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Tag: lagos

  • JUST IN: Lagos arrests touts extorting traders on Yaba pedestrian bridge

    JUST IN: Lagos arrests touts extorting traders on Yaba pedestrian bridge

    The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps has arrested some miscreants extorting traders and other Lagosians on the pedestrian bridge in Yaba.

    This arrest came after a viral video on social media showed the thugs collecting cash from Lagosians on the pedestrian bridge.

    This was revealed in a statement posted on X by Commissioner of Environment and Water Resources, Hon. Tokunbo Wahab.

    Read Also: Lagos plans free zone for drugs manufacturing

    He wrote: “In response to the viral video of some miscreants extorting traders and other Lagosians on a pedestrian bridge in Yaba, I instructed the Corps Marshal of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps @LAGESCOfficial to immediately arrest the persons and the officer involved.

    “They will be arraigned immediately in court while the clampdown on those on the run would continue. #ZeroToleranceLagos #CleanerLagos.”

  • Lagos plans free zone for drugs manufacturing

    Lagos plans free zone for drugs manufacturing

    Lagos State Government has concluded plans to establish a medical free trade zone to bolster local production of pharmaceutical products.

    The zone will also drive the creation of industrial and innovation hubs for the health and related sectors.

    Commissioner of Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, who broke news at a three-day Pharma West Africa Exhibition in Lagos, said the creation of the zone had become compelling.

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    He said the state government is deepening partnership with regulators, manufacturers and other players in the pharmaceutical industry to create an enabling environment for local producers and startups.

    Abayomi said the ambitious project is one way the state government alongside other players could reverse the adverse ratio of drug importation.

    He said the state government is committed to ensuring that the right steps were taken to achieve production of drugs to meet indigenous needs as the supra national entity to meet the health care needs of the 25 million residents of the state.

    Abayomi spoke of plans to engage regulators, including the National Agency for Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the Ports Authority, to drive the project.

  • Demolition: Lagos, council warn traders, others to leave rail tracks

    Demolition: Lagos, council warn traders, others to leave rail tracks

    The Lagos State Government and Agege Local Government have warned beggars and traders on the rail tracks along Agege corridor to vacate the area.

    The warning came as the council held an enlarged stakeholders meeting on Sunday with some community members, ahead of planned demolition of illegal structures.

    Mr. Afolabi Ayantayo, the Lagos State Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pension, at the meeting, said information had been received on various criminal activities being carried out along the rail corridor.

    He said shanties were harbouring criminals who attack passers by and residents at night.

    “Government has invested a lot of money on the rail project and we don’t want anybody to sabotage and deface the infrastructure.

    ”That is why we are educating and warning the people involved to vacate the area before enforcement begins,” he said.

    The commissioner appealed to the community and market leaders to enlighten the residents and traders to shun trading on the railway lines to avoid being arrested.

    According to him, the joint enforcement will soon begin and anybody arrested will face the wrath of the law.

    Dr. Mudashiru Obasa, the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, said he had been at the rail corridor to sensitise residents on proper sanitation and need to avoid the rail track for trading.

    Obasa, who was represented by Mr. Jubreel AbdulKareem, a member of Lagos State House of Assembly representing Agege II, said government would come with full force to demolish shanties after the stakeholders meeting.

    “We need to understand the reason government is doing this enforcement, it is for our safety and for our benefit.

    Read Also: Monarch seeks support for Tinubu’s economic polices

    “The railway is for the benefit of the people, not for trading, and the bridges are not meant for begging and for commercial purposes.”

    Chief Ganiyu Egunjobi, Chairman of Agege Local Government, earlier in his speech, said that enforcing and holding people accountable for their actions would now be the priority of the government on the railway line.

    “Our main focus is to provide health environment for everyone, to protect the infrastructure and resources and to provide security and dignity of the residents,” he said.

    The council chairman said the local government was committed to partnering the state to bring out the aesthetic value of the environment by greening the railway corridors.

    Mr. Aliyu Zango, the Mogaji Gai of Agege, in his remarks, thanked the state and local government for the warning.

    He said his members would be informed about the government plan.

    Zango said his community members had been warned about illegal shelters and trading on the rail line.

    “We have warned our people to vacate the shanties so as to avoid being arrested by the police.

