Lagos Govt takes measures to curb rising cost of food as Retreat for Ministry of Agric ends

AgegePulse Magazine 

.....commissioner charges staff to redouble efforts in implementing policies.

The Lagos State Government has reassured residents that necessary measures are being taken to address the rising cost of food items and other consumables in the state.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya gave this assurance at the end of the two-day retreat for the Management staff of the Ministry held at the Orchid Hotels in Lekki.

She said that part of the measures in curbing the high cost of food in the metropolis was the recent Market Trader Money launched by the Governor in which #750m was distributed to 15,000 residents.

According to her, the first Food Logistics Hub in West Africa in Ketu would soon be delivered while work will soon begin at the three more Agro Food Hubs in Agege, Abule Ado and Sangotedo.

She explained that the Agro Food Hub first established in Mushin is gradually returning value for money spent on food items by residents within a clean environment.

Abisola Olusanya however urged residents to reflect on the caution by the Governor against hoarding and unnecessary increase in the prices of food items in the state.

On his part, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Dr Oluwarotimi Fashola who thanked the staff of the ministry for their unalloyed support over the years charged them to redouble their efforts in the implementation of government policy and program.

He was of the view that their commitments to the success of the Agenda of the ministry was more important now due to the economic challenges confronting the country.

One of the Facilitators at the retreat, Dr Adebowale Oyebade who spoke on Wellness and Mental Health said that around 450m people around the world currently suffers from mental disorders while one in four people will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives.

She listed some factors responsible for mental disorders to include; worsening economic issues, increasing unemployment rate, kidnapping, insurgency and influence of social Media.

Dr Oyebade who is from LASUTH however stressed the need for the participants to accord full priority to their health need in order to give their best during official duty.

The medical expert also want government to ensure that more Nigerians are covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme since their purchasing powers had been eroded over the years.

On how to promote mental health, Dr Oyebade advised the participants to engage in healthy habits, lifestyle, exercise,  holiday from work, consumption of more water, fruits and vegetables.

A paper was also presented on Agricultural Economic Context in Nigeria  ( Trends in the food spaces) at the retreat.

In their reactions, some of the participants said that one of the ways to solve the current high cost of food in the country was for government to improve on security around the farmlands as well as incentives to farmers.

They also called for collaboration among states in the areas of comparative advantage and improvement on transportation network of food items from farmlands to the market.

Govt Reopens Ladipo, Oyingbo, Other Markets

 AgegePulse Magazine

Govt Reopens Ladipo, Oyingbo, Other Markets

    

... Warns that future violation will attract stiffer penalties

The Lagos Waste  Management Authority, (LAWMA) has announced the reopening of Ladipo, Oyingbo, Alamutu Ologede and Ile-Epo markets, recently sealed for filth and gross environmental abuse.

The Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, who made this known, emphasised the importance of stringent compliance measures in safeguarding public health and shielding residents against future health crises.

The reopening followed full compliance with requisite conditions. He said, "Following extensive renovations and compliance measures including, the implementation of stringent conditions and a written mandatory undertaking for reopening, Ladipo Market, Oyingbo Market, Alamutu Ologede Market, and Ile-Epo Oke Odo Market, have been reopened today for business transactions."

Dr. Gbadegesin stated that the reopened markets had to comply with a set of mandatory conditions listed for them prior to resuming operations. These conditions include providing a designated waste point; installation of block work fence and platforms for the placement of double dino bins; procurement of double dino bins for waste containerisation; commitment to putting in place sustainable market waste policing to guarantee constant cleanliness of the market environment and enforce proper waste disposal regulations; engagement of bin keepers; collaboration with accredited psp operators for timely evacuation; prompt payment of waste bills, as well as, dislodging Street traders from road medians and setbacks, preventing unauthorised vending. 

"A filthy market is a breeding ground for terrible diseases like cholera, typhoid, Lassa fever, ebola, malaria and others. We cannot stand by and watch some markets expose the people of Lagos State to such conditions which are clearly avoidable if they do the right things", he stressed.

Speaking further, he said, "We want to make it abundantly clear, that any future violations will attract stiffer sanctions, including the permanent closure of the offending market".

Gbadegesin implored the executive members of markets in the state, to live up to their responsibilities, urging traders to be public-minded by being hygienic in their trading activities, as that would be usually beneficial to them, their customers and added that, local government authorities would be entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring market operations' adherence to set conditions, urging members of the public to play a pivotal role in this process by promptly reporting any observed lapses in sanitation to LAWMA.

