The Nation Newspaper

Tag: lagos

  • Cars45 unveils premium inspection service

    Nigeria’s leading automotive trading platform, Cars45, has announced the launch of a new product – Premium Inspection service – in line with its commitment to exploring new platforms that create convenience for end-users.

    This valued-added service allows Cars45 to cater to individuals who are unable to visit any of its inspection centres but would still like to use its service to sell their cars. To enjoy the premium inspection service, customers would be required to make an upfront payment of N10,000 to book an appointment. Cars45, in turn, would visit the seller’s preferred location to inspect, provide a valuation report and purchase the car.

    Speaking on the launch of the premium inspection service, Vice President, Consumer-to-Business services, Mayokun Fadeyibi said “Cars45 is a consumer-first and value-driven business as such we are always seeking new and innovative ways to make the car trading process as seamless as possible for consumers. With this premium inspection service, we are enabling convenience and offering consumers best-in-class experience.”

    The Premium Inspection Service, which is being piloted in Lagos adds to a rich variety of value-added services which Cars45 provides across Nigeria’s automotive industry. Other services include fleet liquidation, vehicle auctions, concierge services and vehicle financing which it does in partnership with financial institutions across the country.

    Known for bringing transparency to Nigeria’s marketplace for used vehicles, Cars45 has become synonymous with creating delightful consumer experiences by offering people a fast and convenient way to buy, sell or swap their cars.

  • We are fully equipped to deliver, says Omotoso

    Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, has assured Lagosians that members of the state executive council have been fully equipped to deliver on the promises of the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    He gave the assurance on Saturday while addressing correspondents in the company of some of his colleagues and the Head of Service (HoS), Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola on the outcome of a four-day retreat organised by the state government for the exco members and permanent secretaries at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    He said the retreat has prepared them fully for the task ahead promising that Lagosians will see a lot of actions from the government as everything that has been planned will now be put to action.

    According to Omotoso, “We have had an intensive, energy sapping and intellectually fulfilling four-day retreat, it is a spring board for us to take off, now Lagosians are going to see a lot of actions from this government, because everything that has been planned will now be put into action.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu to commissioners, special advisers: ensure Lagos remains top destination

    “Everything that we needed to know we have been told; we have giants from both the private and public sectors as well as professionals from all walks of life in the cabinet.

    “We are fully armed and fully energised and we are going to go into action and Lagosians will see a good, better and greater Lagos, the Lagos that we all have been dreaming of, that will be the pride of everybody,” the commissioner stressed.

    Also speaking, the HoS, Muri-Okunola said the retreat which was “fun filled, intensive and with strategy packed sessions will benefit Lagos and Lagosians at large.”

    He said, “It was necessary to have a forum that will create a synergy between the permanent secretaries and the new cabinet members, it is also aimed at bonding the relationship between the two principal officers of government.”

    The retreat, Muri-Okunola said was characterised by a high level of leadership topics, leaders of thought like Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola both past governors of the state, Ben Akabueze, Director-General, Federal Budget Office, Wale Edun, Atedo Peterside, Mo Abudu, Dele Alake etc.

    “Who came to grace the occasion with their knowledge and personal as well as public service and public life with variety of topics aimed at creating a shared vision for everybody to key into, setting a tone for the administration sitting primarily on the pillars established by the governor with the acronym THEMES,” the HoS said.

    Also speaking, Ajibola Ponle, Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pensions said they have been told what is required of them so they are ready to roll up their sleeves to render service.

  • Election petitions: Elections tribunal declines to compel Sanwo-Olu’s appearance

    The Lagos Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ikeja on Wednesday declined to subpoena Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to appear before it in an election petitions filed against his election by the governorship candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Chief Owolabi Salis and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Chief Ifagbemi Awamaridi.

    The three-man panel, chaired by Justice Terhemen Asua, held that Governor Sanwo-Olu is covered by the immunity clause in the constitution as a sitting governor and that “because of the provisions of the constitution, he cannot be compelled to appear in the court”.

    The tribunal gave this verdict while ruling in separate ex parte motion filed by the duo of Salis and Awamaridi.

    They are challenging the victory of Sanwo-Olu in the March 9, 2019 election held in the state.

    Aside from Sanwo-Olu, other respondents are Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), All Progressives Congress (APC), the Lagos Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), the Returning Officer (RO), the Commissioner of Police and the Army.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu to commissioners, special advisers: ensure Lagos remains top destination

    Salis and Awamaridi had filed separate motion ex parte, asking the governorship election tribunal to compel the governor and INEC to appear and testify before the court.

