Ondo Bans Unions'/Associations' Activities Over Public Exploitation | AgegePulse Magazine

By Ayodele Ifasakin

 

Rotimi Akeredolu

The Ondo State Government has taken measures to protect residents in the state amid soaring costs and incessant increases in prices of goods and services by artisans including farm produce and food items.

 

In this regard, the state government has barred all Trading Unions and Associations under the umbrella of Ondo State United Artisan Group, from fixing and enforcing uniform prices of goods and services being sold/rendered by their members and non-members.

 

A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo said the decision was taken in the overall socio-economic interest of the people of the State. 

 

The statement:

 

"Government had before now, watched with discomfort and dismay, the economic suffocation of the people with unimaginable increases in prices of goods and services in markets, shops and other sales outlets across the state.

 

"Even without due regard for market forces, it is obvious that associations and unions are largely behind this unwholesome act. 

 

"The state government has decided to act decisively even as the public deserves protection from this undesirable exploitation under some guises. 

 

"Therefore, fixing market prices and imposing fixed exorbitant prices on the people under the guise of association or union must be stopped forthwith.

 

"Accordingly, as part of the measures, Individuals, Artisans, Traders and providers of services as well as farmers are henceforth allowed to operate, sell their produce and render any service in any part of the state as they may deem profitable, based on the principle of demand and supply and prevailing market forces. This is just as membership of associations and unions remains voluntary as provided for in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

 

"Consequently, Government's right to regulate the activities of Trading Associations and Artisan groups has to be invoked in the interest of residents. Therefore, on no account should any Union/Association fix or enforce prices of goods and services. 

 

"Similarly, there shall be no sale of tickets to Artisans/Traders by any Association/Union without due approval of the state Government through the Internal Revenue Service”.

"All concerned are, therefore, advised to adhere strictly to this directive as any person or group found to be flouting it will be made to face the full weight of the extant laws. 

"It is to be noted too that this directive takes effect from TODAY in all markets and sales outlets across the 18 LGAs of the state".

Breaking: Lagos Assembly passes VAT, Open Grazing bills | AgegePulse Magazine By Ayodele Ifasakin

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday passed the State's Value Added Tax (VAT) with Speaker Mudashiru Obasa directing the Acting Clerk of the House, Mr. Olalekan Onafeko, to transmit a clean copy to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for assent.

Obasa

The House also passed the bill that prohibits open cattle grazing in the state.

The two bills were passed after unanimous votes by the lawmakers at the sitting where they were read the third time.

Immediately after their passage, Speaker Obasa commended his colleagues for their passion to see that the state continues to grow.

"I thank you all for this historic exercise," Obasa said.

Recall that the House held separate public hearings on the bills on Wednesday with stakeholders expressing support.

BREAKING: Buhari Arrives Imo to Commission Projects, Despite IPOB's Threat | AgegePulse Magazine

  

By Ayodele Ifasakin 

President Muhammadu Buhari arriving Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, Imo State

Buhari lands in Imo

President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Owerri, the Imo State capital to commission yet to be ascertained a number of projects.

Buhari landed at the Sam Mbakwe Airport in Owerri and was received by dignitaries.

Governor Hope Uzodinma had earlier stated that the President is in the state to commission some projects through a Facebook post.

He wrote, “It is with a heart full of gratitude that I, on behalf of the good people of Imo State, welcome His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR to the Eastern Heartland on a working visit to commission some of our completed people-oriented projects.

“Mr. President, we are delighted to have you in Imo State on this august occasion despite your tight schedules and it’s our pleasure that while in Imo State, you will enjoy the hospitality and conviviality of our people.”

Cows will cost N2 million each if Lagos passes anti-open grazing law: Miyetti Allah | AgegePulse Magazine

By Ayodele Ifasakin

“If cattle are bred in one place, the price could go up to about two million naira each.”

A herdsman feeding his cows [Photo credit: The Guardian Nigeria

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) has warned that the price of a cow could go up as high as N2 million if the Lagos State Government passes the proposed anti-open grazing law.

The association’s zonal secretary for South-West, Maikudi Usman, made the disclosure on Wednesday during a one-day public hearing organised by the state House of Assembly on the anti-open grazing bill.

Mr Usman said ranching, as being proposed by the government, was capital intensive and his members could not afford it.

“If cattle are bred in one place, the price could go up to about two million naira each. W

e agreed with some local chiefs in other states that anyone who wants to rear cows in a location should register and should indicate when he is leaving,” he disclosed.

The Miyetti Allah leader added that the best way to breed cattle was to move them from one place to another, saying that they were moved to different places during the rainy and dry season.

“Our breeders are not used to breeding cattle in one place.

