The Ministry pledge to communicate the new date for the Lagos State Boat Regatta as soon as possible.
In a statement made available to The Nation, the Head of the Public Affairs Unit at the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mrs. Seriki Omowunmi said the decision aims to ensure maximum participation and enjoyment for all attendees.
The Boat Regatta, a significant event in Lagos’ cultural calendar, celebrates the state’s vibrant maritime heritage and serves as a platform for showcasing traditional boat racing and cultural performances.
The state government assures residents and visitors that the rescheduled date will allow for better coordination and preparation, promising an unforgettable experience.
The Ministry extends gratitude to all participants, stakeholders, and sponsors for their understanding and flexibility regarding this development.
The postponement reflects government’s commitment to ensuring the success of the Boat Regatta and providing a memorable experience for all attendees. Stay tuned for updates on the rescheduled date as the government works towards delivering an exceptional event.
Lagos Water Corporation, bubbled with lots of excitement as the Corporation celebrated the send forth of ten numbers of LWC retirees who retired between January – April, 2024, and have worked diligently and contributed immensely towards water service delivery in Lagos State.
According to a statement by Kehinde Fashola, the Head of Public Affairs, Lagos Water Corporation, the atmosphere was charged with songs as management staff and staff present trooped to the dance floor to glorify God Almighty for sparing their lives to witness the memorable event.
In his brief goodwill speech, the Chief host, LWC Managing Directors, Engr. Mukhtaar Temitope Tijani said: “this event is to appreciate our retirees who have served the Corporation diligently and meritoriously while in active Service, as we are here today to recognise and appreciate their efforts while still alive.”
While describing the retirees, as dedicated, amazing, committed, and hardworking staff, the LWC boss added that “honouring your long years of tireless service to our team and celebrating the legacy of your hard work and dedication is unquantifiable, as it is not only made a huge difference but also touched a lot of lives along the way, which are Unforgettable.
“So, I am proud of you and your remarkable achievements in your respective careers, as you are all true professionals by example, demonstrating that excellence is something to aim for every day”.
Today, you are retiring, but not tired. I am congratulating you on your excellent, standout careers and wishing you the best of retirements”.
Wishing you all, good times, good health and the best in your future endeavours”.
Engr. Tijani however, presented Certificates of Service to the retirees in recognition of their meritorious service and hardwork.
The Lagos state government on Thursday, March 28, disbursed a total of N4.48 billion in pensions to 1,455 retirees for March.
The payment was made during the 104th retirement bonds certificate presentation by the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC).
The state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu had vowed to pay at least N4 billion in March during the 103rd retirement bonds certificate ceremony in February, when LASPEC paid N3.2 billion in accrued pensions to 1,013 retirees.
To settle all pending accrued pensions by the middle of the year, the governor guaranteed that the state government would pay an additional N3 billion in April.
While he acknowledged the backlog in the payment of accrued rights, Sanwo-Olu noted: “Our attention is focused on systematically eliminating the backlog.”
He also expressed optimism about the actualisation of the government’s dream of a “Pay-As-You-Go” model before his term ended.
At the presentation, LASPEC Director-General, Babalola Obilana, said that the monies were released for civil personnel who retired before the start of the Contributory Pension Scheme in 2007.
Obilana expressed gratitude to Sanwo-Olu for his steadfast dedication to the well-being of the state’s residents.
The governor, he pointed out, had consistently placed pensioners’ interests first and supported measures to lessen their financial difficulties.
He assured that by mid-2024, retirees from the state would receive their benefits as they departed from government employment, emphasising that the governor had kept his word to clear all pension arrears.
Obilana said: “On behalf of Gov. Sanwo-Olu and the entire Lagos State Government, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all of you present at this memorable event.
“Lagos State is thankful for your accomplishments and the enduring contributions you have made throughout your distinguished careers.
“You have exemplified the values that define Lagos State – integrity, commitment, and excellence.
“Your dedication and hard work have contributed to the dream of a `Greater Lagos’. You are a source of inspiration for us all. Your legacy will undoubtedly continue to resonate within the public service.”