    The motion ex parte was brought pursuant to order 8, rule 1(3) & (4) of the Electoral Act (as amended) 2010 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the tribunal.

    In their separate applications filed by their counsel, Mr. Bola Aidi and supported by a nine-paragraph affidavit, they averred that they made several attempts to serve some of the witnesses listed in their petition, but they were to no avail.

    They alleged that Sanwo-Olu, INEC, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Lagos State and the Returning Officer were evading service to frustrate the hearing of their petition.

    Their counsel, Aidi, prayed the tribunal to consider the time-frame within which the petitioners are to call their witnesses and provide evidence in the petition.

    He said:  “It is imperative to serve some of these persons by way of substituted service.”

    Aidi, on behalf of the petitioners, therefore, prayed the tribunal “for an order for the subpoena duces tecum/testificandum on the listed persons by way of substituted service to wit serving their counsel representing them”.

    The tribunal, however, granted the petitioners’ request to serve the returning officers of the 20 local governments’ councils by way of pasting the court documents on the wall of INEC office in Lagos.

    “Upon perusing of the motion ex pàrte, we are satisfied that the good cause has been shown by the petitioners.

    “The prayer to serve the subpoena duces tecum/testificandum shall be served as prayed on the other respondents.

    “But as far as the first respondent (Sanwo-Olu) is concerned, he is covered by the immunity clause as a sitting governor; he cannot be compelled to appear in the court,” the tribunal held.

  • Pupil wins historical contest in London

    Amali Mucheke, a Year Seven (JSS1) pupil at the Lagos Preparatory & Secondary School (LPSS), Ikoyi, Lagos has won the Historical Association’s Historical Fiction Prize for her year.

    Her story titled: ‘Freedom for All’ based on Colonial Nigeria won her the prize in her category.

    The Historical Fiction Prize is a yearly contest open to pupils from Year Five to Year Nine (aged nine to14) but is limited to three entries per school.

    The association requires that entries could be about settings and places in the past.

    “One of the key attributes of historical fiction is that it has a convincing setting in a past time and place. Students can set their stories in any period or place in the past, so the story can fit in with and extend any historical topic they may be studying,” the association noted.

    Amali’s entry was sent to London alongside two other LPSS entries, Bethany Okeowo’s, ‘The Maid’s Moment’ and Kitan Fagbamigbe’s story, ‘The Queen, the Candle and the Golden Mirror’.  Amali emerged as the winner for all the entries submitted by pupils from all over the world, in the Year Seven category,

    According to the judges, “stories in each category are shortlisted by panels of student readers. The shortlist is then judged by our primary and secondary expert panels.

    ‘’Judges are looking for: Historical accuracy – even down to the choice of names characters are given and any props additional to the historical setting; a riveting read with a good plot; a convincing story – is it plausible that these events and/or this character could have existed at the time; Use of historical knowledge to feed the plot, context and character; Effective use of historical vocabulary and literary conventions, including where dialogue is included in the story; Creative and interesting perspectives of story-telling. In the past we have received an entry telling the story of a siege from the perspective of the castle!”

  • AAU lecturers escape death as students disrupt ASUU meeting

    Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma chapter, on Tuesday escaped death by the whiskers after students attacked venue of their meeting.

    The rampaging students were said to have disrupted the meeting after news filtered to them that ASUU was holding the Congress to call for strike action at a time the non-academic staff workers are on warning strike.

    Witnesses said the students threw stones, broken bottles and blocks into the venue of the meeting while chanting solidarity songs such as “We no go gree”, “No more meetings leading to strike”, “We are tired of staying at home due to strike action.”

    Some lecturers sustained injuries and were rushed to a private clinic at Ekpoma town.

    A student who pleaded anonymity said the disruption was to stop the lecturers from calling for a strike action.

    The disruption made ASUU held another congress on Wednesday at another venue outside the school premises.

    Speaking to the Nation on phone, Chairman of ASUU-AAU chapter, Prof. Monday Igbafen, said the students almost burnt them alive inside the hall.

    Prof. Igbafen said they were discussing issues about the Vice Chancellor wife that took the Union to court when they were attacked.

    Igbafen accused the VC, Prof. Ignatius Onimawo, of orchestrating the attack.

    According to him, “It was God that saved us. Security has collapsed inside the school. The VC cannot guarantee security.

    “We are no crying to the government and the Council that our lives are in danger and lecture cannot hold in an unsecured environment.”

    Read Also; Rape in AAUA: Don’t compromise, students, ASUU tell police

    Spokesman for the institution, Mr. Edward Aihevba, said it was wrong for the leadership of ASUU to always paint the VC black whenever any situation arises.

