The Nation Newspaper

Tag: lagos

  • Kunle Afolayan’s new TVC underscores AMBODE dreams for Lagos

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) popular slogan, ‘Change’, it appears, is a revolutionary mantra against bad governance, as multiple award-winning actor and filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, has just adjusted his tune to ‘Continuity’, apparently in support of the APC governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, to carry on the achievements of the party in the nation’s commercial and entertainment hub.

    With the governorship and states’ House of Assembly election just one week away, Afolayan, not only brings his ingenuity to bear in a new smash-hit commercial that endorses Mr. Ambode, he is taking the Yorubas down memory lane, with a footage from Ija Ominira, the popular movie shot in 1978 by his late father, Adeyemi Afolayan (Ade Love).

    Ija Ominira (Struggle for Independence) in this context is a message of relentlessness on the part of indigenes and residents of Lagos to preserve the achievements of the state and sustains its independence from strange political opponents.

    A 60-second production, the Television Commercial (TVC), which has been described as a blast from the past, is mixed with contemporary reality. Afolayan used the goje musical instrument together with the traditional chant of Ajobiewe, the talented actor and poet, to spice up the creative appearance he made with his father, who passed on in 1992.

    The TVC brings to the fore, the success of Lagos, by attributing same to the solid foundation laid since 1999 and, playing up reasons to continue with that tradition of excellence by having an astute administrator who understands governance to succeed the incumbent Governor Babatunde Fashola.

    Afolayan’s production joins the rich list of quality television commercials and artistes who have enlisted to use the creative arts to drum up support for Ambode’s candidacy.

    A world-class television commercial, “I Believe” and the “Ambo” soundtrack featuring the best of Nigeria’s music and film artistes like MI, Flavour, Banky W, Yemi Alade, Ice prince, Desmond Elliot and Ali Nuhu are widely acknowledged to have distinguished Ambode’s campaign in the last four months. Other artistes who have recorded hit songs for the APC candidate include Alhaji Kollington Ayinla, King Wasiu Ayinde (K1), Dede Mabiaku, Dammy Krane, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, Seun Bankole, Sefiu Alao, Fatai Akanbi Valentine and Gbenga Adewusi.

    Meanwhile, Ambode has said that the emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari as the President-elect portends good omen for the development of arts, entertainment and tourism in Nigeria. Speaking through his Director of Communications, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the APC candidate said Lagos State would benefit from an APC-led government at the federal level.

    “The entertainment and tourism sectors will benefit tremendously from an APC-led government at the centre from May 29. We are not talking about occasional monetary hand-outs to select artistes. We are concerned about building enduring structures and empowering creative artistes and producers who invest their time and resources in these thriving sectors.

    “With an APC-led government at the centre and in Lagos, our aim is to work with the federal government to have the National Theatre at Iganmu rehabilitated once and for all, and turn it into a profitable base for artistes. We can extend similar thoughts to the National Museum and National Gallery of Arts. Those places should not be dead-ends. Yes, they are Federal Government properties but they are in Lagos and an APC-led government at the centre and in Lagos State will work in sync to turn those places around. This is why it is of utmost importance that Lagosians take advantage of this God-given victory of last Saturday to vote to retain APC in Lagos State. We have waited for 16 years for this to happen and we shouldn’t blow it now,” Ambode said.

    He added that one of his proposed flagship programmes, Project T.H.E.S.E, aims at harnessing the hospitality, arts, entertainment and sport sectors to further drive excellence in Lagos State.

  • Rihanna’s DJs arrive Lagos for Easter show

    Rihanna’s DJs arrive Lagos for Easter show

    AS organisers of Heineken Green Light parties put finishing touches to the fourth edition of the show, scheduled to take place in Lagos this Easter Sunday, it has been announced that Grammy award-winning DJs, the Black Chiney, singer Rihanna’s group of DJs, will arrive Lagos today.

    If last year’s show is anything to go by, then, music lovers are out to enjoy another perfect blend of Jamaican, UK Urban and American club styles channelled through notable world-best such as DJs Tim Westwood, Babey Drew and Benny D.

    Sponsored by beer brand Heineken, the star-studded party series holds at the Quilox nightclub in Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Last year, the party series reached its peak with three earth-shaking parties featuring the international DJs alongside their top Nigerian counterparts like DJ Xclusive and DJ Spinall among others. This year, the list, organisers say, will include popular Wazobia FM DJ, Snoop Da Damaja.