LASPEC DG further urged retirees to be cautious of fraudsters and choose suitable pension investments. He highlighted the transition from professional life to leisure and hoped their future would be full of happiness and fulfillment from a rewarding professional life.
Lagos State Speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa in his remark, pledged to support legislation to improve pensioners’ lives.
Obasa, representing the House Committee on Establishments, Training, Pensions and Public Service, assured that outstanding pensions would be cleared by May.
He said: “All we want is your trust and support for this administration to thrive. Be assured that we will not fail you.”
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Thursday stated Lagos State recorded N1.05trillion domestic debt in the fourth quarter (Q4 2023) to emerge the state with the highest public debt portfolio.
NBS document tagged: “Commodity Price Index and Terms of Trade (Q4 2023), that made this known, added that Lagos was followed by Delta with a debt portfolio of N373.41 billion.
The document said: “Lagos state recorded the highest domestic debt in Q4 2023 with N1.05 trillion, followed by Delta with N373.41 billion.”
According to the report, Jigawa recorded the lowest domestic debt with N42.76 billion, followed by Kebbi with N60.69 billion.
On external debt, NBS noted Lagos has the highest external debt in Q4 2023 with $1.24 billion followed by Kaduna with $587.07 million while Borno recorded the least with $20.49 million, followed by Yobe with $21.49 million.
The data said Nigeria’s public debt stock which includes external and domestic debt stood at N97.34 trillion (US$108.23 billion) in Q4 2023 from N87.91 trillion (US$ 114.35 billion) in Q3 2023, indicating a growth rate of 10.73% on a quarter-on-quarter basis.
Total external debt, said the document, stood at N38.22 trillion (US$42.50 billion) in Q4 2023, while total domestic debt was N59.12 trillion (US$65.73 billion).
The bureau revealed that the share of external debt (in naira value) to total public debt was 39.26% in Q4 2023, while the share of domestic debt (in naira value) to total public debt was 60.74%.
Pioneer Military Governor of Osun State, Major General Segun Ajiborisha (rtd) has hailed the struggle for rebirth of Lagos State.
Ajiborisha, former principal staff office (PSO) to one-time Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, gave the commendation when he hosted the steering committee of De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, a body working for a better Lagos State.
At the virtual parley attended by Board of Trustees Alternate Chair, Maj-Gen Tajudeen Olanrewaju; President, Adelani Adeniji-Adele; among others, Olanrewaju reiterated the foundation’s stance on political representation.
He said parties should nominate indigenes as candidates, and affirmed the determination to uphold this for a better state.
An international Public Relations firm, Bruit Costaud and the Lagos State Government are considering a partnership to facilitate investment in the exploration and commercialization of offshore gas reserves in the State.
Its Managing Partner, Lai Mohammed, who is also the former Minister of Information and Culture, paid a courtesy visit to the Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, in Lagos.
Mohammed, while congratulating Sanwo-Olu on his infrastructural strides, noted that Lagos is the commercial capital and top destination for investors in Nigeria and must be greatly utilised.
His words: “Energy is key to the growth and development of any state and nation by extension.
“At Bruit Costaud, we possess the expertise experience network and track record in-house and are interested in collaborating with the State Government to facilitate investment in the exploration and commercialisation of the massive deep offshore gas reserves in abundance in Lagos offshore.
“It will be a great honor and privilege for us at Bruit Costaud to work with Lagos State to deliver on its promise and vision of becoming Africa’s Model Mega City and Global, Economic and Financial Hub that is Safe, Secure, Functional and Productive.”
He announced the visitation was to acquaint Lagos government with their expertise in providing tailored solutions to navigate complex policy landscapes and regulatory challenges.
Identifying some of its services, Mohammed said strategic communications and media amplifications are part of its expertise to shape positive perceptions through effective communication strategies across print, online, and digital media.
Among other things, he noted that the firm is committed to drive commercial diplomacy, dispute resolution, geopolitical intelligence and policy monitoring, stakeholder mapping and government engagements.