    Aihevba said it was students that violently disrupted the ASUU meetings

    He said the school management has begun investigation into the incident and assured that anybody found liable would be brought to book.

    “The University management received a report that some students violently disrupted meeting of Academic staff at about 1pm on Tuesday, August 20, 2019.

    “The management condemns the action of the students for whatever reasons and in whatever guise. The students have no right to disrupt any approved meeting.

    “We appeal to academic staff to go about their duties in the assurances of peace and calmness in the University”.

     

  • Sanwo-Olu to new Perm Secs: deliver your best for Lagos

    The nine newly appointed permanent secretaries for the Lagos State Civil Service were sworn-in on Monday by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

    Sanwo-Olu told the appointees that they should deliver their best to the state as well as the residents.

    The permanent secretaries and their portfolios are: Mrs. Sanyaolu Kikelomo Morenike, (Civil Service Commission); Sodeinde Olalekan Nurudeen (Office of Drainage Services); Mrs. Shitta-Bey Titilayo Khadijat (Solicitor -General/P/S Ministry of Justice); Mr. Musa Mooruf Olawale (Ministry of Transport); Mrs. Durosimi-Etti Olorunkemi (Cabinet Office) and Mrs. Kalesanwo Olayemi Yewande (Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation).

    Others are: Agoro Moruf Olawale (Ministry of Waterfront and Infrastructure Development); Mrs. Odeneye Belinda (Ministry of the Environment) and Mr. Olawale Mesewaku Babatunde (Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture).

    The governor urged the appointees to continue “to give your very best first time and all of the time”.

    Read Also: Cabinet nominees: APC women leader hails Sanwo-Olu over inclusion of 12 women

    He assured Lagosians that they were in for a renewed and re-enhanced public service to take the state to a higher level.

    The governor said he is just meeting most of the appointees for the first time but that he has seen their quality of work, which earned them their appointments.

    “You have displayed a high level of professionalism, integrity, capability and capacity as well as competence,” he said

    He urged them to continue to develop “yourself, don’t give up and continue to strive harder. We are sure that all of you truly deserve this appointment and Lagos will be better for it with the full team, which will be completed tomorrow with the inauguration of the cabinet”.

    “And at the end, it will be said that we truly delivered on all our campaign promises and better the lots of generality of our citizens by ensuring that equity, justice and fairness continue to play out in the civil service.

    “Go out and deliver on the quality of service for which you have been appointed today,” Sanwo-Olu urged the new perm secs.

  • Why Lagos Assembly dropped three commissioner-nominees

    The three commissioner-nominees, who were not confirmed on Monday by the Lagos State House of Assembly, were victims of high-wire politics, it was learnt.

    Three nominees are: Prince Olanrewaju Sanusi, Mr. Obafemi George and Ms Adekemi Ajayi-Bembe.

    A party source said the Assembly could not resist the pressure to deny them clearance, owning to the weight of allegations against them.

    According to the source, the politics of confirmation overwhelmed the Assembly, adding that “the matter was beyond the control of the lawmakers”.

    “It is now evident that nominations and screening were not final. Post-screening hurdles may arise from familiar and strange quarters,” the source stressed.

    The source, who sympathised with the dropped nominees, said the governor may still represent them, if they overcome their challenges.

    Asked to shed light on what he described as “high-wire politics”, the source said: “I suspected that the outcry against them arose from their people; from their constituencies where leaders and critical stakeholders, who cannot be ignored, kicked.

    “I don’t think it was due to poor performance at the screening, although we heard that a particular nominee did not measure up during the exercise and the House  Committee that screened them noted the non-display of competence.

    “They were not confirmed because of politics of preference and rejection. The influence of powerful people, who didn’t want them, dwarfed those of their supporters in their respective constituencies. They did not play their cards well at home. It can happen because it is politics.”

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu to inaugurate Omotoso, Igbokwe, Elegushi, others as exco members

    But, the Speaker of the Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, also said the governor was at liberty to represent them to the House.

    The Assembly, however, at plenary, confirmed 35 of 38 persons Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu nominated as commissioners and special advisers after the final screening by the whole House.

    The nominees were cleared after the adoption of the recommendations of the ad hoc committee constituted by the lawmakers on the screening.

    The committee’s report, which was read by the chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Chief Whip, Rotimi Abiru, recommended that the nominees be confirmed by the whole House, according to section 192 (2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    Obasa, however, cautioned those confirmed that the House would not hesitate to pass a vote of no confidence on any member of the state exco found wanting after they assume office.

    The 38 nominees had before yesterday been screened by a 16-man ad hoc committee set up by the Assembly for the exercise.

