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  • Lagos bans street trading, hawking statewide

    Lagos bans street trading, hawking statewide

    • Orders closure of Ladipo, Mushin markets  

    Lagos State Government on Friday announced a total ban on street trading, hawking, building of illegal structures on drainage setbacks, and the display of wares on walkways across the state.

    The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, made the disclosure in a statement in Lagos.

    Wahab said that the State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) has been directed to strictly enforce compliance with the environmental Sanitation laws.

    The commissioner explained that the latest offensive was meant to curb the activities of hawkers who disguise themselves to rob motorists and also disrupt the free flow of traffic on highways and streets.

     In a related development, the state government has also ordered that Ladipo Market be shut down for environmental offences, including reckless waste disposal, unhygienic premises, and non-payment of waste bills, among others.

    Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who gave the order, said the market would remain closed until the mandatory conditions of redress are met by the traders and market stakeholders. He added that it was part of ongoing efforts at instilling compliance in markets around the state.

    He said: “It is imperative that markets adhere strictly to environmental laws and regulations put in place for the well-being of residents. The closure of Ladipo Market serves as a stern reminder that no entity, regardless of its size or influence, is above the law.”

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    Wahab reiterated that the government is fully committed to collaborating with market stakeholders to facilitate necessary adjustments and improvements, to enable them to meet required environmental standards. He added that the market will not be reopened for business until set standards are met.

    “Ladipo Market, a prominent hub for automotive spare parts and related services, has been a focal point for environmental concerns due to various activities that contravene established regulations. LAWMA’s intervention is a significant step towards rectifying these issues and bringing the market to compliance.”

    Managing Director of Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the closure was to allow for a thorough assessment of the environmental impact from the market’s activities, and the implementation of necessary remedial measures.

    “This serves as a clear signal that LAWMA would not hesitate to take decisive actions, where and when environmental laws are flouted.

    “As Lagos State continues to grow and develop, it is imperative that economic activities are conducted in a manner that is sustainable and environmentally responsible. LAWMA’s recent actions demonstrate its commitment to this cause. The offensive against environmental infractions will continue till sanity is restored in our markets, while the next stop will be illegal markets”, he stressed.

    Other markets that have been shut include Oyingbo, Alayabiagba, Oke-Odo, and some sections of Tejuosho Market, for serial infractions.

  • Firm unveils centre in Lagos

    Firm unveils centre in Lagos

    Betway gaming and entertainment has opened its new Experience Centre in Ojodu Berger, Lagos State.

        Chief Operating Office, Kunle Olamuyiwa, provided an insightful tour of the Experience Centre, highlighting its distinctive features and showcasing its technology and amenities.

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    “Betway’s Ojodu Berger Experience Centre promises to redefine the gaming landscape by offering a fusion of entertainment, comfort and convenience. This dynamic space is designed to provide an gaming and sports viewing environment that will leave customers with unforgettable memories,” Olamuyiwa said.

  • Lagos govt partner organisation on data collection training

    Lagos govt partner organisation on data collection training

    Alive & Thrive (FHI 360) in partnership with the Lagos state government has trained 20 Monitoring and Evaluation Officers of Community Based Organisations (CBOs) overseeing the Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) Project

    in seven Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state on the National Health Management Information System (NHMIS) 2019 Tools.

    The three-day training which was held in Lagos also had in attendance representatives from the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board and the Ministry of Health.

    The training’s objectives were to build the capacity of participants on the MIYCN indicators as associated with data elements within the NHMIS tools and Data gathering process using the NHMIS tools for data collection, collation and reporting of MIYCN data.

    With the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Alive and Thrive in 2022 inaugurated the MYICN Project to scale up access to nutrition in seven states across the country.

    To implement the MYICN project, Alive and Thrive partnered with CBOs in communities across the country.

    Head of Health Statistics,  Lagos State Ministry of Health, Mrs Flora Awosika,

    said the objective of the training was to build capacity of participants on the Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) indicators.

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    Awosika said :”We have been able to put the health workers through on the new version of the NHMIS tools for data collection, collation and reporting of MIYCN data.

    “The NHMIS tools are registers used to collect data starting from health facilities to the state level and this data are used to monitor the growth of children starting from birth to age five.

    “This stage is the most critical stage of a child and the indicators will help us to know if they are growing well, stunting or under-weight”.

    She commended  Alive and Thrive for supporting the state on its program on infants and mother nutrition.

    Speaking at the training, a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer from Lagos Island LGA, Zainab Agbalaya said that the training will help the state to generate data for MYICN intervention.

