LAGOS TRAINS 1,050 HEALTH WORKERS ON ETIQUETTE AND PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS

 AgegePulse Magazine

As part of effort to ensure improved service delivery and client satisfaction in public health facilities, the Lagos State Ministry of Health in partnership with the Saving One Million Lives Program for Results (SOMLPforR); a Federal Government sponsored programme has commenced an eight-day capacity building workshop for over 1, 050 health workers in the State.

According to the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, who declared the workshop open today at the Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Ikeja, “the training was specifically organized to improve competencies and build robust relationship between health workers and clients. The training aims at building and maintaining high level of professionalism on the part of health workers whilst ensuring client fulfillment and satisfaction on the services accessed in our facilities”.

Abayomi while answering questions from press men shortly after declaring the training open explained that participants of the workshop include clinical and non-clinical health workers drawn from Primary, Secondary and Tertiary health facilities as well as from the Ministry of Health, Health Service Commission and the Primary Health Care Board.

Said he, “this capacity building workshop is geared towards enhancing effective service delivery in the health sector in line with the second pillar of the present administration’s THEMES agenda. We are not relenting in our drive to provide qualitative health care to the citizens and this could only be achieved through well-equipped and better trained health workers”

The Commissioner who was represented by the Director, Family Health and Nutrition, Dr. Folashade Oludara assured that the State government will make training, capacity building and human resource development a priority in delivery of quality health care services across health facilities.

He urged all participants to take what they have learnt to their facilities, cascade it to other healthcare workers and employ it in the discharge of their duties noting that the result will be a win-win situation for health workers and clients that leaves everybody happy and fulfilled.

“The present administration will leave no stone unturned in ensuring best practices in health service delivery in the State. We have organized this program to improve the interpersonal skills of our health workers in and around their working environment and to build clients confidence in our health workers and our facilities. We also want to change the narratives by getting good testimonials from clients that patronize our facilities”; Abayomi said.

The Project Manager, Lagos State SOMLPforR, Dr. Mazeedat Erinosho who also spoke at the event explained the training is in line with SOMLPforR’s disbursement linked indicators two which is aimed at improving the quality of service and increasing the quality of high impact reproductive and child health nutrition interventions.

She added that a similar training on personal effectiveness and etiquette was organized by the Ministry in partnership with SOMLPforR some months ago where over 1,000 nurses where trained.

Erinosho noted that the trainings stands to help the State analyze her current position in personal effectiveness and etiquette amongst its health workers in the three tier of service delivery to help in taking actions towards improvement in the areas of time management, better commitment to work, constant evolution, improved communication skills and building better relationships and responsibilities.

 “After this training exercise, we are going to conduct an impact assessment, to see whether there has been an improvement in the deliverables of quality health service from our health workers in our facilities especially in the way they relate to clients and their colleagues.

“Through this training and capacity building workshop, we want to ensure that the patient is satisfied with the healthcare service received either at the primary, secondary or tertiary levels of care. Saving one million lives is thus supporting this training to ensure that our health care workers and non-clinical health care workers put in more effort in the way they discharge their duties and responsibilities”, She said.

The Project Manager added the training was extended to nonclinical staff because of the belief that no cadre in the health sector should be relegated in the quest to achieving an effective health care delivery noting that every person in the chain of health service delivery is important.

Erinosho stated that the Saving One Million Lives Programme for Results is a federal Government initiative aimed at strengthening Maternal New Born and Child Health intervention has part of its deliverables targeted towards improving the quality of Health care delivery. 

Speaking after the training, a participant, Mr. Adekunle Shonde who is a community health officer expressed satisfaction in the training stressing noting that he has learnt new ways of relating with colleagues and clients to attain fulfillment in his facility. He assured that he will cascade and put to practice what he has learnt in the course of the training. 

Simbiat’s House of Style: Relieving Nigerians of their Everyday Anxiety

AgegePulse Magazine

Simbiat’s House of Style (SHS) was founded by Simbiat Bakare. A graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Simbiat obtained a bachelor’s degree in English Language from the institution. She also holds a master’s degree from the University of Lagos.

Simbiat has worked in the media industry for many years. She is the host of The LWS Show (Livelihood with Simbiat) and author of the book: Love in Hell.

Like many other Nigerians, Simbiat had anxiety when it comes to getting a fashion design outfit with a great customer service to cater to her fashion needs. She also had a challenge getting her preferred clothing designs from fashion designers who she perceived as quite affordable. In addition, finding one organization to cater to her hair needs, makeup, massage, among others, was a big challenge.

