria customers can now buy their groceries and everyday essentials (local and imported brand products) at one address online and have it delivered to their homes and offices across Lagos in as early as three hours. Customers can now select from over 60,000 items on Supermart.ng,website– the largest assortment of groceries and everyday essentials in Nigeria across physical and online Supermarkets. With just a click you can access everything you need from the comfort of your home without having to move from one market to another.

    Another challenge is that of logistics. Especially in Lagos, there is the fear of the unpredictable traffic situation. The traffic situation is a challenge both to the customers and to the ecommerce companies. For the customers it’s a discouraging factor from going to the stores. For the ecommerce companies, it accounts for their delay in delivery. Traditionally, it takes two to 10 days for orders to be delivered to customer’s doorstep. However, this approach cannot be used for groceries considering that most of the orders are needed the same day. In view of that, what Supermart.ng, has done is to embark on adequate city research to understand the flow of traffic so that we are able to deliver groceries in as early as three hours against all odds. In fact, during the last fuel scarcity period when telecoms companies and banks were shutting down, we still delivered and our three hours delivery promise did not fail. Essentially, those challenges are always there but when there is a will, there is always a way.

    Compare online business with other types of businesses?

      Honestly, I just feel the best way to think about this is that almost the same set of principles applies to both online and offline businesses. A typical successful business sets out to solve people’s problem and it is rewarded for doing that. The hallmark is solution and reward.

    For instance, Supermart.ng, saw the stress that people go through on daily basis from one market to another in order to purchase their groceries, we decided to assemble all the products into one market place where people can order for everything at the exact market price and have it delivered to their door step in three hours. Currently we have partnership with leading supermarkets and local markets, allow customers shop from over 60,000 items and have it delivered to them in as early as three hours, seven days a week. It is all about commitment to bringing solution.

     

  • Lagos plans ‘scholarship’ for artisans

    Lagos plans ‘scholarship’ for artisans

    Very soon, there will be some form of empowerment for artisans from the Lagos State government.

    Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs Olabisi Ariyo said this at the presentation of bursary and local scholarship to students indigenous to Lagos State last Wednesday.

    Mrs Ariyo said the plan to extend the form of scholarship beyond formal education to technical and vocational education is a demonstration of the government’s commitment to the development of all aspects of education.

    “The state government is committed to the promotion of Technical Education and Skill Acquisition in order to support and empower brilliant trainees to be self-reliant.  The proposal to provide assistance for artisans such as plumbers, mechanics, welders, etc…is in the pipeline,” she said.

    Bursaries of between N20,000 and N50,000 were presented to 1,596 students attending various tertiary institutions nationwide.  Four hundred brilliant students screened also got scholarships worth N200,000 (for undergraduates), N300,000 (postgraduates) and N400,000 (PHD); while 192 students in the Nigerian Law School and Maritime Academy, Oron were presented with N200,000 as bursaries.

    The bursaries and scholarship disbursed was worth N282,560,850.

    Mrs Omauton Jegede, Director, Lagos State Scholarship Board, also said the Lagos State government had approved the of release of funds to pay outstanding bursaries worth N231,465,000 to 6,940 old beneficiaries.

    She urged the recipients to make judicious use of the grants to further their academic pursuit.

    “Let me advise the lucky beneficiaries to make the best use of this award.  Do not see it as a meal ticket doled out to you by the state government or your own share of the state’s cake.  Use the award to empower yourselves towards excelling in your studies.  What we have done is to assist you to achieve your goal of higher education and equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to be able to attain your aspirations and ambitions in life,” she said.

    The students were presented with ATM Verve cards of Skye Bank and FCMB. Some of the beneficiaries were receiving for the first time, while were collecting for the second or third time.

    First time recipient, Simisola Tiamiyu, a 300-Level Accounting student of the Lagos State University (LASU), said the N25,000 she received would be invested in a small business.

    “The bursary is worth it.  I can start up something with this.  I make clothes.  I have decided to make some and sell to my friends,” she said.

    Another student, Sultan Danija, who is studying Statistics at the Federal University of Technology (FUTA), said he was collecting the bursary, worth N30,000 for the third time.  He praised Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for approving the payment on time.

    “We were not expecting the bursary to come this early after a new government was sworn in so we are really happy.  We thank the governor for the timeliness,” he said.

  • Lagos restates commitment to mining standards

    •Govt warns illegal sand miners

    The Lagos State Government has restated its commitment to  international standards in sand mining in the state.

    The Director, Human Resources and Administration, Mr. Fashola Adeyemi Taofik, said this during an assessment of some sand mining sites inAjah/Lekki.

    He said the Ministry will ensure that miners operate according to regulations to boost sustainable development in the state.

    In a statement, the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry, Olaoye Olusegun, Taofik noted that to obtain the mining standard, the Ministry monitors sand miners and ensure that rules are followed.

    He said: “In furtherance of the Ministry’s mandate to ensuring a sustainable mining operation, constant monitoring and  clinical review of mining methods and its impacts, taking stock of degraded area as well as putting in place a restoration plan is being done by the Ministry.

