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Tag: Lagos

  • Flood: Osinbajo approves release of N1.6bn bailout to Lagos, Niger, Enugu, 12 other states

    Flood: Osinbajo approves release of N1.6bn bailout to Lagos, Niger, Enugu, 12 other states

    Sequel to the devastating effects of the heavy downpour last week on most states in the country, the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has directed the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, to immediately release N1.6 billion for the 15 states ravaged by floods.

    The states include; Ekiti, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia, Oyo, Lagos, Plateau, Sokoto, Edo and Bayelsa

    Spokesperson to President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi Adesina, made the disclosure to newsmen after the Federal Executive Council, FEC.

    Adesina said the money will help cushion the effects of the disaster on residents of the states.

    He explained said the fund “would be taken from the Federal Government’s Ecological Account in the Central Bank of Nigeria”.

    He said the Minister of Finance has been directed to release the money directly to the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, for onward distribution to the affected states.

  • Only 600,000 people pay tax out of 22 million population in Lagos – Ambode

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has said it was high time Lagosians voluntarily carried out their civil responsibilities by ensuring prompt payment of their taxes irrespective of their income.

    The governor explain that the state needs the funds to accelerate development and also address the myriads of challenges confronting it.

    The governor spoke at a workshop on this year’s Water Technology and Environmental Control Exhibition and Conference (WATEC) in Ikeja, the state capital.

    In his words: “If out of a population of 22 million, only 600,000 Lagos residents are up-to-date in paying their taxes, such will not help to scale up provision of infrastructure and other amenities for the people.”

    The governor therefore urged Lagosians to be tax compliant if they truly want a better Lagos.

    Responding to a suggestion that the state government should complete the shoreline protection, particularly in Lekki and Ajah to mitigate the impact of torrential rainfalls causing floods in the areas, Ambode said government’s plan was being inhibited by its limited resources.

    He said: “Talking about protecting our shoreline, I want to tell you something. The Ecological Fund that someone talked about does not exist because the previous government, due to political consideration, never gave Lagos anything. Protecting the shoreline runs into billions.

    “Disallowing the water to break cost a lot of money. Then, with frozen taxes in the last eight to 10 years, there has not been any increase in taxes.”

     

  • Incessant road accidents: FG to establish truck transit parks in Kogi, Enugu, Lagos, others

    In a bid to stop the increasing rate of accident and loss of cargoes due to bad roads, the Federal Government has decided to establish Truck Transit Parks, TTP, across major cities in Nigeria.

    Amaechi explained that providing this critical infrastructure will enhance trade across the country.

    In his words: “The Federal Government plans over the next couple of years to develop Truck Transit Parks at Lokoja in Kogi State, Obollo-Afor in Enugu State, Ogere in Ogun State, Jebba in Kwara State and Port Novo Creek in Lagos State as an alternative strategy to address the menace of truck congestion at the seaports in Apapa and Port Harcourt.

    “These are meant to complement the Ore Sunshine in Ondo State and the ones being processed by the Kaduna State Government at the Mararaban – Jos, and Tapa on the Kaduna Abuja highway.

    “The Federal Government shall ensure that TTP projects independently developed by state governments and private investors meets a minimum standard in the number of facilities provided at TTP sites.

    “The Federal Government shall also ensure that the TTPs are economic and business hub creating wealth and employment for our teeming population particularly the youths”.

    Similarly, Minister Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola said that if the activities of these big vehicles are not well managed, they will become a big menace to the society.

    Fashola also disclosed the Federal government in a bid to curb the menace of the Heavy Duty Vehicles, HDVs, at the Apapa-Tin-Can area of Lagos embarked on the construction of a 340 HDV capacity Trailer Park opposite Tincan port.

    He said “The trailer park which is first of its kind in Nigeria, is expected to be completed within the 2017 fiscal year.

    “The park when completed is expected to decongest the area and improve economic activities.”