She wished there was a place in her locality that is a one-stop shop for fashion and beauty needs with great customer service that would ease her fears. She discussed these anxiety issues with her friends and colleagues, and she soon discovered that she was not alone in it. She also learned that many Nigerians wish they could work in an environment without having to suffer from mental and emotional anxiety.
To make these wishes come true, Simbiat decided to launch SHS (Simbiat's House of Style). Located in the heart of Lagos at the famous Binukonu Ultra-Modern Market in Ojota, SHS is envisioned to be the number one business for fashion and beauty care in Nigeria with the best customer service.

Although getting talented staff that fit into the company’s vision was a challenge, the company soon scaled it by assembling the best team. Customers’ fashion needs are met satisfactorily and clients often feel like they are among friends and not strangers waiting anxiously to empty the naira in their pockets.

Aside helping to reduce unemployment in the country, SHS has also been able to create a healthy working environment where staff are not afraid to express their creativity and individuality. They are free to express their opinion and work in the best way they know how to.

Although SHS is yet to fully develop its hairdressing, makeup, and spa segments as intended due to financial constraints, the company is currently providing professional tailoring service to individuals and organizations. They also stock different styles and sizes of quality bags in their outlet and supply schools and offices with bags and other fabric outfits and accessories needs.

SHS empowers youth through their quarterly fashion design training and also provides a space in their outlet to serve as drop-off points for individuals organising party events such as weddings to drop their fabrics (aso-ebi) for guests to pick up anytime.

The company, dedicated to serving Nigerians indiscriminate of time and season, opens every day of the week. They also keep exploring ways to relieve Nigerians of their anxiety, making them a cheerier people at each passing of the day.

Pipeline Vandals: LASEMA Averts Ipaja Oil Theft Fire

 
...Recovers Truck's Stuck, Tilted, Fallen Consignment

Following the Pipeline Vandalism on Monday, 11th November 2019 at Abesan Estate, Boys Town end of Ipaja, behind Honeyland School at about 8:18 a.m where fire broke out due to activities of oil pipeline vandals, and a truck at ijora bridge inward iganmu that constituted obstruction to free vehicular activities when more than half of its consignment got stuck beneath the bridge as a result of miscalculations by its driver, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency's Director General, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu explained that there was no loss of lives in the two incidences.

Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu further stated that a tanker with registration number AGL 591 XP laden with 36,000 litres of stolen Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, the second of such to exit the site of the vandalized pipeline at the back of Honeyland School, Abesan Estate, while trying to escape came in contact with an electric pole which resulted into a fire outbreak making the oil tanker burn midway through before it was curtailed.

Speaking further, the LASEMA Boss reiterated that no casualties or fatalities were recorded, nor were any injuries incurred as residents of the area rallied support for the combined response team of LASEMA and the Lagos State Fire Service but two cars belonging to yet - to - be identified residents, were razed, Toyota Camry with registration number EPE 79 DF and completely burnt a Volkswagen saloon car beyond recognition, while activities of the vandals left PMS spilled in the entire area which had been cordoned off on arrival of the LASEMA team for safety of residents and rescue teams in tandem with International best practices.

Meanwhile, after putting out the fire completely,  officials of Pipeline Maintenance/Security Committee from NNPC/PPMC whom the Agency's officials at the incident scene contacted, on arrival, trans-loaded the remaining PMS in the half burnt tanker of the vandals, with officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, on standby to take possession of the oil Tanker truck afterwards.

However, Having completed the task of safely Transloading the remaining PMS from the vandal's articulated vehicle, the affected back tyres of the tanker were refixed to enable its recovery to the Head  Office of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, at  Alausa with assistance of the Agency's Heavy-Duty Equipment.

The DG/CEO LASEMA, commended efforts of the Agency's Local Emergency Management Committee members, LEMC, concerned journalists, as well as residents of the area for their complete cooperation and for rallying round the dual response team of LASEMA and the LASG Fire Services on their arrival, especially for understanding when to give way for the professionals to perform their duties thus making the task of quick, effective and efficient recovery easier.