    They were, however, called individually on Monday to appear before the whole House at plenary to introduce themselves fully.

    The speaker told the nominees that the House would not fail in its oversight to ensure that each performed his or her responsibility to the people.

    The Speaker added that the House was not concerned about the academic qualifications and oratory prowess of any of the nominees, but readiness and commitment to serve the state.

    “Even after the confirmation, we will continue to monitor whatever offices you are assigned to ensure value for public fund. We will continue to oversight your activities.

    “We will not hesitate to pass vote of no confidence any time anyone is found wanting,” the Speaker said.

    Those cleared as commissioners and special advisers are: Mr. Oladele Ajayi, Mr. Oluwatoyin Fayinka, Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke, Mr. Kabiru Abdullahi and Mr. Joe Igbokwe.

    Others are Mr. Bonu Solomon Saanu, Mrs. Lola Akande, Prince Anofi Elegushi, Mrs. Solape Hammond, Mr. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, Mrs Shulamite Adebolu, Mr Tokunbo Wahab., Mr. Rabiu Olowo Onaolapo, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo, Prof. Akin Abayomi, Dr. Idris Salako, Mr. Tunji Bello, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka and Mrs. Bolaji Dada

    Included are: Mr. Lere Odusote, Dr. Frederick Oladeinde, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal, Dr. Wale Ahmed, Mr. Moyo Onigbanjo (SAN), Mr. Hakeem Fahm and Mrs. Ajibola Ponle.

    Also confirmed are Aramide Adeyoye, Mr. Segun Dawodu, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, Mr. Sam Egube, Ms Ruth Bisola Olusanya, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, Mr. Tunbosun Alake and Mr. Afolabi Ayantayo.

    The rejection and confirmation were done through a voice vote supervised by the Speaker.

    However, the swearing-in and inauguration of the cleared nominees has been fixed for today at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa, Ikeja by 10a.m.

  • Emulate Tinubu’s pan-Nigerian spirit, lawyer urges politicians

    A popular lawyer, Prince Orji Nwafor Iruzu, on Monday admonished Nigerian politicians to emulate the pan-Nigerian spirit and actions of the National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    Iruzu, who singled out Asiwaju Tinubu for praise in a statement in Abuja, the nation’s capital, insisted that the frontline politician is not an enemy of any part of Nigeria, as wrongly portrayed in some quarters.

    The lawyer also praised the former Lagos State governor for his national disposition on issues bordering on unity and collective survival of all parts of the country.

    Read Also: 2023: Northern youths endorse Tinubu, carpet el-Rufai over zoning comment

    “He (Asiwaju Tinubu) has proven himself to be a nationalist, clearly focused on the unity and progress of the country,” Iruzu said.

    The lawyer stressed that Asiwaju Tinubu’s influence towards ensuring that pan-Nigerian spirit is observed in the appointment of commissioners in Lagos State is novel and worthy of emulation.

    He said: “Men like Asiwaju Tinubu at the helms of affairs of this nation, Nigeria, will certainly achieve a brighter and more prosperous future.

    “I hereby call on other eminent leaders to emulate some of the positive attributes found in abundance in Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu.”

  • Man accused of stealing N190,000

    32-year-old man, Sunday Idikwo, on Monday appeared at an Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, accused of stealing N190,000 belonging to a hotel.

    Idikwo, whose address was not provided, is facing a one-count charge of stealing, to which he pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Mary Ajiteru told the court that the defendant committed the offence on August 16, at 1, Olatunji Shokefun Street, Igbogbo, Ikorodu.

    Read Also: Court remands 23-yr-old man in prison for stealing biscuits

    She alleged that the defendant stole the N190,000 belonging to Shokis Hotel, an offence that contravened Section 287 of Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

    Magistrate Mrs. C.K. Tunji-Careena admitted the defendant to N50, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She adjourned the case till September 12 for mention.

  • CIN, CNAS partner on Lagos, Abuja parley

    The Compliance Institute Nigeria (CIN) is partnering the Centre for a New American Security (CNAS) to host a two-day in-depth workshop on North Korea Sanctions and Counter Proliferation Compliance  for compliance officers in Nigeria.

    Slated for Lagos and Abuja,  it will hold between  August 21 and 22 respectively.

    In its effort to enhance the knowledge, skills and expertise of  Anti-Money Laundering and counter- terrorism financing with a view to preparing the country’s compliance officers for the forthcoming FATF Mutual evaluation, the CIN would on August 22, launch its collaborations  with Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS), the largest international membership organisation dedicated to enhancing the knowledge and expertise of  financial crime detection and prevention professionals.