Responding, Sanwo-Olu, commended Mohammed, for not going into early retirement after service as Minister.
The Governor hailed the BC team as one made up of people of credible achievements and reflective of different age brackets to avoid experience gap.
He assured that out of the many areas of service listed by BC, there could be some in which the Lagos State government could partner with BC after consideration.
The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba has approved Friday, March 29 2024, to Friday April 5, 2024 as easter vacation for judges of the state judiciary.
This was contained in a public notice signed on his behalf by the Chief Registrar of the State Judiciary, Tajudeen Elias.
The statement said work will resume on Monday, April 8, 2024.
It stated: “It is hereby stated for general information that the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Honourable Justice Kazeem Olanrewaju Alogba has, pursuant to Order 49 Rule 4(c) and 5 of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules – 2019, approved that Friday the 29th day of March, 2024 to Friday the 5th day of April, 2024 shall be the year 2024 Easter vacation period.
“Please note that the court will resume work on Monday , the 8th day of April. 2024.
“Arrangements for dealing with urgent cases during the Easter vacation are that each judge shall deal with all urgent applications related to any substantive case already assigned to him/her. Any urgent application, (the substantive cause of which has not already been assigned) will be dealt with by the judge to whom the application is specifically assigned.
“Notwithstanding the provisions of Order 49, Rule 4 (supra) any case or matter may be heard by a Judge during the period of the Easter vacation where such a case or matter is urgent, provided that the conditions prescribed by Order 49 Rule 5 (supra) shall be observed and complied with”, the statement added.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have launched massive raids across Lagos, Edo and Ondo state leading to the seizure of over 44,948.1 kilograms (44.9 tonnes) of illicit drugs and arrests of eight suspects as well as the seizure of 11 vehicles owned by the drug cartels.
Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
Babafemi said while a total of 7, 687.8kg of cannabis was destroyed in a warehouse in Ala forest, Akure, Ondo state with another 670kg evacuated, on Saturday 23rd March 2024, no less than 14,310.8625kg of same psychoactive substance was razed on 5.7 hectares of farms in Ohosu/Ugbogui forest, Ovia South West LGA, Edo State on Tuesday 19th March.
He said five suspects including 67-year-old Sunday Otulugbu; Agbayeogor Joshua, 39; Kelvin Ofuasia,45; Williams Peter, 37; and Kamaru Onimisi, 44, were arrested.
He said in another operation in Uzebba/Avbiosi forest on Thursday 21st March, over 6,500kg cannabis was destroyed on 2.6 hectares of farms where three suspects: Kabiru Idris, 36;
Alaba Jimoh, 40; and Lekan Asobere, 35, were arrested.
In the same vein, he said 5,000kg of same substance was razed in a warehouse in Okpuje forest, Owan West LGA by NDLEA operatives with support from the military on Friday 22nd March.
According to the statement, in Lagos, a well-coordinated operation on Wednesday 20th March led to the seizure of 10,534 kilograms (10.534 tonnes) of Ghanaian Loud, a strain of cannabis in Ajah area of the state where 11 vehicles were seized from the drug cartel.
Babafemi said the recovered vehicles include: Iveco truck marked KRD 522 YE; Toyota sienna marked AAA 338 GL; Toyota sienna marked AAA 308 EP; Toyota sienna marked FKJ 381 JC; Nissan bus marked EKY 846 YG; Mercedes bus marked EPE 743 XT; an unmarked Iveco J5 bus; Toyota sienna marked LSD 744 GP; Toyota highlander SUV marked KTU 280 FN; Toyota sienna marked AAA 333 GH and Toyota sienna marked FKJ 208 HV.
He said in another raid at Ago Palace Way Area of the state on Friday 22nd March, a suspect, Miracle Obi was arrested with 1,006 ampoules of pentazocine injection; 50 tablets of tramadol 225mg; 89 bottles of codeine syrup and 2,360 ampoules of Diazepam injection.
