The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rotimi Ogunleye

  • Building collapse: Lagos orders occupants of marked buildings to vacate immediately

    Occupants of marked distressed buildings in Lagos State have been ordered to immediately vacate them pending the arrival of the demolition team of Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).

    Also, relief and resettlement centres have been opened to accommodate those affected at Igando and Agbowa.

    Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Prince Rotimi Ogunleye made the appeal in a statement by Nwonah Olubukonla, Asst. Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development on Monday.

    The directive was sequel to the collapse of a distressed three-storey building located on 50, Kakawa Street, Campos, Lagos Island on Monday without any casualty.

    Read Also: Building collapse: NAPPS urges proprietors to build schools themselves

    Ogunleye said: “The building in question had been identified as distressed by the officers of the LASBCA and all the necessary statutory notices had been duly served. It was one of the defective structures marked for removal by the agency.

    “Fortunately, occupants had been evacuated before the incidents occurred. Immediately, the Lagos State Rescue Team and LASBCA were alerted and they moved to site promptly to check all adjoining buildings so as to evacuate the occupants to avoid any further hazards.”

    Already 25 buildings have been removed by LASBCA as the Government has stepped up measures to rid the State of distressed buildings so as to prevent loss of lives and property due to sudden collapse in the State.

  • Lagos to complete largest rice mill in Sub-Saharan Africa early 2019

    …revs up New Mile 12 Market, Agbowa Timberville Sawmill, others

     

    The Lagos State Government on Wednesday said all hands are on deck to complete the largest rice mill in Sub-Saharan Africa currently ongoing in Imota Local Council Development Area of the State within the first quarter of 2019.

    Apart from ensuring availability of rice in the market, the mill which is of 32 metric tons per hour production capacity, is projected to facilitate the creation of over 200,000 jobs across the agricultural value chain, while it will also bring about the cultivation of 32,000 hectares of farm land to produce rice paddy, equating to an estimated 130million Kg of processed rice per year (an equivalent of 2.6milion 50kg bags of rice).

    Speaking during an extensive inspection tour of major projects in Ikorodu, Imota and Agbowa axis by members of the Lagos State Executive Council, the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode said the project would be completed by January 2019, while the initial production would commence by February of the year.

    The Governor, who was represented by Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr Adebowale Akinsanya, said the project was part of the grand policy of his administration to ensure food security, and as well give a quantum leap to economic integration of the Southwest region as the land to be cultivated and rice paddy for the mill would be supplied largely by farmers from the region.

    Briefing journalists alongside other Exco members after being taken round the level of work done so far by Project Engineer, Gboyega Odunlami, Governor Ambode said it was gratifying to note that the project was progressing steadily and would be delivered on schedule.

    “The key take away from here is that the construction of the rice mill and the industrial park among other complementing facilities are going on as planned. The administrative building, the restaurant, fire station, power station and other facilities needed to support the park and the rice mill are all ongoing concurrently.

    “The mill is part of the food security strategy of this administration as well as Southwest integration efforts. It will be the largest rice mill not just in Nigeria but in Sub Saharan Africa.

    “Already, we have commitment from the contractors working on the project that it would be delivered by January 2019 and the rice mill that would be the food engine of the Southwest will be in production by February,” the Governor said.

    At the Imota Regional Food Stuff Market where the present Mile 12 Market and other markets within the axis would be relocated, the Governor said the first phase of the project which would accommodate about 1500 shops was already at 75 per cent completion stage, while the second phase, among other facilities such as concretized roads, fire stations, drainages, sewage system, power stations, sewage treatment, 1000 capacity Car Park, over 100 capacity Trailer Park, bus layby, among others would all be delivered before the end of the year.

    The Governor said adequate provisions have been made in the new market to avoid the challenges which the present Mile 12 Market and other markets in the area constituted to the environment, saying at least 70 meters of buffer zone had been created between the proposed Ikorodu-Itoikin-Epe road expansion project and the market to prevent interface.

    “We have seen what is going on as to our commitment to make this place a regional market. The first phase is 75 per cent completed. The major challenge has been accomplished though we still have some things to sort out but we are over the hurdle.

    “What remains is to keep going, speed up and with the commitment of this government, we should be able to complete this project by September and hopefully by the end of the year, all the different markets in Mile 12 will be able to move here and it will be a one shop centre for everybody,” he said.

    While inspecting the 2.7kilometre Agbowa-Timberville Road under construction and the Agbowa Timberville Sawmill where the present day Okobaba Sawmill in Ebute Metta would be relocated, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Rotimi Ogunleye said the project was at the final completion stage with few outstanding facilities.

    “The main project of the Agbowa Timberville Sawmill is about 250 shops out of which over 200 have been completed and the project is sitting on 150 hectares. The various infrastructure – the road networks, the shops, sheds and all that have been put in place.

    “The two outstanding areas for us to move the traders from Okobaba to this place are the short road that leads to the Timberville from Agbowa which is swampy in some areas and we have to do decompile and then the second outstanding area is the boom area which is the place where the timber merchant will anchor their logs.

    “We have spoken with the traders and they are very much ready to come here. Apart from the shops, we have the halls for them to do their meetings; we have conveniences, cafeteria, 24/7 power supply, among others so that they can do their business in a more conducive and friendly environment, and then we can  have the opportunity of regenerating the present Okobaba which is within the city,” he said.