  • We will ensure best solution to Lagos flooding – Ambode

    We will ensure best solution to Lagos flooding – Ambode

    Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State says his administration is taking immediate steps to find a holistic solution to the problem of flooding in the state.

    Ambode spoke on Monday at the Water Technology and Environmental Control (WATEC) sensitisation programme in Lagos.

    The country’s commercial nerve centre has been battling with flooding which hit several parts of the city in the last few days as a result of torrential rainfall.

    Areas worst hit include the highbrow Lekki-Victoria Island axis, where motorists, on Saturday, spent up to six hours to escape the water-logged roads and expressway.

    Heavy floods took over the entire Ahmadu Bello Way in Victoria Island, Lagos, forcing some residents and commercial offices to unceremoniously vacate their premises.

    The Lagos State Police Command had temporarily closed the road to human and vehicular movement due to threat by heavy flood.

    Ambode said on Monday that there was even more urgent need to embark upon a review and re-engineering of the canals and drainage systems in the state.

    According to him, this must be pursued hand in hand with a clear and crystal re-envisioning of the water management system.

    “For the past few days, the state and indeed most parts of Nigeria, have witnessed torrential rainfall which are quite unprecedented.

    “We have witnessed our most prime estates flooded with water; we have seen our roads taken over by floods, and we have painfully watched how many homesteads have literally become pools.

    “These indeed are trying times for any government, especially our own administration, which has determinedly pursued massive infrastructural development, to improve standards of living of our citizenry,” Ambode said.

    He said that the government would be stronger in enforcing physical planning laws, especially those building illegally on canals and blocking the free-flow of water across the state.

    The governor said his administration would reinvigorate its campaign against the dumping of refuse by citizens into canals.
    Ambode said that access to and management of water resources, as well as environmental control, remained one of the greatest challenges facing most parts of the developing world.

    He said that Israel, which Lagos State had decided to partner with in developing water technology and environmental control, was one of the first countries to successfully overcome its limitations in water resources.

    “Our intention is to explore a wide array of technological advancements and possibilities, to ensure that we obtain the best solution to a rather nagging problem,” he said.

    The governor said the incidence of flooding was not circumscribed to Nigeria alone, nor was it a peculiarity of the Third World.Ambode recalled that the UK was heavily flooded this year and, indeed, witnessed some of its worst flooding since records started in 1901.

    He added that Japan, a country that was equally technologically savvy, had also not been spared heavy flooding this year.

    “No matter how well a society may be prepared, we can never rule out the element of the natural or if you like, the supernatural.

    “This is why Lagos State, and indeed Nigeria, fully subscribes to the tenets of Climate Change Solutions by the United Nations,” Ambode said.

    He said the aforementioned examples enjoined government to put the experience and pains into perspective and learn from all them to better prepare for the future.

    Earlier, the Special Adviser to the governor on Overseas Affairs and Investment, Prof. Ademola Abass, said the sensitisation programme was a prelude to WATEC Israel 2017 conference, taking place from Sept. 12 to Sept. 14.

    Abass said that key stakeholders would come together at the conference to deliberate on some critical issues on water technology and environmental control.

    The Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Guy Feldman, said that every challenge faced created room for planning and solutions.

    He noted that floods made the second highest damage out of all natural disasters.

  • Flood: Eko Disco announces power outage in Ikoyi, Victoria Island

    Flood: Eko Disco announces power outage in Ikoyi, Victoria Island

    Following the incessant rainfall that left some areas in Lagos state flooded yesterday, the management of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) on Sunday announced that there would be a power outage in Ikoyi, Victoria Island and its environs as the company’s injection substations and equipment submerged in the flood.

    Mr Godwin Idemudia, General Manager, Corporate Communications, EKEDC, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the company was having challenges in almost all its injection substations as a result of the flood from heavy rains on Saturday.

    According to Idemudia, some of EKEDC transformers in the areas have been submerged.