He thereafter advised residents of the area to be more vigilant, insisting that the area belongs to the residents whom he advised to be more alert in the future, saying that just as it occurred this time, if it were worse before recovery, it is the residents that will bear the brunt of the whole sad episode, he thus insisted that residents must as a matter of paramount importance implement simple safety measures to mitigate against fire incidents in the near or distant future by acquiring fire extinguishers, fire extinguishing balls and blankets as well as ensure that their simple fire fighting equipment are always active.

Aside LASEMA, LASG Fire Services, officials of Pipeline Maintenance/Security Committee from NNPC, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC,  Officials of the Nigerian Police Force from Ayobo and Abesan Police Stations, as well as representatives from the Ipaja Area Command were all on ground for the safe recovery.

In a related development, LASEMA recovered an accident truck at ijora bridge inward iganmu that constituted obstruction to free vehicular activities when more than half of its consignment got stuck beneath the bridge as a result of miscalculations by its driver.

The truck with registration number OKLAHOMA 517-2GJ conveying a loaded consignment got stuck under the bridge due to carelessness on the part of the driver which made it's cargo tilt off the truck on impact, effectively cutting off other road users by obstructing free vehicular activities.

However, no loss of lives were recorded, nor were any injuries sustained at the scene of the incident where the Agency's heavy-duty equipment compiling of the Crane, Lowbed and Super Metro were deployed for speedy recovery of the articulated vehicle off the bridge, to enable free vehicular activities for all other road users.

LASEMA, LASTMA, FRSC and Police were responders at the Ijora under bridge accident scene.

Lagos Civil Service Commission Gets New Chairman

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has appointed Mrs. Olubunmi Fabamwo as the Chairman, Civil Service Commission, just as Messrs. Adeshina Mohammed Odeyemi and Kamal Olorunoje were also named as members.

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Civil Service Commission, Mrs. Kikelomo Sanyaolu, while receiving the appointees, assured the Chairman that the new members will get the full cooperation and support of staffers through rededication towards achieving the set goals and objectives of the Commission.

Responding, the Chairman, Mrs. Olubunmi Fabamwo promised to improve on the achievements of her predecessor, imploring staff to remain diligent in the discharge of their duties in order to deliver on the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda of the present administration.

"Lagos State deserves not only the best but also expect the best from her workers. I, therefore, implore you to remain dedicated, diligent and focused on your responsibilities so as to support the Governor in fulfilling his campaign promises to the citizens of Lagos State”, she said.

Prior to her present appointment, Mrs. Olubunmi Fabamwo was the Director-General of Lagos State Public Service Staff  Development Centre, Magodo, from May 2009 - May 2017 and is a fellow of Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, a Certified Coach, a member of the International Coach Federation as well as a highly experienced HR practitioner and facilitator.

An astute manager and administrator with private and public sector experience spanning over three decades, Fabanwo has a speciality in Human Resources and Capacity Building consultancy to professional bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, the Nigerian Employers Consultative Association and the Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC)

Taxify driver awaiting youth service loses sight to robbers

AgegePulse Magazine

Etim Ekpimah

A graduate of Physics from the Kogi State University, Tomi Waziri, 27, has lost his eyesight to an armed robbery attack while in traffic in the Apongbon area of Lagos.

Waziri, who was waiting for his call up letter from the National Youth Service Corps for the mandatory one year service, was said to have approached his sister’s husband to engage him as a Taxify ride hailing service driver until he would be mobilised for the scheme.

It was learnt that on September 12, two armed robbers attacked him while in traffic and shot him in the face.

[READ ALSO] #NotThatBad: ‘Highways of death’ Fashola needs to visit

Waziri was said to be conveying a female passenger to the Papa Ajao area of Mushin around 8.00 p.m., when the robbers attacked him.

They were said to have left immediately they shot him.

The victim narrated his experience, “I live at No. 35 Daudu Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi. I was robbed in traffic on the Apongbon Bridge, Lagos, on September 12, 2019, by two young men around 8pm. I was a Taxify (now Bolt) driver and I had a female passenger in the car. We were going to Papa Ajao, Mushin.

“One of the robbers pointed a gun at me; I was about giving him my phone, when he shot me in the face and collected the phone. The pellets shattered the window and hit me in my two eyes.

“The robbers ran away immediately I was shot. My passenger became scared and panicky. The next thing I noticed was that she disembarked from the vehicle and began calling for help as she was running away.

“I was bleeding profusely without help. I came down from the vehicle and shouted for help; nobody answered. After about five minutes, two policemen showed up.