    Black Chiney, a Chinese-Caribbean-British-American group, has worked with several international superstars around the world, including Snoop Lion, Rihanna, Sean Paul, Drake, Mary J Blige, Estelle among many others.

    Black Chiney is one of the top Jamaican DJ in the world, producing and performing a diverse and exciting mix of Ska, HipHop, Rocksteady, Reggae and Dancehall.

  • UNIC Lagos takes slavery remembrance to Slave Port

    UNIC Lagos takes slavery remembrance to Slave Port

    The Slave Trade era may have ended in the 19 century, but they chose to remember. Their campaign was targeted at ending other forms of slavery.

    Pupils, youths and women were determined to sensitise the town about the gory history of slavery and the need to avoid modern slavery. While singing anti-slavery songs, the crowd moved through the streets.

    While the world was remembering the victims of slavery and the trans-Atlantic slave trade last Wednesday, the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Lagos, decided to take the celebrations to one of the slavery the routes  the ancient town of Badagry.

    As a United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) designated Slave Trade Route widely noted as a key port in the export of slaves to the Americas, Badagry presented a perfect site for the commemoration of the International Day of remembrance of victims of slavery and the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The community prides itself in the several slave trade museums, most of which are private, established by families whose forefathers were direct victims of slavery or collaborators of slave traders.

    These vivid reflections of that tragic history drew UNIC Lagos in partnership with African Rennaisance Foundation to the place. It also chose to add the voices of women and the young in its campaign against the hideous act.

    This year’s Day of Remembrance, according to the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, pays particular tribute to the many women who suffered and died during the slave trade. “Women slaves played a key role in maintaining the dignity of their communities. Too often their leadership and brave resistance have been underestimated or forgotten,” Ki-moon said.

    He noted that ‘tragically, slavery has still not ended’ as it ‘stubbornly persists in many parts of the world, in the form of forced labour, trafficking, sexual exploitation or captivity in slavery-like conditions. While calling for renewed commitment toward ending modern slavery, he said: “so our children will live in a world free of racism and prejudice with equal opportunity and rights for all”.

    Badagry and its monarch played host to UNIC- organised. series of activities to mark the day.

    An arts exhibition on the 2015 theme: Women and Slavery was held along with a film screening of a documentary, entitled: They are we. There were students’ briefing; awareness rally; slave dance/cultural display and visits to two Slave Trade Museums and the Slave Port.

    The campaign train stopped first at the Mobee Slave Trade museum rich in relics of slavery, such as the ankles and neck shackles; the mouth locks; the Canons; etc. Seeing the neck shackles and attempting to carry some of chains weighing about 100kg, the pupils were shocked that it was meant to be put on a human’s neck.

    The train moved next to the Seriki Faremi Williams Abass Slave Museum where the pupils and other participants inspected the slave cells, and had the ankle shackles demonstrated.

    The National Information Officer of UNIC, Oluseyi Soremekun, who, thereafter, delivered UN Secretary General’s message in English and Yoruba, volunteered to have his ankles locked. After taking it off, he said: “It was physically painful and mentally disturbing as there was no freedom of movement, no freedom from violence and very traumatic. When the ankle locks were removed few minutes after, it left a ‘bangle mark’ on my ankles.”

    The day’s activity ended with a discussion session. His Majesty, De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I, The Akran of Badagry Kingdom, who was represented by His Honour, High Chief (Dr) Owheton Ahumbe II, the Agoloto of Badagry, urged parents who were in the habit of giving their children to other people to raise because of poverty to desist from such act, saying such children ran the risk of being subjected to slavery-like conditions.

    African Rennaisance Foundation, Executive Director, Babatunde Mesewaku, provided a historical insight into Slave Trade in Badagry, urging that slavery be remembered and all such acts capable of bringing back the sad memories be shunned.

  • Lagos FA Cup enters semi-final stage

    Lagos FA Cup enters semi-final stage

    First Bank Football Club of Lagos will take on Nath Boys as the Winners Golden Bet powered Lagos FA Cup semi final games begin on Friday, April 3 at the Agege Stadium, Lagos.

    Also on Friday, Christ Ambassador will slug it out with Eko Akete in the other men’s semifinal match at the same venue.

    The final, however, comes up at the same venue on April 6.

    In the women’s category, Young Talented Queens will host COD United Ladies.  The winner will then face defending champions, FC Robo in Monday’s final.

    The winner of this year’s edition in the men category will go home with  N750,000 while the second placed team goes home with N250,000.