    “The objectives of the mining site monitoring and evaluation was also to locate and delineate the extent of land degradation at mining sites, initiate and develop land use programme for the identified area, for example, fish farming, agricultural cultivation, coconut plantation, and landscaping. It is also meant to identify the derivable impact of the exercise on affected communities as well as develop mining methods and proper documentation that will ensure sustainable development.”

    He said henceforth the state government would not take it lightly with those involved in illegal sand mining as they constitute the majority of those who degrade the environment.

  • Lagos takes custody of assaulted girl

    Lagos takes custody of assaulted girl

    The Lagos State Government has taken custody of Adebimpe Badmus, the 16-year-old girl allegedly burnt with iron by her aunt in Ketu.

    Miss Badmus is in the custody of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA).

    Her aunt, Alhaja Ajarat Jimoh, had accused her of sleeping with their landlady’s son, Wale Abimbola.

    Alhaja Jimoh reportedly sought the help of her friends, Khadijah and Iya Daniel, to hold the victim’s hands and legs before applying the iron on her.

    Miss Badmus was initially detained along with others at the Ketu Police Station, before she was later taken to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

    She has since denied sleeping with Abimbola.

    In a phone conversation, Abimbola also denied sleeping with her, saying that wasn’t the first time her aunt accused her (Miss Badmus) of sleeping with someone in the neighbourhood.

    He said: “Adebimpe once used my mobile phone to call her boyfriend who later bought her a phone. Because of the fear of her aunt, she kept the phone with me and comes for it when she needs it. At times, I advise her and she talks to me whenever something is bothering her. That is the only relationship between us. She is a decent girl.”

    The Nation learnt at Ketu Police Station that a case has been filed before the Ikeja Magistrate’s court in Lagos.

    A court registrar confirmed that Miss Badmus is in WAPA’s custody.

    [ad id=”403656″]He said the suspects were still in prison custody.

    The case, he added, has been transferred to another court in Ojota, Lagos.

    Director, Child Development, WAPA, Mrs Alaba Fadairo, told The Nation that Miss Badmus is hale and hearty, adding that she would resume school in the next academic session.

    A neighbour, Temitope, who also described the victim as a decent girl said she used to attend a secondary school in Mushin before she was brought to live with her aunt.

    “When she came last September, her aunt promised she was going to be transferred to another school but days turned to weeks and then months. Adebimpe stopped schooling and became a trader. She sells fish with her aunt on the Island. Aside the last incident, she has always been maltreated but still she takes care of her aunt’s children. As a married woman, I don’t wash the way Adebimpe does every day. Residents noticed all that is happening but no one could talk because they weren’t feeding her,” she said.

    Temitope, who was at the last court sitting, said the suspects had been granted N500,000 bail each. She said they were still at Kirikiri Maximum Prisons because they are yet to produce a guarantor.

    She said: “I am really overwhelmed justice has been done. I think the government should ask the victim if she really wants to continue her education or learn handiwork and afterwards be monitored. I urge other parents and guardians to learn from her case.”

  • Lagos dissolves Abandoned Vehicle Committee

    Lagos dissolves Abandoned Vehicle Committee

    Lagos State Government has dissolved the Abandoned Vehicle and Park Monitoring Committees.

    A statement by Mr Sewedo Oluseyi Whenu, Ministry of Transportation Permanent Secretary said the committees’ dissolution followed the expiration of their statutory tenure.

    Whune said: “The ministry appreciates the invaluable contributions of the Chairmen and members of the two committees in keeping our highways and roads free of all abandoned derelict vehicles and ensuring safety of commuters and other road users using motor parks across the state and wish them success in their future endeavours.

    “By this dissolution, members of the public especially the transport union and associations and the monitoring public should not transact any business with anybody claiming to be member of the two committees on behalf of the state.

    “The public is assured of the government’s support in providing the enabling environment for socio-economic activities to thrive.”

     

  • Ambode to give quarterly account of stewardship

    Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has unveiled plans to commence a quarterly rendering of account of stewardship of his administration.

    The Governor, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, said the quarterly rendering of account which will take the form of town hall meetings, will take the government to the nooks and crannies of the state to present its account of stewardship.

    He said the town hall meetings will not only afford his administration the opportunity to render its account, it would also go a long way to feel the pulse of the people and get first hand knowledge of their needs and concerns.

    He said, “The maiden edition of our quarterly report will be rendered in the first week of October and would continue in that tradition every three months going forward. At the end of each quarter, our government would report to the people of the state on the journey so far and the task ahead”.

    According to him, his administration’s efforts in the last three months have been geared towards making sure that public institutions work in the interest of the people, alluding to the fact that public institutions have been animated to measure up to the expectations of the people of the state.

    “We are committed to making the various public institutions work to the benefit of the people of the state. That in my view is why we were elected.