They move from here to another place.

 When we say we will keep cattle in one place, the owner of the cattle will not have funds to feed the animals in one place.

Making further excuses, Mr Usman pleaded with the government for more time to enlighten herdsmen on breeding cattle in one place rather than encroaching on farmlands.

“We are pleading with the Lagos State government to give us more time to go tell our people and train them how they will be breeding cattle in one place and not encroach on farmers’ land,” he said.

Mr Usman further urged the state government to subsidise the cost of raising the animals in one location.

He detached his group from criminal herdsmen that have been destroying people’s farm among other criminal activities such as armed robbery and kidnapping.

“A Fulani man moves from one place to another to ply his trade, but we have some bad eggs that are fomenting trouble.

The government should allow us to tell our people that they don’t want our cows to destroy people’s farmlands,” he pleaded.

“We have met with stakeholders in Ekiti, Ondo and even Oyo States and we reached agreements with them.”

 

In his own remarks the president of the Lagos State Sheep Farmers Association, Mustapha Ibrahim, said that the bill was not meant to attack anybody, but that it was all-embracing.

Mr Ibrahim noted that land resources were very important to the state, adding that the relationship between cattle herders and farmers should be symbiotic.

He also called for legislation to promote the creation of farm estates across the state.

Also, chairman of Lagos State Butchers Association, Alabi Kazeem, urged the assembly to support the cattle breeders as breeding cattle in one location could be expensive.

NAN

The People Gazette

Anti-Grazing Bill: Stakeholders commend Lagos Assembly | AgegePulse Magazine

-Obasa says bill is intended to ensure peaceful co-existence

- Myetti Allah pleads for assistance from Lagos state government 

By Ayodele Ifasakin

Eshilokun

Many stakeholders at a public hearing held at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Wednesday, agreed that prohibition of open cattle grazing was the best way for the state to ensure security of lives and property.

This was as the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, said the bill was intended to create an atmosphere that would encourage peaceful co-existence among residents.

Obasa, who was represented by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni, said in his keynote address that it was important to address the issue of cattle rearing, especially as it affects security and other human desires.

The Speaker added that the issues involved with the current ways of cattle rearing and open grazing called for concerted efforts for stability and economic development.

"If there is no security, there will be no peace and development. Farmers/herders clash appears to be the oldest. Both the farmers and herders are critical to food stability.

"Both of them affect our health. Their conflicts lead to insecurity and claim lives and properties. We must engage ourselves to make the right decisions," the Speaker said.

Hon. Kehinde Joseph, chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, in his remark, said that the proposed law was meant to ensure peace between herders and farmers in the state.

According to Joseph, the proposed law is meant to ensure the registration of herders and prohibition cattle roaming.

"It will forestall herders/farmers clashes and redefine social and economic activities in the state.

"Members of cattle breeders association will be sensitised on the new development and we will ensure strict compliance with the law, when it is passed," he said.

Commenting, the President of the Lagos State Sheep Farmers Association, Alhaji Mustapha Ibrahim, described the bill as all-embracing and would ensure a symbiotic relationship between cattle rearers and farmers.

He also advocated for a legislation to promote the creation of farm estates across the state.

However, in his submission, Zonal Secretary of Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in the South West, Meikudi Usman, appealed to the state government for assistance as he noted that ranching is more expensive than open grazing.

Usman, who agreed that there were some criminally-minded herders, argued that raising a cow in one location could increase the price of a cow to as much as N2 million just as he pleaded with the government to subsidise the cost of raising the cattle in one location.

“We agreed with some local chiefs in other states that anyone who wants to rear cow in a location should register and he should indicate when he is leaving.

"A Fulani man moves from one place to another to play his trade, but we have some bad eggs that are causing trouble. The government should allow us to talk to our people that they don't want our cows to destroy people's farmland.

"We have met with stakeholders in Ekiti, Ondo and even Oyo states and we reached agreements with them," he said.

Chairman of Lagos State Butchers Association of Lagos State, Alhaji Alabi Bamidele Kazeem, also advocated for support to cattle breeders arguing that rearing animals in one location could be expensive.

Insecurity: Bandits Force School Closure, Convert Classrooms To Hideout | AgegePulse Magazine

 

By Ayodele Ifasakin

Bandit

Bandits terrorising residents of Zamfara and forcing closure of schools have converted some classrooms to personal use in the North West State.

Daily Trust findings show that dozens of primary schools in highly traumatised remote rural communities had been taken over by armed criminals.

The schools were abandoned by the pupils and teachers as a result of the activities of the criminals.

According to residents, the head master of one primary school in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of the state was once confronted by armed men who asked him to close lessons for the day as they intended to sleep in the classrooms.