“They were the ones who took me to the Military Hospital, Yaba, in my vehicle. One of the policemen drove us to the hospital. While driving, the other was busy holding me and saying kind words to me so that I wouldn’t give up.

“When we got there, I was given first aid to stabilise my condition.


"I lost vision immediately I was shot. After treatment, it is still the same, we are only hoping for God’s intervention. The vehicle belongs to my sister’s husband. I used to remit money to him pending when I would get the NYSC call-up letter.”

According to him, his brother-in-law has been supportive, and is always around for him.

Waziri noted that the doctors at the Eye Foundation, Isaac John Street, Ikeja GRA, told him that if he had been treated earlier, he would have regained sight in his right eye.

He added, “I went for surgery at the Eye Foundation. Before then, I was being treated at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, and I was about to do the surgery at LASUTH, but there were delays there.

“It was through God’s help that we were able to do it at the Eye Foundation. And when we got there, we were told that if we had come for the surgery earlier, I would have been seeing with at least my right eye. LASUTH was just negligent and wasting time.

“What the doctors are saying now is that we can only hope for the best; what I know is that there is no vision now.”

Punch Newspaper

Lagos police captured cultists who killed Fashola

AgegePulse Magazine

Lagos State Police Command says it has arrested six members of a dreaded cult group, Aiye Confraternity in Lagos.


The cultists were allegedly responsible for killing a victim identified as Fashola in Bariga.

 Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana disclosed that operatives of Operation Crush had on Saturday at about 8:15pm arrested one Fatai Nofui aka ‘Itape,’ of No 12 Ago Owu Street, Bariga, age 28 and one Qudus Kazeem “aka” ‘Bobo’ of No 14 Tape Street, Bariga.

He said the suspects were arrested at Ebute Bariga following a sustained monitoring.

 “They are members of Aiye confraternity with allegiance to one Mohammed, alias “Obama” as their leader in Bariga. The gang is responsible for series of violent attacks, armed robbery and murder in Bariga and environs.

 They are on Police wanted list for the murder of one ” Fashola” on 3/11/2019 at Pedro area.

“Exhibits recovered from them include: an axe, a HTC phone, one Nokia, and one Intel phone they snatched from one Amusa Bukola of No 34 Odundi street Bariga.

 Investigation led to the arrest of four other members of the gang namely: Muiyis Saraki, alias ‘Bosingwa,’ age 23; Lucky Sunday, aged 2; David Okpa, alias “na god ” aged 29 and Taye Balogun, alias ‘Gbalagbala’ 24,” Elkana said.

He said investigation was ongoing and that the suspects will be charged to court.

Lagos Reporters

Domestic Workers Cart Away Celeb’s N243M Jewelry, Sold It For N10M

AgegePulse Magazine

Two domestic workers who connived and stole a Cuban Diamond neck chain, a Frank Muller and Rolex wrist watches worth N243 million belonging to their employer were Wednesday arrested in Borno after almost two weeks of fleeing Lekki, Lagos.

The suspects: Alex Obinyan (39), cleaner and Ayuba Samson (29), car washer, were arrested after they had sold the Cuban Diamond neck chain and Frank Muller wrist watch for N6M and N4M respectively in Lagos and Abuja.

The identity of their employer, who sources confirmed is a popular celebrity with vast investment in Lekki, Lagos is being kept under wrap by the police. Obinyan, source disclosed had spent over 8 years working and living with the celebrity in Lekki before the incident.

His colleague, Ayuba started working at the celebrity residence only two months ago after returning from Chibok, his home town. They earned N80,000 and N50,000 monthly.

The suspects and the buyers of the jewelry were brought to Rapid Response Squad headquarters, by the Decoy Team of the agency in an unbranded vehicle after an 8 day investigative activities to Abuja and Borno State.

The suspects, who were captured on CCTV leaving the celebrity’s residence have confessed stealing the Cuban Diamond Chain valued at N54 million, a Frank Muller Wrist watch worth N140 million and a Rolex wrist watch worth N49 million.

According to Obinyan, they sold the Cuban Diamond Chain in Eti – Osa, Lagos for N6 million while the Frank Muller watch was sold in Abuja for N4 million.

“I have been working with him (celebrity) in Lekki for over 8 years. I am used to moving those valuables around the house wherever I found them in his car. I have never thought of stealing them.

When Samson came and he saw me with the gold chain laced with diamonds, he convinced me that we could make a fortune from stealing them. He was not with us before. Within two months of his stay, we planned to steal these things.

