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Tag: Lagos

  • 3 casualties as Lagos boat capsizes

    3 casualties as Lagos boat capsizes

    The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) says a boat mishap in Ikorodu, Lagos State, on Monday night, resulted in three casualties.

    Eleven others involved in the accident were rescued, according to the agency.

    Mrs Wuraola Alake, Head, Public Affairs Unit, Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) said these on Tuesday in Lagos.

    “At about 7.17 p.m. on Feb. 26, LASWA got a distress call that a 17 seater boat named Oluwaseyifunmi, loaded with 14 passengers, was involved in an accident.

    “The accident occured along the Ibeshe/Ikorodu channel en route Ebute Ipakodo ikorodu taken off from Addax jetty, Lagos.

    “It was gathered that the capsised boat and another passenger boat (yet to be identified) were engaging in speeding contest causing strong waves that capsised one of the boats while the other boat ran to Ibeshe jetty to call for help.

    “Local operators from Ibeshe jetty were the first responders; the LASWA team joined immediately after in the rescue operations in which 11 passengers were rescued with three casualties,” she said.

    Alake said that no manifest was filled at the Addax Jetty before passengers boarded the boat.

    She said that nine of the 11 rescued passengers, however, later filled the manifest at the Ibeshe ferry terminal after they had been rescued.

    “Two other passengers refused to put down their details.

    “LASWA and other first responders were able to rescue 11 alive while the 3 casualties were recovered and handed over to the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority LASEMA and the State Environmental Health Management Unit (SEHMU),” she said.

  • Shelve planned protest for national security, peace – CSO tells NLC

    Shelve planned protest for national security, peace – CSO tells NLC

    A Civil Society Organisation (CSO),  Lagos People’s Assembly (LPA) has urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to shelve its planned two days protest  for the sake of national peace and security.

    The Convener of the group, Mr Gbenga Soloki made this known at a news conference in Lagos on Sunday.

    Soloki said the organised labour should rather, opt for constructive engagement with the government,  instead of disrupting the socio-economic life at this point in time.

    NLC  had insisted on  planned  protest against  prevailing  challenges  in the country, in defiance to  warnings by the Department of State Services, to shelve it.
    The organised labour, on Monday, began mobilising its members for a nationwide protest slated for Feb.  27 and Feb.  28.

    Soloki said the  proposed protest  at this point in time,  would be injurious to the economic wellbeing of the people of Lagos State,  Nigerians and a negation of what labour stood  for.
    “We recognise the right of the labour unions to embark on protests or strikes, as conscientious citizens and residents of Lagos  state but embarking on such protest at this point will be counter productive.

    “Lagos state like we all know is a volatile environment, and some anti democratic elements may  pull the state and Nigeria backward, at the slightest  opportunity.

    “The trauma of the 2020 #EndSARS protests with its damage to limbs, destruction of life, public and private property still haunts us till date.”

    Soloki, who is the President, Campaign Against Impunity and Domestic Violence, said the only solution to the economic challenges remained constructive engagements between the government and  citizenry.
    The convener said the Lagos state government had inaugurated its committee on the distribution of palliatives which was made up of eminent Nigerians.

    He  said the committee should be given the benefit of the doubt while urging other state governments to follow suit.

    Soloki added that the palliatives would assist in ameliorating the economic challenges.

    “Our group and others will monitor the various social intervention programmes,  recently announced by the Lagos state government.”
    He said this was to ensure they were judiciously executed for the benefit of the people,  and we  would also provide regular independent reports to the Lagos state government as our own  contribution.
    Soloki promised that the group would at all times, hold government at all levels, accountable to the tenets of good governance, while also admonishing  residents and the citizenry to be alive to their duties and responsibilities.

  • LASG is replacing elevator that killed resident doctor – Commissioner

    LASG is replacing elevator that killed resident doctor – Commissioner

    Six months after a crashing elevator killed a Lagos State doctor, the state government has started working on its replacement.

    Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, on Saturday assured that replacement of the elevator that crashed and killed Dr Vwaere Diaso at the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island, had begun.

    The hospital’s elevator crashed from the 10th floor to the ground floor on Aug. 1, 2023, killing Dr Diaso, a resident doctor.

    She was descending to the ground floor to take delivery of food she had ordered from an eatery when the accident occurred.

    “Contract has been awarded to a major construction company to install a new elevator and it is already working on the contract,’’ Prof. Abayomi told NAN in Lagos.

    “The elevator crashed and killed one of our colleagues. We are not just going to go and install another elevator.

    “We have to understand what caused the elevator to crash. Is it a problem with the elevator or with infrastructure?

    “So that took some time for us. We are not going to just install another elevator there so as not to continue to endanger the lives of our doctors,’’ the commissioner added.

    He appealed to Lagos State residents to exercise patience as efforts were being made to ensure that there was no recurrence.

    “The public has to be patient with us; we are doing an extremely thorough job in that place. It is on-going at the moment,’’ Abayomi said.

  • Pandemonium as one feared killed, Lagos market shut down over clash

    Pandemonium as one feared killed, Lagos market shut down over clash

    Commercial activities in the Oluwole Market in Ogba, Ojodu Local Council Development Area of Lagos State were grounded on Friday morning as Yoruba and Hausa clashed

    Commercial activities in the Oluwole Market in Ogba, Ojodu Local Council Development Area of Lagos State were grounded on Friday morning as Yoruba and Hausa clashed.

    It was learned that the clash ensued on Thursday night when a young man simply identified as Abbey settled a quarrel between two Hausa men and was allegedly stabbed by an unidentified man, leaving him in a pool of blood.

    According to eyewitness accounts, Abbey was said to be bleeding profusely before he gave up the ghost, sparking a reprisal between Yoruba and Hausa in the area.

    The reprisal attack led to the destruction of food items including peppers, onions, and sold by Hausa traders.

    A Correspondent who visited the scene indicated police vans patrolling the market in an attempt to stem the clash and restore normalcy.

    Calls made to the line of the Lagos State Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, were not answered.

    “Sorry, I can’t take this call right now,” he wrote in response to a text sent to his on the incident.

     

  • Police arrest 2 fake soldiers in Lagos

    Police arrest 2 fake soldiers in Lagos

    The Police Command in Lagos State has arrested two fake soldiers who allegedly threatened to kill a man with a jack knife while fighting.

    The Command’s Spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the arrest NAN in Lagos on Wednesday, said that the suspects were in police custody since Monday.

    Hundeyin said that the Isolo Police Division on Monday at about 10.30 p.m., got information that there was a fight at Aina Street, Isolo area of Lagos.

    He said that a patrol team was immediately dispatched to the area to restore order.

    The image maker said that when the operatives got to the scene, they discovered that one Ben Okafor, who claimed to be a Corporal in the Nigerian Army, was seen with a jack knife, along one Darlinton Ihenacho.

    Hundeyin said that the two men were seen fighting one Oludotun, who later reported the case to the police that a soldier was chasing him with jack knife, threatening to kill him.

    “After the suspects were arrested and searched, a fake Nigerian Army Identity Card, bearing Cpl. Geoffrey Emmanuel, with serial No. 140861, a jack knife, and pepper spray were recovered from them.

    “Suspects will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigation.

  • Lagos lifts suspension on road transport association activities

    Lagos lifts suspension on road transport association activities

    The Lagos State Government has lifted the ban on activities of Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in the state.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr Sola Giwa said this in a statement on Monday.

    Giwa said the suspension was in furtherance of the state’s quest to foster peace and smooth working relationship among union members in its transportation sector.

    “Government took the decision after careful consideration and extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders, including members of the association, Trade Union Congress, (TUC) and the general public.

    “Also, the Lagos State Parks and Garages Administrators’ Committee which was set up to manage parks and garage facilities in the state,  has been dissolved with immediate effect,” he said.

