Tag: lagos

Residents of Abesan Estate in Mosan-Okunola LCDA of Lagos State have cried out for help over the incessant robbery and burglary incidents in the community.

Majority of the residents, it was gathered, have lost property and other valuable items to the robbers and burglars terrorising the communities.

Fifth Avenue CDA Chairman, Mr. Kunle Adesanya, said the car park within Sector 17 was invaded by the burglars twice in two weeks, with several vehicles vandalised and various parts removed.

The premises of Lagos State Fire Service within the Estate, located between Sectors 8&11 Irepodun LCDA were forcefully broken into early November and 2 vehicles parked were vandalized.

“The robbers always come around 2:00 am and 3:00 am when residents are fast asleep. The last time they came, they threatened to shoot anybody who interfered in their activities. We were so helpless and nobody dared to raise any alarm over fear of being attacked.

“About five Toyota Corolla vehicles and two Toyota Matrix were totally vandalised with their brain boxes and other vital parts stolen,” he added.

According to him, other sectors too have been consistently visited by these robbers, and their major aim is to vandalize vehicles, especially Toyota Corolla and Matrix.

Also, a resident in Sector 10 simply identified as Mama Craig on Third Avenue, Greenland CDA had her flat burgled in the day time, when she was not around recently by some unidentified hoodlums

One of the leaders in the Estate, Mr. Sina Dare told this reporter that robbery activities in the estate have gone beyond control.

He said his Sector had fallen victim twice to these robbers. “Some of us had suffered a lot. They invaded my sector twice and vandalized vehicles parked in a secured car park within the sector.

Read Also: Nationwide strike: NLC, TUC Lagos affiliates comply

“The security guards we employed were powerless since the robbers always came in fully armed. Reports have been made severely at Ipaja Police Station (Alagolo) which controls the estate but it has not deterred the thieves because they have intensified their robbery activities.

President of the Abesan Estate Resident Association (AERA) Engr M.A.O. Kehinde, said the residents could hardly sleep with their two eyes closed over the development, which he said has gone beyond control.

“Here in the estate, there is no time for burglars and robbers can’t operate because of the various access. The community’s efforts in tackling the situation have not been successful. We need more police presence especially at night with frequent patrol during the day,” he added.

Lagos State Government has supported over 12,710 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with over N8.4 billion loan through the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said.

He spoke at the closing of the 2023 International Trade Fair, which also coincided with the ‘Lagos State Day’.

Sanwo-Olu said the government had also provided support to explore practicable measures towards improving their production process.

He said: “When our administration took off more than four years ago, we understood the enormity of leading a state that had already attained the enviable position of the fifth largest economy in Africa, the nation’s industrial, commercial and economic capital, a bourgeoning megacity with about 20 million vibrant people, and a state with its peculiar challenges. We were aware of the challenges of benchmarking the state against leading business capitals of the world and positioning her as a global megacity and a prime investment destination.

Read Also: Lagos live camera update and traffic radio broadcasting

“We have been building the capacity of MSMEs through training in branding, packaging, digital marketing skills and others. We have also been promoting locally-made products by facilitating access to market for entrepreneurs. For instance, the state continues to hold the MSMEs Exclusive Trade Fair and Exhibition, among several other efforts, to expose the products of our MSMEs and assist them in gaining more access into local and regional markets.

“We have sustained engagement with stakeholders through the hosting of the Lagos Corporate Assembly, Quarterly Meeting of Lagos State Council on MSME and others, all of which continue to serve as a springboard for new ideas and inputs into policy initiation and development of our administration.

“Our administration has made and is still making huge investments in road construction, building of integrated intermodal multi modal transportation system, laying of 3,000km metropolitan Fibre Optic Cable Network across the state to drop reliable and fast internet connectivity in homes and work places, to aid operations and promote socio-economic development, including other initiatives that will alleviate poverty, reduce youth unemployment, induce human capital development and improve the social welfare of the people. These are targeted towards making the environment conducive for businesses to thrive.”

Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, described the fair’s theme, ‘Navigating Economic Challenges: Forging a Path to Prosperity’, as timely and pertinent.

She said: “We live in an age of unprecedented challenges, compounded by global economic shocks. It is a time that tasks our willpower and demands that we all put on our thinking caps to survive as individuals and businesses.

“Lagos currently contributes approximately 25 per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Over the past year, we have seen an impressive eight per cent growth in our non-oil sector, a testament to the resilience and innovation of our industrious business community.

Many MSMEs are growing, accounting for about 80% of the state’s employment, which underscore their pivotal role in job creation and economic development.