He said another suspect, Kareem Mustapha was earlier on Tuesday 19th March nabbed along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway with 25,000 pills of tramadol and 5,900 ampoules of pentazocine injection.
The statement read: “While 58kg cannabis was recovered at Jagindi village, Kafanchan LGA, Kaduna State on Friday 22nd March, Abdulqadir Muhammad, 34, was arrested with 45 kilograms of same substance by NDLEA operatives along Kaduna- Zaria expressway.
“In Borno state, Salisu Yusuf, 20, was nabbed with 30kg Arizona, a strain of cannabis at Njimtilo checkpoint on Saturday 23rd March, while another suspect, Rabiu Husseini, 27, was arrested with 34kg cannabis along Gwagwalada/Abuja highway on his way from Lagos to Katsina state on Wednesday 21st March.
“The following day, 22nd March, NDLEA officers on patrol along Gashua-Baymari road, Busari LGA, Yobe state arrested Haladu Hassan with 160 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 50kg.
In Kano state, a syndicate dealing in cocaine and heroin was successfully dismantled with the arrest of 42-year-old Onyeka Uba at Sabon Gari area of Kano where 1.805 kilograms and 7grams of the illicit substances were recovered from him on Monday 18th March. Another suspect, Ubale Sani, 49, was also arrested with 51.5kg cannabis at Chiromawa area of Kano.
“Operatives of a special operation unit of NDLEA also disrupted criminal activities of another cocaine syndicate in Abuja at the weekend with the arrest of three leaders of the group. While Nnajiofor Celestine Kenechukwu, 41, and Okoro Chigozie Christian, 35, were arrested.
“On Friday 22nd March at Paint House Hotel, Umar Garba Benna Street, 21 Road, First Avenue, Gwarimpa Abuja with 718 grams of cocaine, a follow up operation at the residence of Okoro Chigozie at House 30, 69B Road 6th Avenue Gwarimpa, led to the recovery of 19 blocks of Arizona, a strain of cannabis weighing 9.823kg and monetary exhibits: N545,500 and $250, as well as property documents. Two vehicles: Toyota Camry 2007 marked BWR 94 BM and Toyota Camry 2012 marked RBC 154 BS were also recovered from them.
“Another follow up operation to the residence of Nnajiofor Celestine Kenechukwu at 49 Mercy Orjiakor street, Becky Estate 11, Karu, Nasarawa state on Saturday 23rd March also led to the recovery of various quantities of Arizona and methamphetamine while his girlfriend and accomplice, Ifemenam Oge was arrested.
“With the same vigour, the various commands of the Agency across the country continued with the War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaign in the past week. Some of them include: WADA sensitisation lecture for students and teachers of Government Day Secondary School, Damaturu, Yobe; Government Secondary School, Afaha Ukwa, Akwa Ibom; Total Child School, Awka, Anambra and Celestial Church of Christ High School Oke-Ado, Ibadan, Oyo state, among others.
“While commending the officers and men of the Lagos, Edo, Ondo, Kano, Borno, Kaduna, and FCT Commands as well as the Special Operations unit of the Agency for their outstanding feats in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) equally applauded their counterparts in all the commands across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures in schools, markets, motor parks, worship centres and work places.”
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has disclosed that his administration would collaborate with a technology company, Meta Platform Inc. (formerly Facebook) to deepen the digital space in the State
In a statement, Sanwo-Olu’s media aide, Gboyega Akosile, said the governor spoke during a courtesy visit by the President, Global Affairs, Meta Platforms Inc. (Facebook), Sir. Nick Clegg at the Lagos House, Marina.
The areas of mutual interest between Lagos State and Meta Platform will include digital marketing scholarships for Lagosians, open source technology for training of young innovators in Artificial Intelligence, and tools for local businesses to help develop their businesses among several other areas of partnership.
During the courtesy visit, Governor Sanwo-Olu reiterated his administration’s commitment to ease of doing business, saying the State Government would continue to leverage its rules and regulations for businesses to do well.