    He explained that the decision was made in the best interest of promoting unity and peaceful co-existence, ensuring the smooth operation of transport services within the state.

    He added that it would help foster a more collaborative relationship between the government and the transport union, ultimately leading to improved services for the public.

    The special adviser urged all parties involved to adhere strictly to the terms and conditions of the settlement reached for peaceful and sustainable operations in the transportation sector.

    He also implored them to cooperate and work together toward building a better transportation system to benefit all Lagos state residents.

    The state government suspended the activities of RTEAN on September 2022 and constituted a caretaker committee to oversee affairs of the union.

    NAN

  • Nimet forecasts 3-day haziness, cloudiness across Nigeria

    Nimet forecasts 3-day haziness, cloudiness across Nigeria

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted haziness and cloudiness across the country from Monday to Wednesday.

    NiMet’s weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja forecast moderate dust haze with horizontal visibility range of 2km to 5km over the northern and North Central states.

    “Except Benue, Kogi and Kwara where patches of cloud in hazy atmosphere is anticipated. Patches of clouds are expected over the Inland of the South throughout the forecast period.

    “Patches of clouds are expected over the Coast in the morning with chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Edo, Ondo, Ogun, Lagos, Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa states during the afternoon and evening hours,” it said.

    According to NiMet, moderate dust haze with horizontal visibility range of 2km to 5km is expected over the northern and North central region on Tuesday.

    It said with the exception of Kwara, Benue and Kogi where patches of clouds in a hazy atmosphere was anticipated.

    “Patches of clouds are expected in the morning over the Inland of the South and the Coast.

    “Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti, Osun, Edo, Imo, Enugu, Lagos, Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa states,” it said.

    The agency envisaged slight dust haze over the northern region on Wednesday.

    It forecast patches of cloud in a hazy atmosphere over North central region except over parts of Plateau, Kwara, Benue and Kogi states where isolated thunderstorms were expected later in the day.

    NiMet envisaged patches of clouds over the inland of the South and the Coast in the morning with prospects of isolated thunderstorms.

    “(This will be) over parts of Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Edo, Oyo, Ondo, Lagos, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Delta states later in the day.

    The agency advised people with respiratory issues to wear face masks where possible.

    “People with respiratory issues should be cautious of the present weather situations. Children and the elderly should wear warm clothing at night.

    “Special attention should be paid to your skin, eyes and lips. Moisturize your skin and lips as much as possible.

    It also advised Airline operators to obtain updated weather reports and forecast from NiMet for effective planning in their operations.

     

  • Lagos, Delta share ideas on urban planning, development

    Lagos, Delta share ideas on urban planning, development

    The Lagos State Government, through its Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, hosted a visit from the Delta State Commissioner for Urban Renewal, Mr Michael Anoka.

    The Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Mr Mukaila Sanusi, said this in a statement on Saturday in Lagos.

    He said that the visit, which to Alausa was to share Lagos’ experience in urban planning and development with Delta State.

    Sanusi said that the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide, received the Delta State Urban Renewal Commissioner and told him about Lagos and her long history of developing resilient planning strategies.

    He said that the commissioner cited example of the creation of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority ( LASPPPA) and the Lagos State Building Control Agency ( LASBCA).

    He said that the agencies were formed in response to building collapse, and had been helping in regulating the state’s built environment.

    Sanusi quoted the commissioner as saying, “The Ministry, as presently constituted, is poised to meet the yearnings of the people.

    “It has, at the apex, two policy formulating offices: that is, the Office of Physical Planning and the Office of Urban Development.

    “It also has four implementing agencies, including the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, the Lagos State Planning and Environmental Monitoring Authority (LASPEMA), the Lagos State Building Control Agency, and the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA).”

    The Commissioner said that the administration of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu had given physical planning its pride of place with massive investment in Operative Development Plans such as Master Plans, Model City Plans, Action Area Plans, and Development Guide Plans, to birth an orderly, organised and sustainable built environment.