    “The training is a good initiative because usually capturing data for infant feedinthese, not something we take important but now that this initiatives are coming, it is going to get better when it comes to data collecting of what is going on in our community and our facility”

    “Although we’ve been capturing data before but this just boosting what we’ve already done in our facilities it is not new, it’s just a continuous process to help boost what has been going on. Data is life and getting data on maternal and infant feeding is going to help in making decisions when it comes to initiatives or programmes that are going to help children in the community because when a child is fed properly he is immune to diseases and child mortality is going to be reduced.”

    On challenges faced when capturing data at the the health primary health facilities,  Agbalaya said that reporting has been one of the challenges.

    “There are many challenges but the main challenge when it comes to data capturing is reporting, so this training helps to teach health workers to get the job done properly. It is only when you capture the proper data that you can report properly.

    The Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of Champagne Foundation, Mr Hassan Yussuf said that officers that were trained are from Mushin, Alimosho, Badagry, Lagos Island Apapa, Shomolu and Epe LGAs.

    He added that the training will improve the knowledge of health workers in record-keeping.  “In order not to miss data,  the training teaches how to fill those registers properly so that the state can have data on MYICN and intervene accordingly.”

    Yussuf said the NHMIS training is about how to fill correctly the registers and tools which health facilities are using.

    “There are the growth monitoring tool registers, it is the one we use to take the weight and height of children to come to the facilities, those that receive vitamin A, deworming tablets and labour and delivery register is to know the number of women that come to give birth at health facilities and another register is to know regular participants. Pregnant women are supposed to meet up with at least eight visits of their Antenatal Care (ANC),” he said.

  • Lagos’ Aiyepeku decries win-at-all cost  at youth games

    Lagos’ Aiyepeku decries win-at-all cost  at youth games

    • Bayelsa, Ogun pic wrestling gold medals

    Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Sola Aiyepeku says the state contingent are in Asaba for the National Youth Games (NYG) for exposure and not to win medals at all costs.

    Speaking yesterday at the media centre of the Stephen Keshi stadium Asaba, Aiyepeku said the athletes are here to develop their  talents and compete favourably with their counterpart from other states.

    “We  are not desperate to win like other states are doing but for development programme. For us in Lagos State Sports Commission, we are not desperate because we see this youth games as a talent hunt programme,” Aiyepeku told journalists.

    “Already we are seeing the results of our recent training of school coaches and games masters and it is yielding positive results.

    “We have trained over 400 coaches and this  impacted  the performance of the athletes and we have equally given out training grant to our athletes depending on their grading.”

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    Lagos State is currently second on the medals table at the National Youth Games.

    In a related development, Bayelsa State and Ogun State dominated the wrestling event in the 36kg Female and 44kg male at the NYG after Ungokakpo Andrew and Obasanjo Okikijesu easily defeated their opponents to win gold medals.

    Ungokakpo of Bayelsa beat Bibo Clara of Edo in the final in the female 36kg while Kurakeme Iniepome of Imo carted the bronze medal alongside Victory Esther of Adamawa State who also won a bronze medal.

    In the 44kg final, Obasanjo Okikijesu upset form book to beat Bayelsa raised Boma Federation who represented Delta. Okikijesu was impressive in the one sided final tie winning 12-2. Federation settled for a silver medal.

    Emmanuel Okike of Bayelsa and Mustapha Adamu of Bauchi won the bronze medal.

  • Lagos trains 180 artisans in Ikorodu, Ikotun, others

    Lagos trains 180 artisans in Ikorodu, Ikotun, others

    A call has gone to participants at the ongoing Lagos State Master Craftsman Training Programme for Artisans in the Built Sector “to be more innovative, enterprising and professional in their conduct.”

    Commissioner for Housing Moruf Akinderu-Fatai gave the advice during an assessment visit to the venues of the programme at Government Technical Colleges, Ikotun and Ikorodu.

    Akinderu-Fatai, while briefing participants, described the training as “a Sanwo-Olu initiative geared towards improving skills of craftsmen in modern technologies in the construction industry”.

    He urged participants to be good ambassadors at the end of the programme by “stemming the tide of quackery in the built sector.”

    He expressed satisfaction at the level of teamwork and consensus building portrayed by the artisans during their practical sessions while urging the well-grounded craftsmen to adopt ‘‘Train the Trainer’’ method to share the knowledge and experience garnered in the course of the training.