Oga was in the sitting room. We stole the chain along with a Frank Muller wrist watch and a Rolex wrist watch. Before escaping, we already got a buyer for the chain. We sold the Cuban Diamond chain in Eti - Osa for N6 million.

The following day, we escaped to Abuja where we bought a Toyota Corolla. We sold the Frank Muller watch in Abuja for N4 million to raise more money for our escape to Borno State, where we intended to start new lives and businesses”.

Obinya in his letter to the celebrity informing him of his departure, (reads in parts, un – edited) “…I know you will be shock why I write to you but the truth is that due to some quite observation I have come to a notice that you are not a person that someone can rely on.

I have been patient enough to see if you can help me but you keep on promising me up to now there is no avale.

To cut the story short, I have decided to stop working for you, and I’m sorry to mention that but you have to bear with me. I have gone for good, because I cannot continue to work for a person that doesn’t care about me and doesn’t value me for the rest of my life”.

The suspects were arrested in Maiduguri in their two room and parlour they rented. Also arrested with them were the buyer of the Cuban diamond chain, Haruna Abdullahi and that of the Frank Muller’s wrist watch, Abubakar Buhari.

Recovered from the suspects were a Rolex watch, two brand new keke Napep and a Toyota Corolla and the sum of $2200.

The suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti for further investigations.

Commenting on the development commander RRS DCP Olatunji Sisu urged lagosians to always do a background checks of all their workers before employing them.

RRS

Lagos primary school teachers to get Tablets as teaching tool

AgegePulse Magazine

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, on Thursday said that the state government has approved the provision of computer tablets for all primary school teachers in the state.

Speaking at the inauguration of primary school facilities in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area, Hamzat said that the tablets would assist the teachers in effective teaching of the pupils.

“Every teacher cannot teach with the same standard across the state, but with the tool (tablet), it allows to know your students are being taught right.” The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat said.

“What is important for us is education and it is fundamental to the development of the state, you will also see a big increase in education budget.


“Because if we don’t get it right from the basic level, then we have missed it. We believe that education is fundamental,” Hamzat said.

OperaNews

Pero Bus Stop: Agege Community hails Ogundimu for quick intervention

By Adegbenro Nurudeen

AgegePulse Magazine

The residents of Old Ogba road, Agege; have hailed the House of Assembly Member, representing Agege ’02, Hon. Yinka Ogundimu for his quick intervention in fixing bad portion of Pero Bus Stop.

According to the leader of the legislative arm of Agege Local government, Hon. Muyideen Anigbajumo, the quick intervention came through Hon. Ogundimu after the community leaders registered their displeasure over the road.

Anigbajumo added that Lagos State Government has promised to do the road as the Public Works department is working on Akilo road, a suburb part of the local government.

A resident, Abiola Subairu, said, “the condition of the road has been like that for months and neither the local government or State Government did something until it become dungeon. Thank God, Hon. Ogundimu has done something over the road.”

Mrs Ogunaike, a landlord, revealed that the road needs total repair and Sanwo Olu led government should assist the community in fixing the road permanently.

Anigbajumo later urged the residents to shun the act of dropping their wastes in drainages.

LAGOS STATE SET TO RECRUIT 1000 SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS

AgegePulse Magazine

The Chairman, Lagos State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Mrs Olabisi Ariyo, has announced the intention of the Commission to recruit One Thousand Secondary School Teachers into the State Post Primary Teaching Service.



She made this known in her office yesterday, stressing the commitment of the Mr Governor, Babajide Sanwoolu, to ensure that the standard of secondary school education in the State is in tandem with the 21st century global educational standard.



She thereby invited all interested and qualified Nigerians who are resident in Lagos to visit the TESCOM recruitment Portal, @tescomjobs.lagosstate.gov.ng for full detail of application procedures.

The portal, according to her will be opened from Wednesday 13th to Wednesday 20th of November 2019, adding that this is an opportunity for all interested qualified Teachers who are residents of Lagos State to apply accordingly.

We'll Revisit Rural Communities For 21st Century Development, Says Lagos Commissioner

...To Reward CDAs For Self-Help Projects

Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Mrs Yetunde Arobieke

AgegePulse Magazine

The Lagos State Government said it planned to transform Revisit Rural Communities For 21st Century Development, would  improve standard of living of the residents at grassroots level and also attract more business opportunities to the areas.

Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Mrs Yetunde Arobieke, said this during a media briefing on the “2019 Community Day Celebrations” which would begin on Friday.

She said that the 2019 Community Day was organised to celebrate the grassroots people for complementing government’s efforts in their communities.

“We are here to celebrate our people in the communities for their various self-help projects, promotion of peace and security and advising the state government on matters affecting community development,” she said.

According to her, prizes will be given to Community Development Associations (CDAs) that emerged winners during the project assessment across the local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.

AgegePulse learnt that the three-day event tagged: “Revisiting Rural Community for 21st Century Development,” would  feature church and mosque services, Health Walk/Talk and grand finale at Police College, Ikeja, starting today Friday 8th of November, Special Jumat Service till Sunday 17th November, Sunday Thanksgiving Service.

Education, Healthcare top Lagos' N1.1trillion 2020 budget

 AgegePulse Magazine

• Sanwo-Olu earmarks 62 per cent for capital spending



With a proposed fiscal plan of N115 billion for public infrastructure, Lagos State, next year, will be a massive construction site.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday, presented the Year 2020 Budget proposal to the House of Assembly, unveiling his administration’s plan to accelerate the growth of the State’s economy by proposing aggressive investments in critical priority areas - physical infrastructure, environment, human capital and security.

Sanwo-Olu announced that the State expenditure of N1.168 trillion will be funded from a projected Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N1.071 trillion while the budget deficit, put at N97.53 billion, will be financed through internal and external loans, just as he noted that the fiscal proposal also included a provision for the new minimum wage.

Giving a breakdown of the budget tagged “Awakening to a Greater Lagos”, Sanwo-Olu earmarked 62 per cent representing N723.75 billion of total spending for capital expenditure, revealing that recurrent expenditure, put at 38 per cent, will take N444.81 billion.

Disclosing that about N167.81 billion of the recurrent expenditure will go for personnel costs and other staff-related expenses, representing 22.02 per cent of the total revenue, the Governor noted that the proposal is within the acceptable wage policy, which benchmarks 25 per cent staff overheads in the budget.

He said the proposed budget would help the State achieve a sustainable social investment and scale up private sector-led economic growth through investment in infrastructure and security, improve civic engagement in governance and foster partnership with the Federal Government and the Civil Society.

Explaining why his administration will be earmarking huge funds to the environment and public infrastructure, Governor Sanwo-Olu said Lagos requires resources to confront the combined threats from population explosion and climate change.

“Lagos faces an existential threat, arising from the interplay of demographic and climate change. Lagos will continue to be a magnet for multitudes within and outside Nigeria, in search of jobs and economic prosperity. These levels of migration put phenomenal strain on the physical and fiscal resources of the State”, Sanwo-Olu maintained.

“This budget seeks to aggressively invest in and develop our education, health and other physical infrastructure sectors. As at September 2019, our capital expenditure on Works and Infrastructure was just N31 billion, which is less compared with N78 billion proposed in the current year. It is our intention to spend N115 billion on physical infrastructure in 2020.

“In response to the perennial challenges of flooding in the metropolis, we have to triple the capital budget provision to tackle these observed problems from N3 billion in 2019 to N9 billion in 2020. We are embarking on massive desilting of major drain systems across the State next year”, he added.

Lagos also plans to spend N48 billion on Education and Technology, representing 60 per cent rise in capital allocation to the Ministry of Education.

On Healthcare, the State plans to spend N33 billion on programmes, which include proposed revamping and re-equipping of over 350 Primary Health Centres across Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu described the proposed budget as “unique”, noting that its details reflected the wishes of residents, following series of consultations and feedback from stakeholders across senatorial districts.

The Governor assured residents of transparency and accountability in the implementation of the budget, pointing out that there would be strict performance mechanism to drive compliance and measure the progress of the budget at the execution stage.

He said: “The 2020 Budget will be supported by a Performance Management System that will ensure that, by December 2020, we shall achieve an optimal budget implementation when compared with previous years. This is in line with our commitment to transparency and accountability in the management of public finances.

“We have provided N11.8 billion as counterpart funds in preparation for various social impact schemes. In addition, we have made provisions for N7.1 billion this year to provide for industrial hubs, parks, graduate internship programs and virtual markets for artisans. This is in support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) which are the engines for both economic and employment growth.”

Reviewing the performance of 2019 Appropriation Bill, which he signed into law in June, shortly after he assumed office, Sanwo-Olu said his administration embarked on strict implementation of the budget and achieved 69 per cent efficiency at the end of September.