    The general manager said that the management of the company had directed that transmission be ‘deloaded’ in the affected areas for safety.

    He said that the injection substations affected by the flood included Lekki Transmission Station, Agungi, Lekki, Ademola and Anifowoshe.

    “Victoria Garden City, Water Front, Maroko and Oniru Injection Stations are completely out.

    “We need to look at the extent of the effect of the flood on our equipment.

    “However, we are presently working round the clock to restore supply to our esteemed customers,” he said.

    Idemudia appealed to the customers to show understanding over the inconvenience the outage had caused.

    TheNewsGuru.com had earlier published photos and videos of several areas of Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki and Victoria Garden City, VGC, areas of Lagos state submerged by the flood, due to the heavy rainfall experienced in the state.

  • Heavy rainfall: LASG warns residents to stay indoors

    Heavy rainfall: LASG warns residents to stay indoors

    The Lagos State government has warned residents to stay indoors, because of the torrential rains in most parts of the state.

    The State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Samuel Adejare, said the rains were bound to have an untoward effect on landed property, roads and the environment.

    “You are implored as much as possible to stay indoors unless it is essential to go out.

    However, we strongly advise those who live in lowland and close to water bodies to move upland, Adejare said in a statement.

    The State Police Command, has also announced the temporary closure of Ahmadu Bello Way in Victoria Island.

    “Due to the downpour in the state, motorists plying Ahmadu Bello Way in Victoria Island and other areas prone to flood, which has caused traffic gridlock in the state, are advised to take alternative routes made available by traffic officials.

    “This is because flood in the area has caused us to temporarily block the road for safety,” the police said in a statement.

    TheNewsGuru.com had earlier published photos and videos of several areas of Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki and Victoria Garden City, VGC, areas of Lagos state submerged by the flood, due to the heavy rainfall experienced in the state.

     

  • Photos: 5 dead, 3 injured as truck falls on commercial bus in Lagos

    Photos: 5 dead, 3 injured as truck falls on commercial bus in Lagos

    There was pandemonium early Saturday morning at the Ojota area of Lagos as an articulated truck with registration number AKD 663 KF conveying a 40 feet container laden with plywood fell on a Volkswagen commercial bus (Danfo) with registration number FST 944 XR.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that five of the passengers in the bus died on the spot while three others sustained different degree of injuries.

    The copses have since been deposited at the Ikorodu General Hospital Mortuary, while the injured were taken to a trauma centre at toll gate.

    According to the General Manager of Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, LASEMA, Mr. Adesina Tiamiyu whose agency were alerted as soon as the incident happened, the accident happened at around 4:02 am on Saturday (today) at Ojota bus stop.

    The GM quickly alerted the Emergency Response Team, ERT of the agency who rushed to the scene of the accident.

    In his words: “Investigation carried out by the Emergency Response Team, ERT, at the scene of the incident revealed that an articulated truck with registration number AKD 663 KF conveying a 40ft container laden with plywood fell on a Volkswagen commercial bus (Danfo) with registration number FST 944 XR”

    Tiamiyu noted that it took the combined efforts of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, Commander of Rapid Response Squad, Tunji Disu and officials of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA; Lagos State Ambulance Service, LASAMBUS; Lagos State Fire Service; Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC to rescue the victims and restore calmness to the area.

    The GM however advised articulated truck drivers and owners to exercise caution and avoid over loading to avoid such fatal accident in the nearest and distant future.

     

  • $3m Lagos Hotel: Magu, EFCC planning to nail Yari as scapegoat – Governors

    $3m Lagos Hotel: Magu, EFCC planning to nail Yari as scapegoat – Governors

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, has advised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and its chairman, Ibrahim Magu, to desist from unnecessary “shadow-boxing” and do the needful by leaving Abdulaziz Yari, Governor of Zamfara State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, to face his job.

    The NGF stated this Wednesday in a statement by its spokesperson, Abdulrazak Barkindo.