    “We will also inform those who are involved in trading on the rail line to desist for safety purposes,” Zango said.

  • Foundation empowers 200 in Lagos

    Foundation empowers 200 in Lagos

    Dave Care Foundation has empowered 200 elderly women and youths in Oworonsoki in Lagos State to mark the birthday of its Founder, Dr. Dave Olusegun.

    Beneficiaries got bags of rice, beans, garri, cartons of noodles, pastries, loaves of bread, sewing machines, hair dryers and grinding machines, among others.

    At the event were monarchs, including Oloworo of Oworonsoki, Oba Babatunde Saliu; Oloshoroko of Oshoroko, Oba Olusegun Oyiri, and Alaketu of Ketu Land, Oba Sikiru Oyero.

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    Present also were former senator representing Lagos East and member of Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Anthony Adefuye; Aladeokun of Alade Idanre designate, Benson Akingbaso, former Rotary District Governor, Jide Akeredolu, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Women Leader in Southwest, Yetunde Adesanya, among others.

    Olusegun, managing partner of Perfection Real Estate Group, urged Nigerians to give back to society.

  • JUST IN: Mammoth crowd as Lagos discounted food markets commence sales

    JUST IN: Mammoth crowd as Lagos discounted food markets commence sales

    Lagos food market ‘Ounje Eko’ offering discounted prices on essential food items across the state has commenced sales.

    The Nation reports Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had ordered that food products at the “Ounje Eko” food markets be sold at a discount in all five divisions of Lagos starting on Sunday, March 17.

    On February 22, the Lagos state government announced a series of interventions to ameliorate the prevailing economic hardship on residents.

    Our correspondent observed that staple food items including rice, beans, garri, bread, eggs, tomatoes, and pepper were made available at 25% discounted prices.

    At two locations — Alubarika Primary School, Bariga and Gbagada Junior High School —visited by The Nation, residents tropped in large numbers to purchase different items.

    Also, security operatives including Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps (LNSC), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) are on ground to monitor situation at the food markets.

    Read Also: Economy: Subsidy beneficiaries, smugglers fighting back, says Tinubu

    One of the residents, Mrs. Amaka who purchased some items, expressed satisfaction over the food market and the prices of the items.

    She noted that they were cheap and affordable.

    “I want to encourage other state governors to emulate this; this is a very fantastic and laudable idea.” Mrs. Amaka said.

    Some other residents also advised vendors and traders to embrace a good maintenance culture to keep the food markets clean, neat and hygienic always.

    Mrs Moshood commended the state government for creating the food markets to ease the shopping experience.

  • Newly- wed footballer dies  while training  in Lagos

    Newly- wed footballer dies  while training  in Lagos

    A young footballer, Daniel Peter, who recently got married to his long-term girlfriend,  reportedly died on Wednesday during training with his Lagos-based club.

    An eye witness disclosed that the towering central defender, who shot to limelight with Pison Divine Royals FC of Surulere, slumped and gave up the ghost few minutes into his club’s drills at Mile 2 High School.

    The deceased was said to have been in high spirit, vibrant and quite lively before the start of training on the fateful day, only for the excitement to get washed away when least expected.

    Additional information about the incident revealed that Peter received immediate first aid attention when he fell after taking a goal kick, but all efforts to revive him were in vain.

    Read Also: Tinubu urges Senate to confirm Adamu Galunje as CCB chairman

    His former team manager and mentor at Pison Divine Royals, Oscar Ezinwa Emmanuel, confirmed the tragedy, but stressed that he was not there when it happened.

    “I was called late on Wednesday and received the news with great shock,” said the man fondly called TM. “They said he was training with a youth club in Amuwo Odofin area and fell without any contact from an opponent.

    “I’m so sad, because he was once my player and he only recently got married. He was part of my team when we won Bishop Mike Okonkwo Cup in 2014.

    “He was a very promising central defender, who was also very diligent on and off the field. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.”

  • Lagos PDP orders Jandor to apologise for claiming leadership

    Lagos PDP orders Jandor to apologise for claiming leadership

    The Lagos chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has directed its governorship candidate in the 2023 election, Dr. Abdul-Azeez Adeniran popularly known as Jandor, to immediately withdraw and apologise for claiming the headship of the party in the state.