He reminded markets around the state that LAWMA's zero tolerance policy for reckless waste dumping in markets was still on course, warning that defaulting markets risked a closure and hefty fine.

For waste management related issues in your area, call LAWMA toll-free number: 07080601020 and 617

#Covid19: Pastor Bakare Donates Lagos Church As Isolation Centre

AgegePulse Magazine

Ademola Aderele

Tunde Bakare, Serving Overseer of Citadel Global Community Church, formerly known as Latter Rain Assembly, has donated church halls in Ogun and Lagos states as isolation centres.

In a statement issued by the church, Bakare said it was the church’s way of contributing to the fight against COVID-19 in the country.

The statement read:
We, the Citadel Global Community Church (formerly, The Latter Rain Assembly, hereinafter called the CGCC) offer our heartfelt condolences to the grieving families who have lost loved ones as a result of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. We pray that God will comfort and strengthen those left behind in Jesus mighty name. Amen.

Our community has held daily prayers across electronic channels to unite various households together in pleading for the mercies of God to triumph over judgement, and for Christ to heal the sick and shorten the scope and impact of this plague on Nigeria, and the nations of the earth.

Drawing inspiration from the parable of the Good Samaritan as told by our Lord Jesus Christ, the CGCC launched a campaign #IamMyBrothersKeeper to provide meal support to Lagosians irrespective of faith through the houses of our members. This campaign has already been launched and we encourage others to join us and do the same.

To further spread the mandate given by the Good Samaritan in the parable, the CGCC offers parts of our current Church facilities located at Plot 4 Akilo Road Ogba for the use of the Lagos State Government as an isolation Centre for the treatment of Covid-19 cases. The CGCC Medical Missions shall onboard LASG officials to ensure the best utilization of this space as an isolation centre.

We commend the Lagos State Government and well meaning individuals and corporate bodies for the spirited efforts at controlling the spread of this pandemic in Lagos and by extension in Nigeria. We pray for divine health, wisdom and energy for the leadership of Lagos State and frontline healthcare workers.

We continue to urge obedience to social distancing regulations by the people of Lagos and urge well meaning Nigerians to self organize and fund meal support initiatives to the less privileged members of our communities as part of #IamMyBrothersKeeper campaign.

May God extend mercy to Nigeria and the nations of the earth at this challenging time.

Kano Govt dethrones Emir of Kano, Sanusi

The Kano State government has on Monday, dethroned Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II.

The dethronement of the Emir followed the State Council executive meeting presided over by the Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Strike cripples govt, banks, schools’ activities in Lagos

Government offices, banks and public schools were on Thursday closed in Lagos State as the organised labour began its strike over delay by Federal Government in concluding negotiation on a new minimum wage.
The enforcement teams of the organised labour set out from Ikeja to the State Secretariat, Alausa, at 7:20 am and workers who arrived for work were being turned back.

The News Agency of Nigeria correspondents who went round the Lagos metropolis reported that the United Bank for Africa on Lagos-Ibadan express way and Wema Bank in Alimosho were closed.


NAN reports that the enforcement team of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions led by its President, Oyinkan Olasanoye prevented staff from gaining access to Stanbic IBTC Bank, Ikeja branch.

The ASSBIFI team stormed Polaris Bank (former Skye Bank) on Awolowo Way, Ikeja, as its gate was locked by the union, while workers and customers were prevented from accessing the premises.

Olasanoye said the enforcement was in compliance with the directive of the Trade Union Congress, which ASSBIFI was affiliated to.

She had on Wednesday at a news conference told journalists that ASSBIFI had dispatched letters to all its members in banks across the country, to join the strike.

However, Access Bank in Dopemu and First Bank in Iyana-Ipaja opened for business with many customers carrying out various transactions.
Meanwhile, fuel stations were seen attending to customers, while major roads, including Iyana-Ipaja to Ikeja and Ikorodu Road, were busy with the usual heavy traffic.

It will be recalled that labour demanded N65,000 national minimum, up from the current N18,000.

The wage was subject to negotiation by the 30-man tripartite National Minimum Wage Committee set up by the government in November 2017.
NAN reports that the Minister of Labour, Sen. Chris Ngige, said the tripartite committee would reconvene on October 4, 2018.

Ngige said the meeting would enable the committee continue the negotiation, assuring that the current administration was labour-friendly and would pay the minimum wage once agreed upon.

(NAN)