    The women’s category will see the winner carting home N300,000 while the second placed team will get N200,000.

    Also, according to the sponsor, Winners Golden Bet there will also be prizes and award for the Most Valuable Player (MVP), the Highest Goal Scorer and media awards.

    Meanwhile, Lagos Football Association while assuring fans coming to watch the games a fun filled day, also promised adequate security at the venue.

    The state FA Chairman, Seyi Akinwunmi said in Lagos on Wednesday that all arrangements have been made to ensure  hitch-free semi-final and final games.

    “We are expecting a glamorous event as much as possible. We should expect good football.  If you are following the competition in the state this year, you will see that football has been organised on high quality.

    “We are expecting lots of fans at the match venue as we expect a fun-filled day. I can assure you that you will see lots of activities at the stadium,” he noted.

  • Rashid Lombard to deliver Jazz DAY lecture in Lagos

    Rashid Lombard to deliver Jazz DAY lecture in Lagos

    Rashid Lombard, the founder of the award-winning Cape Town International Jazz Festival, South Africa, has been named the Guest Speaker at this year’s International Jazz Day Lecture in Lagos.

    Lombard, who is also special guest of honour of the Lagos International Jazz Festival 2015, has over the past 40 years, been recognised with awards, including official recognition with the South African National Order of Ikhamanga Award.

    According to the organisers, this year’s International Jazz Day on April 30 is both the culmination of the Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) and start of the three day Lagos International Jazz Festival 2015 organised by Inspiro productions. Mr. Lombard will be speaking on the topic, International Jazz Festivals: A Driver for Tourism and Economic Growth – the South African Perspective.

    Born in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa on 10 April 1951, Lombard trained as an architectural draughtsman and then worked as an industrial photographer before becoming a photojournalist, covering Africa, and, particularly, South Africa, where he focused on photographing the rise of the South African democratic movement.

    The International Jazz Day Lecture and Lagos International Jazz Festival 2015 will take place at cultural hotspot, Freedom Park, Lagos.

  • Jubilation in Ibadan, Lagos, Kano, Minna, Uyo, others

    Jubilation in Ibadan, Lagos, Kano, Minna, Uyo, others

    NIGERIANS took to streets yesterday in Ibadan, Lagos, Kano, Niger, Lokoja, Kaduna, Sokoto, Maiduguri and others jubilating from the moment it was confirmed that All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) would be declared as the country’s president-elect.

    Men, women, youths and children, in joy, shouted: “Sai Baba, Sai Buhari” as they celebrated.

    At Sabo area of Ibadan, residents, most especially northerners, brought out brooms, shouting “Sai Baba”, “Sai Buhari” as motorists had hectic time linking Adamasingba due to gridlock.

    Some of the celebrants were on bikes, riding up and down the streets. A cow with the logo of the APC was bought for residents’ entertainment. A disc jockey was on hand to entertain the people.

    It was the same story at Challenge, Gate, Iwo-Road, Felele, Ojoo and other areas.

    Lagos residents also trooped  out in their thousands yesterday night to celebrate the emergence of the APC presidential candidate and his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

    The Hausas took over Ketu and Mile 12 axis of Ikorodu road, shouting: “Say Baba, Say Buhari”.

    Lining up the two sides of the express road, they carried high the campaign banners of Buhari/Osinbajo and the state APC governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode from Mile 12 market towards Ketu/Ojota shouting: “Sai Baba, Sai Buhari”.

    The crowd caused gridlock among vehicles going to Owode/Ikorodu, forcing motorists to chorus the victory slogan.

    Some northerners also took to beating drums and playing their traditional flutes as others danced in circles in celebration.

    In Kano, it was wide elation, as the news of Gen. Buhari’s victory filtered into town. Youths in their hundreds stormed the streets in celebration.

    Some of the youths engaged in acrobatic display with their motorbikes and tricycles, with majority of them waving brooms – the symbol of the APC.

    Minna, the Niger State capital, was also enveloped with joy as the youth, party members and supporters rejoiced.

    As soon as the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Returning Officer for the presidential election, Prof. Attahiru Jega, adjourned sitting for the collation of result from Borno by 6pm, the youth took to the streets.

    In what was like an instantaneous reaction, horn blaring cars and motorcycles with jubilating youths took to the streets, waving brooms and APC flags, Buhari’s banners and posters.

    From Chanchaga through Tunga to Mobil, Bosso and Tundu-Fulani, the jubilating teams took over the roads.