    Also, while conducting members of the State Executive Council round the Odo Onosa/Ayandelu Housing Scheme, Commissioner for Housing, Mr Gbolahan Lawal said the project had already been incorporated into the rent-to-own housing policy of the present administration where people would just pay five per cent of the total amount and spread the rest over ten years.

    He said the scheme is one of the 17 estates spread across the State with a total of 5008 units, and that interested residents need not know any government official to apply for the scheme.

    Responding on behalf of the community, Oba of Odo Ayandelu Kingdom in Ikosi-Ejirin, Oba Ganiu Aderibigbe recalled how he approached the Governor during a town hall meeting held at Ajelogo on the need to revisit the project, saying the work done so far was a practical example of the fact that the Governor was a listening Governor, adding that the project would boost economic activities in the axis.

    “To us, we see this project as our own company in the sense that it would create a lot of jobs for our people. I also want to commend the Governor for not increasing the price. When the project commenced under the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola, cement was sold for N2,600 and the price of the house remain the same till date which means Governor Ambode has cushioned the gap in between,” the monarch said.

  • Consumers must get value for money – Ambode

    Consumers must get value for money – Ambode

    Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Wednesday in Lagos inaugurated a 12-member board of the state’s Consumer Protection Agency charging them to hit the ground running and end sharp practices among retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers.

    Ambode said the establishment of the agency became imperative in view of the fact that the state, with its huge population, provides the largest commercial market in Africa with the highest reported cases of daily infractions on consumers’ rights.

    “I resolve to ensure that consumers get value for money spent on goods and services.

    “The agency is therefore meant to complement our reform on the ease of doing business, especially as it affects the development of the industrial, commercial and consumer satisfaction value chain,” he said.

    Ambode said that his administration had taken another giant stride toward guaranteeing the welfare of residents on a sustainable basis with the inauguration of the board.

    “It is a strong demonstration of our commitment to the protection of the rights of consumers and the promotion of consumers’ satisfaction in the state,” he said.

    The governor said that the agency would be an effective service centre for the protection of the interest of consumers, settlement of consumer disputes and for other connected purposes as enshrined in the state’s consumer law.

    Read also: Pen Cinema flyover will be ready November, says Ambode

    He charged the board to be dutiful and nurture the agency to become an institution that would guarantee timely delivery of effective services to aggrieved consumers in the state.

    Ambode said that members were carefully selected both from the private and public sector based on their impeccable character and experience in the subject matter.

    Earlier, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Rotimi Ogunleye, commended the governor for the standardisation and quality of products and services in the state.

    He listed the functions of the agency to include speedy redress of consumers’ complaints through negotiation, mediation and conciliation.

    Ogunleye said it shall advise the government on the means and ways of eliminating hazardous products.

    He said it shall also publish lists of products, the consumption and sale of which had been banned, restricted or not approved by the appropriate relevant government agencies, among others.

    The Chairman of the board, Mrs Olufunmilola Falana, thanked the governor for the confidence reposed in the board.

    “We will take the bull by the horn and ensure that we do not only impress the governor, but the teeming consumers in the state,” Falana said.

    NAN

  • Ambode promises business-friendly policies

    Ambode promises business-friendly policies

    Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos says the government will continue to initiate policies and strategies that will enhance business opportunities and enable local products to achieve parity in the international market.

    Ambode, represented by Prince Rotimi Ogunleye, Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, said this on Saturday night in Lagos at the LCCI Commerce and Industry Awards.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Commerce and Industry Awards was organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

    The award is to celebrate private and public institutions operating in the country for their best practises, growth through innovations, business sustainability and positive impact on the society.

    Ambode said that people were conversant with the challenges of the past three years that disrupted investment opportunities in the maritime sector, manufacturing, textile and other real sectors of the economy.

    He, however, said the government was making progress in creating an enabling environment through policies, initiatives, institutional re-energising and infrastructural renewal/development.

    Ambode said that the business environment would continue to improve as positive outcome of some of government’s policies and strategies in the areas of transportation, power, infrastructure and waste management become manifest.

    According to him, synergy between government and the organised private sector through development and implementation of policies has alleviated challenges hindering local and foreign investments in the country.

    He urged local investors and business entrepreneurs to integrate trends that would push Nigeria’s product to a global state, as strategic technological development had changed the way businesses was done globally.

    The governor congratulated all recipients of the award, adding that the success achieved in their various sectors in spite of challenges in the business environment was a testament of their resourcefulness and creativity.

    Ambode urged the organised private sector to continue to partner with government in proffering solutions to the challenges confronting businesses in the country.

    Mrs Nike Akande, President of LCCI, said that the chamber was committed to the promotion of the core values that would ensure sustainable progress of the nation’s economy.

    “The core values include integrity, transparency, social responsibility and sincere commitment to the ideals of business ethics. Value creation is at the heart of wealth creation.

    “We are today celebrating enterprises that have excelled in the economy amidst multitude of challenges in the investment environment.

    “While the government is fixing the power sector, security challenges, foreign exchange issues, infrastructure issues, institutional bottlenecks and corruption, the private sector must move on with the business of creating wealth,” she said.

    Akande said that the chamber’s award would continue to promote healthy competition among corporate and public institutions, adding that there was tremendous value in competition as a driver of excellence.