The governor said the State sees technology as an enabler for the country to catch up with the first-world economy.
He promised that Lagos would, in years to come, become the human capital centre of the world.
He said: “We see a huge opportunity in the future of work and growth. One of the things we want Lagos to be remembered for in the next 10, 15 years, is to be the human capital of the world. If Facebook needs 500,000 to one million people, you can come to Lagos. If Microsoft needs a million people for the next 10 years, we can help with that.
“We are creating an enabling environment for the likes of Meta Platform to come in. We are developing the system and an economy where we don’t want to starve businesses but we want to create a platform where your businesses can thrive and grow.
Good ideas never die. However long it takes, and whatever the intensity of opposition, they manage to filter into discourse. This is applicable in the case of the quest for a constitutional special status for Lagos State.
Indeed, Lagos has paid much price by being the administrative headquarters of the country in different modes since it became the first colony on March 5, 1862. It later became capital of the Southern Protectorate, and later Nigeria after the amalgamation of the North and South by Lord Frederick Lugard.
The operational ports are cited there, and according to the National Bureau of Statistics, despite being the smallest state in size, about 10 per cent of the population reside there.
The consequent pressure on the infrastructure and its bulwark of support for the nation are the main reasons for the quest to accord it a special status akin to that given the current federal capital, Abuja, that houses less than a fifth of the Lagos population. By law, the Federal Capital City draws one per cent of the federal budget.
Following in the steps of his predecessors, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has continued to stridently canvass special attention to the state by the Federal Government. At the end of a parley by the political elite in and from the state on Monday, Governor Sanwo-Olu again made the case, and the communique from the meeting validates his position. Unanimously, all members of the state executive, legislature and federal lawmakers resolved to pursue the case, citing the burden that the city bears as the most cosmopolitan, commercial and industrial nerve-centre, and the lingering effect of its rile as federal capital up till December 1991.
Besides, examples from other countries that have effected a change of their federal capital indicate that it is the appropriate thing to do. Abidjan, former capital of Cote d’Ivoire, retains its glamour and allure. Most political functions are retained in the city apart from its economic central role, despite the capital having moved to Yamoussoukro by the late President Felix Houphoet-Boigny in 1983. The same could be said in the relation of former Tanzania’s capital city to Dodima which now houses the administrative headquarters.
In South Africa, the situation is a little different. While Pretoria is regarded as the capital, it is only the executive or administrative headquarters, Cape Town is home to the Legislature, and the Judiciary is located at Bloemfontein. That way, attention is paid to all, in addition to the most populous city, Johannesburg.
We agree with Governor Sanwo-Olu that the ongoing constitution review should find means of compensating Lagos for its role in national development and holding the country together.
Similarly, it is time to review whatever constitutional impediment remain on recognition of the state’s local council development areas. Since the Supreme Court’s pronouncement in 2004 that they are “inchoate”, a lot has happened to further justify their creation. A number of states that are far less populous have created such development areas. As a country that should pull all stops to promote development, there is no reason why such development areas should not be created.
Lagos rightly feels cheated as many states created with it in 1967 have since given birth to others. Perhaps the most popular is Kano from which Jigawa was carved out. Kano has 44 local government areas and Jigawa 27. This means the old Kano has 71 LGAs to Lagos’ 20. Yet, each local government council draws funding from the Federation Account to aid development. Old Oyo State was split into Oyo and Osun with 63 LGAs between them, Bendel into Edo and Delta, Gombe carved out of Bauchi and Katsina from Kaduna, the old East Central State now has five states, among others. Lagos continues to draw people from all over the country, but lacks commensurate compensation for the arduous role. The least it could attract is one per cent of the federal revenue as pertains to Abuja.
At the rate that the city is growing in population, unless its budget improves exponentially, it could soon slide into a huge urban slum as the revenue would be inadequate to maintain the current infrastructure, let alone meet development expectation. This is one task that we expect the federal legislature and executive to undertake dispassionately during the tenure of the 10th National Assembly.