    The commissioner also urged the participants to encourage others to key into the next phase of the programme as he further stressed that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is working assiduously to reduce unemployment in the state.

    Read Also: Lagos to connect 10,000 youths to private jobs

    Permanent Secretary for Housing, Mr. Kamar Olowoshago while giving his remark at the training centres, said that only certified Master Craftsmen by the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) will be uploaded on the Artisans Hub website for clients who need their services.

    He expressed gratitude to NIOB for the support given thus far in ensuring that the requisite standards of the 21st century methodology are met via the curriculum.

    Consultant of Master Craftsman Training Programme, Mr. Razaq Jayieola, hailed the zeal shown by the artisans while assuring the state government of less importation of craftsmen from neighbouring countries.

    He also advised the participants to make good use of the work gears that will be given to them by the state government.

    A former National President of NIOB, Kunle Awobodu, commended the state government saying “that the programme is a laudable one that the institute is pleased and proud to associate with adding that it will help reduce drastically the level of substandard work encountered on construction sites.”

    Representatives of the beneficiaries of the programme, Solihu Azeez and Oyedele David who spoke on behalf of other participants appreciated Governor Sanwo-Olu for the opportunity availed them saying “that it has been a wonderful experience where they have had to unlearn, to learn and relearn in line with modern trends.”

    They pledged to be good ambassadors of the state by reflecting the knowledge gained from the training in their various trades.

  • Lagos ‘commits to clean, safe premises’

    Lagos ‘commits to clean, safe premises’

    Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has reaffirmed its commitment to a clean and safe environment.

    Director of Monitoring, Compliance and Enforcement, Kayode Bello, who spoke at a meeting, said protecting the environment is a moral obligation, ‘especially at these months associated with socio-economic and religious activities, and its negative attendants on human and environment’.

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    He said: ”Our commitment to environmental enforcement is non-negotiable. We will ensure those who pollute our environment for self-interest are held accountable. We believe robust enforcement of environmental regulations and laws is critical to addressing pressing issues to deter others and protect the right of residents to a conducive and friendly environment.”

    Bello expressed his readiness to collaborate with agencies, communities, and stakeholders to enhance efforts in sustaining our planet. “The agency will embark on advocacy to educate the public about importance of environmental protection, and consequences of environmental violations, probe reported violations and handle same in line with best practices,” he added.

  • 40 Lagos teams to contest  maiden  1XBet Cup 

    40 Lagos teams to contest  maiden  1XBet Cup 

    A total of 40 grassroots teams from all Local Governments in Lagos State are billed to take part in the maiden 1XBET Grassroots Football Tournament  which kicks off  in Lagos on October 3rd .

    The 40 teams are expected to compete in five different conferences with eight teams in one group.

    Former International and the brain behind the project, Waidi Akanni, said in Lagos yesterday that all arrangements have been concluded to make the tournament a very eventful one for all the participants.

     “This is a good platform for the players in the other leagues apart from the NPFL to exhibit their talents and I thank 1Xbet for coming on board to make this a reality. We need to develop football at the grassroots. This is the beginning and we are going to in involve all the Local Governments in Lagos State just as we also plan to that this initiative to others states of the federation in the nearest future,” Akanni said.

    The event was attended by many former  Nigeria internationals, the MD/CEO of 1XBet, Oluwafemi Babalola, NFF Technical Director, Austin Eguavoen, Daniel Amokachi,  former Golden Eaglets and super Eagle  coach Fanny Amun as well as the chairman of the Nigeria National League, George Aluo.

    Other  former stars at the event were Daniel Amokachi, Friday Elahor, Victor Agali, Friday Ekpo, Taiwo Oloyede, Franklin Howard and Wasiu Ipaye.

    MD of 1XBet, Babalola  who stated that the competition was one of the Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives of his outfit, expressed delight over the amazing number of former football stars who were at the unveiling and draw ceremony of the competition.

     “These former stars are enough inspiration for the future stars and we are excited to have them with us. We will continue to support the development of football in Nigeria. Our company is into betting which is a serious business and we expect to use this platform to discover and nurture talents to greater heights,” Babalola said.

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    Meanwhile, Eguavoen said tournaments like the 1XBET Tournament “is opportunity for players to show their God-given talents and possibly get the traction that will give wings to their careers as footballers.”

    He therefore urged other corporate entities to emulate 1XBET in helping to grow Nigeria sports.

    Amokachi stressed that because football unites people more than anything else, “we can use the 1XBET Grassroots Football Tournament  to unite Nigerians to be great again.”