    At Maitumbi, Saiko, Limawa, Nikangbe, Dutsen Kura, Maikukunle and Kapgunku, youths were seen rejoicing and celebrating.

    Thousands of APC supporters also trooped to the streets of Kaduna in wild jubilation.

    The supporters, who were on motorcycles, bicycles, Keke NAPEP and cars, carried brooms and started chanting ‘Sai Baba’ and sweeping major Kaduna streets.

    Though Kaduna city was very quiet in the early hours of yesterday, at about 4pm, APC supporters stated gathering at major junctions like Ungwar Sarki, Tudun Wada and Ahmadu Bello Way.

    As at the time of filing this report, rumour of dusk-to-dawn curfew was going round, but the residents were unconcerned.

    In Sokoto, thousands of APC supporters and well-wishers of its presidential candidate yesterday started jubilating the anticipated victory of the candidate before the official announcement by Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega.

    The streets of Sokoto, the state capital, were agog with jubilant youths, most of who entertained the crowd with their bikes.

    Maiduguri and Emir Yahaya roads were taken over by the youth.

    Residents also took to the streets in Lokoja, even as results from Borno State were yet to be officially announced by INEC.

    Thousandsof Maiduguri residents also rejoiced before Gen. Buhari was officially declared winner of the election.

    Security operatives also joined in the celebration, shooting sporadically in the air and blowing sirens on high speed with their vehicles on the streets of Maiduguri.

    In Yobe State, Damaturu, the state capital, also went into wild celebration as APC supporters trooped out to celebrate the victory.

    The youth besieged the Damaturu central roundabout and major streets, chanting party slogans.

    The Nation gathered that Potiskum, Gashua, Nguru, Geidam and other major towns were also in celebration mood.

    Many of the people were happy that their votes counted.

    In Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, supporters of APC were not left out.

    They brandished brooms, singing and dancing along the major roads in the state capital.

    The state APC governorship candidate, Umana Okon Umana, described the victory as a historic moment for Nigeria.

    Umana explained that Gen. Buhari has the required skills, experience and capacity to turn Nigeria around economically and politically.

    Also, a member of the Board of Trustees of PDP, Don Etiebet, said the victory was as a result of rebellion against the PDP.

    Etiebet described President Goodluck Jonathan’s action in congratulating Gen. Buhari victory as a new beginning for the nation’s politics.

  • Non-indigene wins in Lagos

    Non-indigene wins in Lagos

    The first non-indigene to win a federal constituency seat in Lagos, Oghne Egoh, has said he will attract infrastructure to the state.

    Egoh, who will represent Amuwo Odofin, made the promise in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    NAN reports that Egoh of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 29,761 votes to defeat the incumbent, Ganiyu Olukolu, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 20,616 votes.

    “In this particular constituency, the biggest problem we have is the decay of infrastructure; there is no water, sewage system is bad, and there are no playing grounds,” he said.

    Egoh promised to lobby ministers in charge of the ministries responsible for such facilities for an improved infrastructure in his constituency.

    The lawmaker-elect, who hails from Delta State, said his house-to-house campaign paid off, adding that he had been working for the election in the last two years.

  • Joy as Lagos rebuilds Oyingbo market

    Joy as Lagos rebuilds Oyingbo market

    After years of yearning for a modern market, traders at Oyingbo Market in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos State have expressed their joy and gratitude to Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) for rebuilding the market.

    The traders adorned in their colourful dresses during the inauguration of the market by Governor Fashola, who they praised for his development programmes.

    Oyingbo Market was established in the 1920s. Then, it was a depot for agricultural produce. The development around Ebute-Metta, Oyingbo and the Lagos Mainland have had positive impact on the market; making it grow bigger not only in size but also in the volume of goods available in the market.

    In the 1930s, traders around Apapa Road were moved to the current location to further boost the size of the market, even as meat and livestock were among the goods available for customers. As a major commercial centre, it attracted customers’ patronage from every part of Nigeria.

    Ever since, there have been attempts to re-build the market which was constructed with wood, has been gutted by fire several times.

    Successive administrations had made efforts to rebuild the market without any success.

    In 1991, the then Chairman of Lagos Island Local Government Area, Mr Babatunde Larinde demolished the market in a bid to rebuild it through partnership with the private sector. He invited the late business Mogul Chief M. K.O. Abiola to lay the foundation of the new market. Chief Abiola had promised to help attract the attention of the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) to raise the needed funds for the project.