“But let us look beyond the numbers. The real value lies in the stories these numbers tell – stories of entrepreneurs who, despite challenges, have built thriving businesses; stories of international investors who see Lagos not just as a business destination, but also as a hub of innovation and creativity; and stories of the everyday Lagosian, whose diligence and tenacity propel our state forward.

“Because of the local and global economic challenges, businesses must adapt to various economic variables for survival and prosperity, while building an internal mechanism to face economic challenges.

“At the crux of this is the unrelenting commitment to combine factors of production to create marketable value that can be converted to wealth. You know it is not that simple, but with determination, it is truly the surest way to navigate the current economic headwinds.

“Therefore, to navigate the economic challenges and forge a path to prosperity, Lagos State government is ready to interface with you all by making the environment conducive and enhancing the ease of doing business in Lagos State.”

The Lagos State Civil Service Commission , commenced its annual career week programme on Tuesday. 

The career week was conceived as a practical capacity building model to provide a platform for sensitisation and acquainting officers in the different cadres within the mainstream Civil Service on salient issues bordering on their career progression, development, industry practice and professionalization.

The theme for this year was  “Understanding the public procurement flow within the Lagos State Public Service.”

Addressing participants, the Chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Establishments, Training, Pensions and Public Service, Hon. Oladele Ajayi, underscored the importance of public procurement knowledge among government employees, saying that the attainment of a prudent public service that judiciously utilizes public funds lies in a proper procurement process.

While declaring the programme open, the Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Olabode Agoro, described the annual Career week Programme as a very laudable initiative by the Commission considering the positive impact and feedback it had  generated since it’s introduction three years ago.

The Chairman, Civil Service Commission, Mrs. Olubunmi Fabamwo, explained that the objective of the programme was  to provide a forum to further strengthen the procurement cadre as drivers of effective and cost-efficient service delivery through a diligent process in line with the procurement laws and practice.

She further explained that in order to achieve the objective, the programme was designed to stimulate professional and practical discourse through technical sessions and panel discussions with spotlight on topics covering a wide range of areas relevant to modern procurement process. 

Read Also: Lagos, UNFPA empower girl-child with digital skills

She informed that a strong faculty made up of practitioners and subject matter experts were selected to lead the various sessions of the training.

Those present at the event were Chairmen of Statutory Service Commissions and Boards in Lagos State namely: the Chairman, Teaching Service Commission, Mrs. Margaret Peregrino, Chairman, Audit Service Commission, Mrs. Toyin Adegbuji-Onikoyi, Acting Chairman, House of Assembly Service Commission, Otunba Richard Oshungboye, representative of the Chairman, Judicial Service Commission, Hon. Justice K.O Alogba represented by Hon. Justice Dupe Nicol-Clay.

Other distinguished personalities present at the event include: Commissioner I, CSC, Mr Adesina Odeyemi, Commissioner II, CSC, Ho. Kamal Olorunoje, Commissioner III, CSC, Mr. Babatunde Seriki, the Permanent Secretary, CSC, Mr. Akinbode Obadina, the Permanent Secretary, Public Service Office (PSO), Mrs. Olasunkanmi Oyegbola and the Permanent Secretary Teaching Service Commission, Mrs. Iyabo Seriki-Bello. 

Lagos State Government has shut Ogba City Mall, Ikeja and Ajah market, Etti-Osa, over sundry waste disposal offences.

The action was carried out by a combined enforcement team of Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences and Lagos Government Special Environmental Corps (KAI).

This is contained in a statement issued by Director, Public Affairs of LAWMA, Mrs. Folashade Kadiri, yesterday in Lagos.

Kadiri said shanties and illegal traders’ structures around Ajah BRT corridor and Ajah Jubilee Bridge were also cleared by the enforcement team.

Commenting on the development, Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, said the enforcement was a continuation of the administration’s onslaught on filth and indiscriminate waste disposal by markets and business facilities across the state.

“We are stepping up action on this administration’s zero tolerance for filth and reckless waste disposal by traders and business facilities.

Read Also: Lagos Traffic Radio: Enhancing gridlock reportage

“We have continuously warned business owners to expect action if they refuse to do the needful to sustain the environment,” he said.

The commissioner said the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration would not relent in the pursuit of the lofty objective in the overriding public good.

Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the zero tolerance campaign was a continuous one, advising markets and business stakeholders to take steps to ensure a clean and hygienic premises.

“For the umpteenth time, we are encouraging business owners and markets to shun filth and put measures in place to guarantee responsible waste disposal in their places of operation,” he said.

Gbadegesin, who said enforcement action would reach the doorsteps of defaulters, urged them to play by the rules.