    Jandor, during a political meeting on Sunday in Lagos, said he remains the leader of the party in the state.

    He also called some leaders of the party who declared their support for another party’s candidate in the election to leave Lagos PDP.

    But in a statement by Lagos PDP chairman, Phillip Aivoji, the party said such claim was mere falsehood, divisive and an affront to the constitution of PDP in the state, meant to mislead unsuspecting members of the public.

    The statement reads in parts: “The attention of the State Executive members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to the publication in the Vanguard newspaper of Sunday, March 10, 2024, where Dr. Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adeniran ( Jandor), the gubernatorial candidate of our party in the last general elections, was quoted to have said he remains the apex leader of Lagos PDP.

    “We will like to put it on record that the PDP is a political party governed by the rule of law and the party constitution remains supreme in the operation of the party where the Lagos state chapter derives its authority and there is nowhere in the constitution of the party where leadership is conferred on any candidate of the party.

    “Therefore, the statement ascribed to Jandor is a falsehood, divisive and an attempt to mislead unsuspecting members of the party in the state and the public at large.

    Read Also: Jandor’s petition dead on arrival, says Tribunal

    “The State Chairman of the party remains the leader of the party in Lagos State and section 22 of the party constitution is sacrosanct on the establishment and composition of the party state caucus and there is nowhere the candidate of the party is mentioned as a member of such leadership position.

    “This is important in order to put the record straight and to enlighten loyal members of the party on the leadership composition and operation of the party in Lagos state. Also, no section of the party constitution confers on any individual or group to expel any member of the party as this power resides only in the State Executive Council and the NWC.

    “The Lagos state executive members found the statement as an affront and casting of aspersion on their personalities and the position they hold in the party and will therefore urge Dr. Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran to withdraw the statement and apologise for making such.

    “While the Lagos State chapter of our party holds all our present and former members of the BOT, NWC, NEC and national leadership of the party in high esteem, it won’t condone any attempt by any member to cast aspersion on their personalities.

    “We wish to inform our teeming members in the state that the leadership of the party is working assiduously to ensure that all aggrieved members of the party are placated and reconciled to enable the party rebuild the confidence the good people of Lagos state has in us that gave the party elected members into both the State Assembly and the House of Representatives prior to the last general elections when all was lost.

    “It is also important to warn unscrupulous leaders and members of the party, who have continued to constitute nuisance within the party and causing dis-affection through misinformation, rumours and casting of aspersion on the leadership of the party in the state, to henceforth desist from such for the benefit and growth of our dear party.”

  • Lagos gets stakeholders’ input on island city plan

    Lagos gets stakeholders’ input on island city plan

    Lagos State government has concluded plans for the enactment of the Lagos Island Model City Plan.

    At a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide said it’s being presented for final stakeholders’ comments and input.

    He said the plan was prepared with the assistance of tested multinational consultants in this field, Dar Al Handasah, which he said, adopted the internationally acknowledged practice and  procedure of preparing physical development plans.

    He said: “Thus what we are presenting for your validation here is the outcome of different layers of stakeholders’ involvement, including the technical stakeholders, all relevant Ministries and Agencies of Government that will drive the implementation of the provisions of the plan.

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    “In the same vein, members of the benefiting communities who are the end users have been carried along at every stage of the plan preparation, especially during the preliminary surveys and the public display of the final draft.”

    The commissioner said the government ensured that no group was left behind in contributing to the achievement of a robust, resilient, sustainable and organised Lagos Island of our dream.

     On the compliance level, he said the Draft Final Plan was displayed to the public for 28 days ( 17th May 17- June 23, 2023 as required by the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2019 as amended.

    He said it was followed with presentations and engagements with other relevant MDAs and interest groups, including the Isale Eko Descendants Union.

  • Lagos, firms train MSMEs on exporting to USA

    Lagos, firms train MSMEs on exporting to USA

    Lagos State has partnered with Africa Import and Export Solutions Limited, as well as Export and Sell, USA, to train Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) on the opportunities available and how to export to the USA.

    The training, themed ‘Export to Wealth’, focused on warehousing, dispatching, export licensing, accessing profitability software window, finding buyers, listing and management on Amazon, opening bank accounts and filing trademarks and others.

    Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperative, Trade & Investment, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem said Lagos has a mandate to grow local production capacity to meet export needs through AfCFTA, ‘and it is currently working on steps to encourage exporters to leverage agreement among other platforms for export’.

    She added: “The state is ready to play a strategic role to encourage trade and investments to combat poverty and unemployment, and it has tasked the State Working Group on AfCFTA to deploy innovative strategies to identify MSMEs, with various trade and investment opportunities, that can be supported for product export in the state.

    “With the government’s efforts, MSMEs in the state are expected to be actively engaged in the AfCFTA market. This training, utilised by Africa Import and Export Solutions and Export and Sell USA, will further expose them to the processes, procedures and opportunities required. This is why we decided to partner in this programme.

    Read Also: Traders lose millions as midnight fire guts timber market

    “With more attention being turned to non-oil exports in line with the global sustainability drive, Nigeria can benefit from the exploitation and utilization of raw materials and production along the value chain, which can positively impact its development and survival as it leads to capacity utilization of many industries, with consequent improvement of the standard of living of its citizens.”

    Chairman of Export & Sell, Nduka Udeh, described the training as critical to empowering participants with the information needed to break the barriers against exporting local products.

    “The key is preparing the products for export to prevent their rejection, and we are looking forward to stronger collaboration with the Lagos State government to further deepen this knowledge among MSMEs, he noted.”

    Chief Executive Officer of African Import & Export Solutions Limited, Bisola Esan, reiterated that businesses would be shown how they can take their products global and earn in dollars.

    She added: “From selling on platforms like Amazon and African stores across the USA to reaching customers through US retail stores and wholesale distribution, the possibilities are endless. Our team of experts will guide attendees on everything from identifying export-worthy products to packaging them to meet international standards, shipping them hassle-free, and providing the most affordable warehousing options to them in the US.”

  • Lagos to re-establish drainage right of way in Apapa

    Lagos to re-establish drainage right of way in Apapa

    The Lagos state government will begin enforcement operations to re-establish the 3-metre drainage Right of Way for drainages in Apapa on Monday, March 11.

    Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, after an inspection tour to check the level of compliance, said the enforcement is coming after the expiration of notices and meetings with property owners to voluntarily move their fences that fall within the drainage setback earlier in the year.

    According to him, the eight major collectors lacked maintenance for many years because the ministry had no access to them due to encroachment.

    This, he said, was a big contributor to flooding in Apapa, saying that the ministry served contravention notices to the buildings on the drainage setbacks.

    The commissioner reiterated that the government is determined to find a lasting solution to the flooding in Apapa and directed that enforcement officers must ensure all contravening properties are removed from the drainage Right of Way by the three metres required by law.

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    He said: “We want to check the state of collectors in Apapa in order to evacuate and treat the collectors. The whole of the Collectors in this area are blocked and the right of way taken over by individuals who moved their fences to acquire extra land thereby denying us access to the drains.”

    Collectors visited include the Pele Wura Collector drain, Abayomi Collector drain, and Aerodrome Collector drain, all in the Apapa.

    The commissioner also inspected Rock Drive in Lekki I following a major complaint that some individuals were converting a purely residential area into a diesel depot. He thus directed immediate enforcement saying the illegal depot poses the risk of a major fire outbreak in the area.

    He directed the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) to seal up the property while the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) officials demolished and arrested individuals found at the illegal shanties built around the depot and towed away the diesel trucks and vehicles stationed there.

    Wahab also visited Aunty Ayo Collector drain in Ikoyi where he expressed satisfaction with the ongoing cleaning of the drainage channels. He however warned residents against indiscriminate refuse disposal.

    He said: “Let us complement the government’s effort in ensuring that Lagos is flood-free by being decent in our waste disposal behaviour.”

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, said the government is determined to find a realistic solution to the flooding by embarking on all-year drainage cleaning.

    He added that it is necessary for residents to also clean the tertiary drains that run across residences regularly while the ministry has been consistently de-silting and working on various linkages to the secondary and primary channels to enable them to discharge efficiently.

    The commissioner was accompanied on the inspection by Permanent Secretary (Drainage Services), Engr Mahamood  Adegbite; General Manager, LASEPA, Dr. Tunde Ajayi; Managing Director, LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegeshin and some Directors.