    The statement reads: “This is because our chairman and governor of Zamfara State Dr Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar had for the umpteenth time told the commission that he neither owns a plot of land in Lagos nor owns or intends to build a hotel in Lagos.

    “Yari had denied any links with a $3 million hotel in Lagos which some online media attributed to him and in fact sued the publications responsible for that insidious report for libel. But for want of scapegoats in its battle against the National Assembly, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission continues to drag the governor’s name in the mud in a veiled effort to divert attention from the matters of the moment,” the NGF said.

    The NGF also urged Nigerians to note that the EFCC action on the issue is not about any missing funds anymore, saying, “the NGF would like to categorically emphasise that it did not, at any material time, receive any funds from the Paris London refunds on behalf of any states”.

    It said the Ministry of Finance remitted all states funds to them directly from the federation accounts.

    “What the NGF received, it must be repeated here, was monies due to the consortium of consultants who verified the amounts due to all the states that were owed.

    “Furthermore, the NGF would like to state that its involvement with the Paris-London Club refunds had saved the states colossal amounts of money individually and collectively because instead of the high percentages agreed upon by the individual states to their separate consultants, the NGF drew the percentages down to 2% which was paid to the consortium,” it said.

    The NGF also said before then, states had agreed to pay consultants between 10 and 30 per cent as commission for recovering the over-deductions.

    “It is however understandable that in the absence of a fall guy, the EFCC has consistently maligned the person of the Zamfara State governor and Chairman of the NGF, Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, even when the need to so do was untenable, ridiculous and absent.

    “The NGF is asking the commanding heights of the EFCC to instead look elsewhere for its real or imagined enemies and allow Yari Abubakar to face enormous task of governing his state and leading the governors of Nigeria,” the statement said.

     

  • Lagos commissions Visonscape’s 24-hour waste management depot

    Lagos commissions Visonscape’s 24-hour waste management depot

    …launches first phase of Cleaner Lagos Initiative to revolutionize solid waste management

    The Lagos State Government has commended Visionscape Sanitation Solutions Limited, an innovative environmental utility group, for investing in Nigeria during a period of economic recession and inflation when other investors had considered it unhealthy to invest in the country.

    The State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, represented by the state’s Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, stated this at the soft launch of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) and the commissioning of Nigeria’s first 24-hour waste management depot on Friday at Ogudu. He described the commissioning as a vote of confidence and expressed delight that Phase One of the CLI, a pet vision of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, was finally taking off. “The soft launch of the new waste management policy is a dream come true, and a demonstrable evidence of what determination and proper planning could bring into fruition,” he added.


    The commissioner also averred that the Lagos State Government has its vote of confidence in Visionscape. “We believe in Visionscape. We are standing by you. We know you can do it. With your capabilities and clout, Lagos State will be the cleanest city in the world. We will work with you in every way and we will make it happen together. This is your Lagos, our Lagos”.


    He called on Lagosians to embrace the Cleaner Lagos Initiative which will add value to the quality of life in the city and stressed that the Ambode government will not evade challenges but will rather face it head-on to deliver solutions.
    He also reiterated the commitment of the Akinwunmi Ambode administration to bequeath Lagos State with a functional, robust and sustainable waste management system that would transform the State into the cleanest city in the world.

    The commissioner stated that Governor Ambode’s dream all along had always been to positively affect the State as far as waste management is concerned, and that his commitment to follow it through was unwavering.
    He said: “Coming here and seeing these fantastically looking vans and trucks of Visionscape that would be used for waste management in the State is inspiring and encouraging. This is just a small bit of what we intend to launch through the CLI in days to come.

    “I must say I am one of the happiest persons in the world today because a lot of people thought that this would not be achieved but here we are today launching the first phase.

    “I just want to say here that we have always believed in Visionscape and if not, we would not have chosen the consortium to do this for us. We firmly believe in the firm; we are standing by them because we know they can do it and they will do it and make Lagos to be the cleanest city in the world by the grace of God.