Without any hesitation and knowing fully the consequences of not carrying out their order, the headmaster immediately closed the school and asked all the pupils to go home.

Daily Trust learnt that scored of armed bandits have been killed in airstrikes after they took shelter in the empty classrooms in the abandoned primary schools across the state.

Apart from this, there were schools affected by a lack of teachers because many had rejected posting to rural schools due to the risk associated with going there to teach.

Native Reporters

Why LASUBEB Partners Lagos Taskforce - Hon. Alawiye-King | AgegePulse Magazine

 By Ayodele Ifasakin 

R-L: Hon. Alawiye-King, CSP Shola Jejeloye

The Executive Chairman, Hon. Wahab Alawiye-King led Board Members, Board Secretary and Directors for an inter-agency collaborative visit to the Chairman, Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Task Force). 

During the visit, the SUBEB chair requested for the support of the Unit in eradicating indiscriminate vandalization of school properties, removal of shanties and dislodgement of hoodlums around school territories, as well as assistance in curtailing encroachment on school lands by residents.  

  

Alawiye-King added that, the presence of hoodlums around school environment is not only a threat to the pupils and teachers, but also a red flag in the society.

He appreciated the task force for their relentless effort in law enforcement in the state and also pleaded that the unit affiliates with the Board by providing armed officers for monitoring and enforcement whenever the need arises.

CSP. Shola Jejeloye, Chairman Task Force Lagos State promised adequate support in terms of enforcement and also appreciated the Board for the visit to the unit. 

“Exposure of pupils to criminal activities can cause mental imbalance for our children, which is why we have made our decision irreversible in ensuring that anytime the Board calls on us we will answer,” he said.

Faleke Denies Lagos West Senatorial Ambition Rumours | AgegePulse Magazine

 

 

By Ayodele Ifasakin 

The attention of the media office of Rt. Hon. James Abiodun Faleke have been drawn to some online news report and rumours being peddled around by some uninformed persons over a purported senatorial ambition of our principal.

Rt. James Abiodun Faleke 

Ordinarily we ought to disregard such false news since it's already known to be the handiwork of the uninformed, but we felt there is a need to set the record straight in issuing a statement on behalf of our principal by stating in an unequivocal terms that our principal who is a ranking member of the House of Representatives and privileged to chair the House committee on finance has no intention whatsoever to aspire for the Lagos west senatorial seat in 2023. 

He is focused and committed to his resolve to continue to offer quality representation and service delivery to the people as a member of the House of Representatives.

We make bold to state that our principal enjoys lots of goodwill and support from the progressive leadership and vast majority of party members and constituents in Ikeja federal constituency.

This disclaimer is necessary to dispel the rumours and false information being  peddled around by the *uninformed.*

(c) JAF MEDIA

PHOTOS: Ota Residents Block Abeokuta-Lagos Highway To Protest Bad Roads | AgegePulse Magazine

  By Ayodele Ifasakin 

Ota road

Scores of travellers on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway on Monday were stranded after residents in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State staged a protest over bad roads in Ota and its environs.

Credit: Daud Olatunji, Saheed Olugbon

Punch 

Education: Lagos Schools To Resume 13th September, Adopts Staggered Resumption for Boarders in Model Colleges, Upgraded Schools | AgegePulse Magazine

 

By Ayodele Ifasakin 

Students 

The Lagos State Government has announced the resumption guidelines for the Y2021/2022 academic session for public and private schools across the State.

In a release issued on Monday by the State Ministry of Education, the Honourable Commissioner, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, stated that all schools are expected to resume on Monday, 13th September 2021, while students of Model Colleges and Upgraded Schools will be required to resume in batches from Sunday 19th September, 2021.

In her words, “Boarders in Model Colleges and Upgraded Schools, as well as SS2 students seeking placement into SS3 class are expected to resume on Sunday 19th September, 2021. The revision for the classes will run from 20th to 26th September while promotion examination to SS3 class will start from 27th September to 8th October, 2021.

Mrs. Adefisayo further noted that the newly admitted JS1 students into Model Colleges and Upgraded Schools are to resume on Saturday, 2nd October, 2021 for a one-week orientation programme to intimate them on secondary school structure and modalities.

The Commissioner averred that other returning students in JS2, JS3, SS1 and the newly transited SS2 in the various Model Colleges and Upgraded Schools are to resume on Saturday, 9th October 2021, while classes for the students will commence on Monday, 11th October, 2021.

She also revealed that the adoption of staggered resumption for Model Colleges and Upgraded Schools was due to the presence of Y2020/2021 SS3 students currently writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) scheduled to end on the 6th of October, 2021, adding that another reason is that the schools cannot accommodate seven sets at once in the boarding system.