    Aluo, the NNL boss, also commended the betting company and charged the organisers to make the tournament a great one for the grassroots players.

    Winner of the competition will get a cash prize of N1m. The tournament which starts on October 3rd ends on November 10.

  • ‘Lagos working to professionalise Admin/HR cadre’

    ‘Lagos working to professionalise Admin/HR cadre’

    • CIPM inducts 143 members

    Lagos State Government has continued to strive for professionalisation of its Administrative/HR cadre, the outgoing Head of Service (HoS), Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, has said.

    He was speaking at the induction of 143 members of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), held in Alausa, Lagos with the theme: ‘Now that you are chartered: Building professional competencies for excellence and impact”.

    Muri-Okunola, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos Lands Bureau, Mr. Bode Agoro, said the induction was a testimonial to the professionalisation of administrative and human resources in the Lagos civil service.

    He said the 143 members were certified members of CIPM, Alausa chapter, comprising 105 Associates and 38 Full Members, who had undergone the process of pre-qualification induction training and interview.

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    He said the theme of the 51st Induction Ceremony spoke directly to the core of state government’s drive for a 21st century public service to energise the laudable projects towards achieving a greater Lagos rising.

    He congratulated the CIPM leadership for maintaining high standard and expanding its frontiers for international collaboration towards better service delivery. 

    The President and Chairman of CIPM Governing Council, Olusegun Mojeed, said the ceremony was symbolic and a testimonial to the professionalisation of admin/human resources, adding that it was a thorough profession, which was a stepping stone to something greater in life.

    The Group Manager/Senior HR Business Partner, Dangote Cement PLC, Ahmed Gobir, said to be a successful global HR professional and perform very well, “there are some basic skills and  competences that must be possessed, most of which are interpersonal and communication skills.” 

  • No casualty at Lagos collapsed 3-storey building — NEMA

    No casualty at Lagos collapsed 3-storey building — NEMA

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Saturday confirmed that there was no casualty in the three-Storey building that collapsed at Ikpoh Street, Surulere, Lagos.

    Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, Territorial Coordinator, NEMA, confirmed the incidence to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    The building came down at about 10.00 p.m. on Friday night at No. 14 Ikpoh Street Surulere.

    Meanwhile, an occupant of the building, Mr Gervase Anyanwu, a buisiness man, told NAN that all the other occupants were able to run out of the building before it came down completely.

    Anyanwu said that before the building came down, there was a large sound at one of its wings.

    “Immediately we heard the sound, all the occupants of the building gathered at the mustard point, before evacuating for safety.

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    “No casualty was recorded,” Anyanwu said.

    Anyanwu said the immediate evacuation of the occupants was “simply by the grace of God”.

    However, NAN gathered from another resident of the street that the building had shown serious signs of distress before it came down.

    As at the time of this report, escavation of the rubbles from the building was yet to commence, but all the relevant government agencies in charge of emergency had shown their presence at the site.

    (NAN)

  • Lagos agency to honour 24 schools over safety standards

    Lagos agency to honour 24 schools over safety standards

    No fewer than 24 public and private schools would be honoured for their outstanding safety initiatives at the inaugural Beacon of Safety (BOS) Conference/Awards scheduled for September 26.

    According to the organisers, Safe School Lagos (SSLAG),   an arm of the Lagos State Safety Commission, the recipients of the award were carefully selected for ensuring the best safety standards and practices in the school environment.

    The organisers further said that the event will feature conference/exhibition between 9 am and 3 pm, and the dinner/award between 6 pm and 10 pm. This is to celebrate schools and education stakeholders who have achieved excellent status in demonstrating compliance with the school safety obligations. In addition, parents, suppliers, vendors, support workers, service providers, civil servants, public service holders, and friends of education will be recognised and celebrated.

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    Speaking during a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, SSLAG’s Lead Resource, Dr. Bisi Esuruoso, said the event was to promote the culture of safety awareness in Lagos schools.

    She said ” This first-of-its-kind school safety awards conference will take place on the 26th of September 2023 at the Civic Center, Victoria Island, Lagos. The 24 schools selected have demonstrated exceptional dedication to enhancing safety practices and minimising risks in the school environment.

    “The conference will focus on creating and fostering safe and supportive learning environments for schools in Lagos state. Our objective with this event is to get all stakeholders working together to promote a culture of safety and compliance in our schools,” she added.

    In his remarks, the Director General of Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, urged stakeholders in the education sector in the state to participate in the conference to exchange ideas on improving safety in schools.