    “We are very glad and satisfied with the giant strides Visionscape is taking in ensuring that we achieve the aim that we have all sat down to set. I just want to admonish members of staff of the firm that apart from what they would be paid, they should see this as their own contribution to making Lagos what we all want it to be, which is to become the cleanest city in the world.”

    Earlier, in his opening remarks, Visionscape’s Executive Director, Mr Harry Ackerman said the company was delighted to be part of the journey to make Lagos a clean State, assuring that modern techniques and technologies in waste management would be deployed to provide top class services for the people.

    He said: “Our top priority is to ensure that the waste management needs of Lagos are met. We will do this by implementing sustainable long-term solutions that are tailor-made for Lagos specifically.

    “We have also developed sound business models, processes and technologies which are a central component of our integrated waste management plan. We are refurbishing, building and upgrading waste management facilities located in different parts of the State. These include engineered sanitary landfills, transfer loading stations, material recovering facilities and multiple maintenance centres,” he added.
    Visionscape Sanitation Solutions has successfully completed the development of their first waste management depot in Lagos State. Located in Ogudu, making it the first of three 24-hour depots, that company will open in Lagos State.

    In addition to the Ogudu depot which was commissioned on Friday, two other depots will be located in Mushin and Lagos Island. The Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) was established by the Lagos State Government to address, enforce and regulate the challenges in the solid waste management systems within Lagos State. The initiative is focused on improving the environment to make it cleaner, safer and healthier for all Lagos State residents, while also improving operational efficiency in waste management. Visionscape, currently in a public-private partnership with the Lagos State Government, is set to provide waste management services for the CLI, under the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).

  • Lagos inaugurates Ibile Microfinance Bank, reinstates commitment to poverty alleviation

    The Lagos State Government on Friday inaugurated its microfinance bank, restating its avowed commitment to poverty reduction and employment generation in the state.

    The Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akinyemi Ashade, gave the assurance at the official unveiling of Ibile Microfinance Bank at its head office situated at No. 121, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja.

    He said the bank was set up to boost micro, small and medium enterprises and generate employment for the people.

    “The state government will make loans available to residents who plan to go into small-scale businesses, but lack the necessary capital to do so.

    “Ibile MFB will galvanise activities in the MSME sector and allow more people to go into businesses to ultimately reduce unemployment and poverty,” Ashade said.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the bank, Mr Kolawole Taiwo, said the Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration was committed to improving the standards of living of the people and ensuring the delivery of dividends of democracy.

    Taiwo, the immediate past Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, said creating access to loans would boost entrepreneurial activities in the state.

    He said:“Ibile is the main disbursement vehicle to the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) which was established by Ambode with N25 billion over four years.

    “This is to finance 100,000 businesses under the micro and small and Medium Enterprises.

    “Today marks another milestone in our state and we will do the job with all seriousness to provide leadership to others in this sector.

    “We must also note that microfinance banks such as Ibile exist to fill the vacuum that traditional/commercial banks cannot fill in terms of providing capital and credit facilities to MSMEs.”

    Also speaking, the Managing Director of IBILE MFB, Mr Adegboyega Kazeem, highlighted the bank’s products and services geared toward the economic development of the state.

    Kazeem, who noted that the bank was an opportunity for the people of the state to start or grow their businesses, added that the bank was prepared to come to the rescue of MSMEs in the state.

    “We have mandate to provide essential banking services and make loans available to residents and small businesses owners in the state.

    “As a corporate entity, our utmost priority is to provide value-added services to the people of the state,” he said.

    According to him, Ibile is partnering with the Central Bank of Nigeria on the N220 billion Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises Development Fund to enable it to disburse low interest loans to qualified MSMEs.

    He added that the bank was also partnering with the Bank of Industry and other intervention funds both foreign and domestic to increase access to finance and capital by MSMEs.

     

     

    NAN