    However, during his campaigns as the governorship candidate of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the leader of the market, Alhaja Bashirat Balogun, appealed to Mr. Fashola to assist in rebuilding the market when voted into power.

    The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr Kadiri Hamzat recalled that Oyingbo Market has existed for a long period of time, adding that in spite of its tremendous growth and expansion over the years, it remained mostly at the level of underdevelopment.

    “Growing far beyond the plans available, Oyingbo Market needed to be renovated or rebuilt in line with current realities.

    “The local government’s estimated that rebuilding the market will cost NI00 million.

    “This failed to deliver a first-class market that the city can be proud of. Several strategies were evolved until Governor Fashola decided on the best strategy. The contract for rebuilding the market was finally awarded to Messrs Palmyra Construction Nigeria Limited. It was built on a 504 square meters land,’’ he said.

    The Commissioner added that the market has all the features of a modern market that meets international standards.

    In her remarks, the Iyaloja of Oyingbo Market, Alhaja Balogun commended Governor Fashola for his excellent performance in the state in the past eight years in the areas of infrastructure development, saying the Governor had, within his tenure, lifted Lagos to become a reference point for other state.

    •Governor Fashola commissioning the new Oyingbo market
    •Governor Fashola commissioning the new Oyingbo market

    Commissioning the market, Governor Fashola said he made a promise to rebuild it in 2007 during his electioneering campaigns, adding that he had fulfilled his promise by delivering the project.

    The governor further said that out of the 633 open shops in the market, 618 would be allocated to the original owners who were displaced when the market was gutted by fire and had to be rebuilt.

    According to him, with the new market in place, the state government expected that roadside trading would end in Oyingbo as they could not use the market for their business.

    “You all know I am not seeking any political office this time, but I cannot forget that some of you voted for me. I am here today to keep my word,’’ he said. The governor urged the traders to continue to vote to for candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for more development.

    The market comprises four floor, a car park that can contain 150 cars, 622 lock-up shops, type one and 102 lock-up shops type two; industrial borehole, water treatment plant, cold room, sewage treatment plant, ground and overhead water tanks,1,000KVA transformers, closed-circuit monitor and 134 toilets facilities.

  • Fashola allays fears of violence in Lagos

    Fashola allays fears of violence in Lagos

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday allayed fears of any planned attack on residents, saying the state was safe for residents.

    The governor’s statement followed the rumours that he had given a stay-at-home order due to security reports available to him.

    He urged the residents to ignore such information

    His words: “I didn’t issue the statement. I must commend residents of Lagos for comporting themselves peacefully to perform their civic duties. And in almost eight years, I have never issued a directive as far as government work is concerned on social media.

    “Things such as work-free day, security issues have never been issued by me through the social media.

    “Rather we have always resorted to making broadcast in person or I ask the Head of Service to issue a circular, or I ask the Commissioner for Information  to make an announcement on broadcast stations.

    “That will not change. At this time, there is understandably some anxiety in the country. So people must know that nothing will change. They must ignore stories emanating from our government through social media.

    “They will be issued in the traditional ways-radio, television or through press statement. It is very possible for the social media to pick it from these medium.

    “It is unfortunate that some people at this time tried to create tension for whatever reasons known to them. But this is the time that residents of Lagos should be happy that we have crossed the first hurdle of the election and we are going through the next process which is counting and collating of the results.

    People should remain calm.”

    Fashola said there is no incident of insecurity in the state, affirming that, “the state is safe. Residents should go about their business; there is no cause to fear”.

     

  • Lagos civil servants flee secretariat

    Lagos civil servants flee secretariat

    There was confusion at the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, as scores of civil servants hurriedly fled from the premises, following rumours that they were asked to go home as the results of Saturday’s elections were about to be announced.

    It could not be ascertained where the rumour emanated from, but there were reports suggesting that the Chief of Staff has asked civil servants to go home based on a directive from Governor Babatunde Fashola.

    By noon, there was heavy human and vehicular traffic at the exit points in the secretariat.

    A worker in the Office of the Head of Service debunked the rumour, saying no one asked civil servants to go home as there was no official circular or announcement.

    A top official in the Ministry of Information said she saw people hurriedly leaving the secretariat but did not know what was responsible.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Hakeem Bello said neither the governor nor any other officials asked them to go home, saying that the government did not know where such rumour emanated from.

    At the Ministry of Transportation, workers were asked to stay back as the management threatened to sanction anyone who left.