Adefisayo, therefore, appealed to parents to abide by the new development for a smooth academic session, just as she implored the students to be more diligent and devote more time to their studies.

LAWMA to ban single use plastic | AgegePulse Magazine

By Ayodele Ifasakin

Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) is set to ban single use plastic materials across its formations, as part of its efforts to curtail the environmental menace posed by the item.

AgegePulse learnt that,  this was made known by the Authority, in a press release on Monday, noting  that the agency was taking the step, as a key implementer of the Lagos State Plastic Policy, geared towards making the environment livable and free from plastic pollution.

“LAWMA, as an environment-friendly organisation, is totally committed to promoting the ban of single use plastic, across our work formations in the state. We are glad to lead by example, looking forward to other corporate bodies doing same, to make the environment cleaner and safe from plastic pollution”, the statement read.

The Authority called on residents to shun the act of indiscriminate dumping of waste at unauthorised locations, such as canals, gutters, road medians and uncompleted buildings, pointing out that such abhorrent practice worsened the challenge of flooding in the state, as the rainy season resumed.

It urged residents to call LAWMA toll-free numbers: 07080601020 and 617 (for GLO users), to report environmental infractions and make inquiries on waste management related issues in their area.

Lekki Now Home of Cyber Crime As EFCC arrested 402 Suspected Fraudsters | AgegePulse Magazine

By Ayodele Ifasakin

Cyber crime suspect Charles Okoye

Lekki, the fast-developing upper middle class area of Lagos Metropolis, is emerging as the new hub internet-related fraud. 

Data from the investigation activities of the Lagos Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for the second quarter of 2021, indicates that Lekki District is the preferred location for all manner of cyber fraud syndicates.

Between April and June, 2021, the Advance Fee Fraud and Cyber Crime Sections of the Command recorded a total of 402 internet-related fraud arrests. While the Advance Fee Fraud Section was responsible for 243 arrests, the Cyber Crime Section executed 18 sting operations which resulted in 159 arrests, from which 13 convictions have so far been recorded.

Of the 159 suspects arrested by the Cyber Crime Section, 70 are from Lekki, comprising communities such as Ajah, Badore, Victoria Garden City, Sangotedo and Oniru.

Ajah accounted for 24 suspects, while Oniru and Sangotedo had 14 and 13 suspects respectively. Badore had 8 suspects. Neighbouring Ikoyi and Eko Atlantic had 2 and one suspect each. Ikorodu and Alagbado on the Lagos Mainland make up the remainder.

The suspects are mostly millennials, with 82 of them aged between 25-34 years, which speaks to the fact that most of the individuals arrested are either still in school, recent graduates or university drop outs.

Analysis of the data from the Cyber Crime Section further shows that the dominant form of internet crime is Dating Scam/Online Dating Scam/Romance Scam. Sixty Four percent (64%) of individuals arrested are involved in romance scam, followed closely by “Middle Man Scam” and “Picking” which account for 8% and 7% respectively of those arrested.

The 64% involved in the dating scam benefitted to the tune of N8, 310,000; $349,290 USD; £ 900; €10 and Cryptocurrency 0.17513.

Other typologies of fraud identified include forgery, possession of fraudulent documents, spamming, credit card fraud, impersonation, rental scam, loan fraud, Business Email Compromise, Hacking, stealing, cheque scam, phishing, and money laundering.

The data also reveals gift cards, at 39%, as the prevalent method employed by the suspects to access their illicit funds. It is followed by bank transfers at 27% and Cryptocurrency at 21%.

A total of $12, 512.49USD was recovered from the e-wallet accounts of four suspects within the period.

How Lagos RRS Arrested Notorious Serial Phone Thief | AgegePulse Magazine

...recover 5 different stolen Android phones.

By Ayodele Ifasakin 

The Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS), have arrested a serial phone thief who journeys in and out of Lagos for the sole purpose of phone theft.

suspect

The suspect, Olajide Balogun 'M' (36), an indigene of Akoko, in Ondo State, was arrested by the RRS decoy team, who covertly monitored the suspect as he was carting away his loots on a motorcycle, along shasha road, in Alimosho Lagos.

The suspect on sighting the closely advancing RRS operatives, jumped off the motorcycle and took to heel, in an attempt to evade arrest; he was however, pursued and apprehended by the determined decoy team of the Agency.

Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime and demonstrated his modus operandi when on operation to steal phones from his target victims.

Furthermore, the suspect confessed to have receivers of his loots at Computer Village and named on 'Emeka' as his major receiver.

The suspect will however be charged to court in line with the directive of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police CP Hakeem Odumosu.