    “So, our government will use the town hall meetings to get feelers from the populace on how government affects them and what they want from government. The populace will also have the opportunity to know what we have been doing and what we intend to do to make the state safer, cleaner and more prosperous for all who have chosen this state as their home”, Ambode said

  • German company to build N14bn factory in Lagos

    The investment drive of the Lagos State Government received a major boost on Monday when the representative of the Knauf Group International, Mrs Isabel Knauf expressed her company’s readiness to commence work on a N14billion manufacturing firm in the state.
    The plan was disclosed when the German Ambassador, His Excellency Michael Zenner, led a group of German diplomats and investors on a courtesy visit to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.
    Zenner, while canvassing for an increased presence of German businesses in Lagos, also sought for improved bilateral trade relations with the State Government.
    “We are here to introduce and express our interest in business and economic cooperation, especially on food processing and building materials. A lot of allied companies in Germany also wish to join hands in the investment drive of the Governor”, the ambassador said.
    In his remarks, Governor Ambode who expressed his administration’s readiness to receive German investors, described Lagos as the economic hub of Nigeria and fifth largest economy in Africa, thereby making it investors’ first choice of destination in Nigeria.
    “As the economic hub of the country, we pride ourselves as the largest of the nation’s economy with the GDP of $131billion. For any German company that wants to do business in Nigeria, Lagos is your best bet. We are committed to the rule of law and we assure you of a safer and secured environment”, he said.
    The Governor, who described the visit by the German envoy as the first by an ambassador to actually visit and commit to commence immediate foreign direct investment, lauded their confidence in the Lagos economy.
    He assured the delegation of his administration’s commitment to do everything possible to ensure smooth take off of the project and sought to activate a state sister relationship with the city of Hamburg to further boost cooperation.
    “I also want to let you know that you are the first ambassador to come out openly that you want to come and start business immediately. With your coming, investors are beginning to have confidence in our quest to build an investor-friendly environment. I want to say openly that we are committed to give everything required by this group to start work immediately”, Ambode enthused.
    Earlier, Mrs Isabel Knauf of the Knauf Group International had solicited the support of the Governor towards locating a $70million (N14billion) building/construction tools manufacturing company in Lagos.
    She said the preference for Lagos was informed by its proximity to ports, availability of gas pipeline and a ready market.
    “We are looking to invest and build a factory here. We are looking for your support. We have been to Lekki Sea Port and want to proceed on investing straight off. I wish to express our interest in investing about 70million US dollars in construction tools factory in Lagos for the first stage”, Knauf said.

  • Alleged N1.7b fraud: EFCC arrests Lagos businessman

    Alleged N1.7b fraud: EFCC arrests Lagos businessman

    Firm loses fortune in phoney deal

    Outdoor giant Afromedia is battling to handle its most difficult brief ever — how to retrieve a fortune invested in a phoney deal.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is helping.

    The anti-graft agency has arrested a Lagos businessman, Alhaji Mohammed Gobir, for allegedly defrauding the foremost outdoor advertising company of cash estimated to be N1.7 billion in various currencies.

    Gobir was picked up at his Ikoyi home and put in detention.

    A source in the commission said: “The mega heist allegedly fetched Gobir $3,500,000,   N514,457,151.87,   $2,102,740,  and 51,000 pounds sterling at various times.

    “Gobir, a 55–year-old father of two, was picked up by EFCC operatives  early Saturday at his Ikoyi residence and is still being interrogated at the Lagos office of the anti-graft agency.

    “The suspect allegedly defrauded the advertising company through a phoney investment deal.

    “The suspect was allegedly introduced to Afromedia sometime in 2008 by their private placement consultants, Synergy Capital Advisory Limited, as a high networth investor who was willing to inject N1,000,000,000 into the company, through the acquisition of shares.

    “Based on his touted pedigree as potential investor, Gobir cozy up to the management and in no time became chairman of the Business Development Committee of the board of directors of the company, a position which he later used to defraud the company.

    “Having earned the trust of the company owners, Gobir started demanding large amounts of money, which he termed as business expenses to international consultants, Royal Exchange Burue in the United Kingdom in order to facilitate and secure investments from his bank in the UK, Natwest Bank London.

    [ad id=”403656″]“The company gave Gobir  $1,000,000 in cash and paid for his travel expenses on a first class return ticket to UK where he would meet with the purported investors, which investigation later showed never existed nor were the meetings ever held.”

    The commission said the fraud was uncovered when the group managing director of Afromedia followed Gobir to London on a business trip.

    The source added: “On one good day after the suspect had collected several amounts of money and made several trips to the UK to meet with the purported investors, the group managing director of Afromedia accompanied him to the UK for another round of meeting ostensibly to close the deal.

    “But as soon as they landed in the UK, Gobir made a telephone call in which his travel companion overheard him scream aloud, saying his assets were seized by UK anti-money laundering authorities.

    “He even showed the GMD an email sent to him for the alleged seizure.

    “The suspect confessed to  the MD of Afromedia that his money( $250,000,000) was seized by the British authorities five years earlier for alleged money laundering and that he was currently financially handicapped and he needed a bailout of $3,817,000 to get the European Union Money Laundering Waiver Certificate.

    “The suspect later presented a “waiver certificate”, to the company and promised to pay them the monies he had collected.”

    The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren who confirmed the arrest, said investigation into the scam continued.