    Sanusi said that Mr Oluwole Sotire, Permanent Secretary, Office of Physical Planning, acknowledged the state’s experience in urban planning while recognizing the potential for mutual learning with Delta State.

    He quoted Sotire as saying that the two states had a lot to learn from each other as far as planning the physical environment was concerned.

    “Physical planning plays a crucial role in shaping the development and sustainability of cities.”

    Sanusi stated that critical departments and units in the ministry explained their mandates and achievements to the visitors, while the commissioner presented his counterpart from Delta with copies of the Lagos State Operative Development Plans.

    Explaining the purpose of his visit, the Delta State Commissioner for Urban Renewal, Mr Micheal Anoka, said that he visited Lagos to learn from jts successful urban planning strategies.

    He acknowledged Lagos’ leadership in the field and expressed his appreciation for the knowledge gained.

  • LASG starts enforcement of ban on styrofoam

    LASG starts enforcement of ban on styrofoam

    The Lagos State government said it would start full enforcement of the ban on usage and distribution of styrofoam food containers on Monday.

    The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, said this in a statement signed by Mr Kunle Adeshina, Director, Public Affairs of the ministry, on Saturday in Lagos.

    Wahab said enforcement officers from LAGESC/KAI, Environmental Health Officials and LAWMA, Police, and the Ministry would go after all those with styrofoams in their shops, stores or outlets and confiscate them.

    He stressed that styrofoam usage had caused enough damage to the health of residents and the state of the environment for so many years.

    “The government is determined to encourage viable options for styrofoam containers across the metropolis,” Wahab said.

    He reminded market leaders that cleanliness was next to godliness and as such they must ensure that clean environment remained a priority always.

    The commissioner added that the state government was disturbed about unsanitary habits in most of the markets, hence the closure of some markets across the state recently.

    “The government derives no pleasure in closing peoples’ businesses, but some markets are in a sorry state because of the nonchalant attitude of the markets’ executives,” he said.

    He also said there were recent reports that government officials were attacked whenever they visited markets to ascertain the sanitary levels and enforce environmental laws in markets.

    “I will like to appeal to all our traders to desist from selling on the railway lines and all the roads. Also, we must stop littering our markets with wastes.

    “We must segregate our wastes in our respective markets; bag our wastes and ensure we patronise PSP operators,” Wahab said.

    He stated that in few weeks time, the state government would commission the Red Rail line, expected to operate from dusk till dawn.

    He added that trading activities on the railway lines was very risky and could lead to loss of lives.

  • Supreme Court voids AMCON takeover of Lagos Hotel

    Supreme Court voids AMCON takeover of Lagos Hotel

    The Supreme Court on Friday affirmed the judgment of the Court of Appeal Lagos nullifying the takeover of the landed property of Suru Worldwide Ventures Nigeria Limited by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

    Justice Emmanuel Agim in his judgment dismissed the appeal brought to it by AMCON and affirmed the lower court’s decision to halt the company’s takeover and ordered a new hearing at the High Court.

    “I find no merit in this appeal. The judgment of the court of appeal is hereby affirmed”, Agim declared.

    The appellate court had in a lead judgment by Justice Ugochukwu Ogakwu, held that the failure of AMCON to join Suru Worldwide Ventures Nigeria Limited as a defendant in its suit before the Federal High Court rendered the proceedings leading to the takeover order nullity.

    The court also ordered that the matter be returned to the Federal High Court for a fresh hearing

    A Federal High Court in Lagos had ordered the takeover of the company’s property by AMCON for not paying the loan obtained from the defunct Oceanic Bank.

    AMCON had prayed the court to order security agencies to offer it protection to enable it to exercise its possessory rights as a legal mortgagee under the Deeds of Legal Mortgage, over Suru Worldwide Ventures Nigeria Limited’s landed properties.

    But Suru Worldwide Ventures Nigeria Limited appealed against the judgment on the grounds that it was denied a fair hearing because it was not joined as a defendant.