He said his administration completed critical projects that directly impacted residents, including two Maternal and Child Care Centers (MCCs) in Eti-Osa and Alimosho areas, and the 492-flat Lateef Jakande Housing Estate in Igando.

The Governor outlined several other capital projects captured in the 2019 budget, including 31 arterial roads in Ojokoro/Ijaiye area, a High Court and Magistrates Court complex in Eti-Osa Local Government Area, and a Police Command Complex in Ojo Local Government Area, promising that they will be completed.

Sanwo-Olu observed that the approved re-ordering of the 2019 budget by the Legislature gave the government an opportunity to raise N250 billion in addressing critical infrastructure needs such as the rehabilitation of public schools, ongoing construction of Lagos–Badagry Expressway, Agege–Pen Cinema Overhead Bridge, Agric–Isawo Road, Bola Ahmed Tinubu–Igbogbo Road, and the ongoing road rehabilitation by Lagos State Public Works Corporation.

He added that the loan will also enable his administration to start the desilting of drain systems, provision of security and emergency hardware, light rail infrastructure, and construction of a General Hospital in Ojo, with provision for a Spinal and Neurology Unit.

Sanwo-Olu reiterated that his administration’s development agenda, known as Project T.H.E.M.E.S, was designed to address major challenges facing the State and creating a city that would work for the citizens. He said his administration was ready to transform Lagos by rethinking projects that will improve the wellbeing of the residents.

The House of Assembly chamber was filled to the brim, as a large crowd of Lagos residents, comprising leaders and members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), State Executive Council members, traditional rulers, workers, traders, artisans, students and stakeholders in the private sector witnessed the budget presentation.

LASEMA BATTLES FIRE AT LAGOS ISLAND

 AgegePulse Magazine

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, has reiterated the need for all traders and residents in the State to desist from storing combustible materials in their various homes and shops to prevent fire outbreak that may lead to loss of lives and properties.

Speaking on the unfortunate fire outbreak which gutted a six-storey building at 43 Martins Street and a three-storey commercial building of lock-up shops at Dosunmo market on Tuesday, 5th October, 2019 around 10:00am, the Director General/CEO of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu explained that goods worth millions of Naira were destroyed as a result of the fire incidence.

According to the Director General, incident of fire outbreak is on the high side due to the inability of property and shop ownerss to put necessary precautionary measures in place to avoid incidents that could have disastrous consequences appealing that storage of highly inflammable materials such as petrol, Diesel, kerosene should be avoided, while desisting from storing combustible materials at home or shops.
He further explained that the fire which continued burning non-stop for about 24hours despite all efforts to put it out by the LASEMA Response Team, Lagos State Fire Service, UBA Fire crew, Federal Fire crew, Union Bank Skylift Fire Truck and other Emergency responders, was as a result of the combustible materials stored in the buildings which kept re-igniting the fire.

While seeking the support of residents of the State, especially shop owners for adequate protection of lives and properties, the LASEMA Boss warns that everyone should desist from storing generators in their penthouses or roof tops as well as combustible materials in their various shops, because safety of lives and properties of Lagosians is paramount to the administration of the Governor of Lagos, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu.

In addition, he explained that Government had made provision for fire hydrants in the past at Idumota and it's environs, which was destroyed by the residents in that area. He therefore advises everyone to desist from such heinous act and also install fire extinguishers in their various homes, offices and shops so as to forestall a future reoccurrence.

The State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, while at the incident site on, Wednesday 6th, October 2019,
commiserated with the traders on their losses, highlighting Government's plans to carry out proper enumeration of the traders, businesses, property owners who suffered losses as a result of the fire in order to organize financial assistance, while harping on the regeneration of Lagos Island, saying the Island, saying that the Island is dominated by buildings over a century century old.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu stated that, integrity tests will be conducted on all the buildings during the regeneration exercise to ascertain thier integrity, while the very weak ones detected in the course of conducting the tests, would be pulled down to further reduce chances of  disasters of such great magnitude in the State.

Dr. Oke-Osantintolu enjoins Lagosians and traders not to overbuild commercial areas, saying that they should respect the physical planning laws of the state regarding provision of roads, setbacks and parking spaces for vehicles and allowances for fire fighting appliances to penetrate the area in case of a fire incident.

He assured residents that there was no need to panic, nor hesitate to contact the relevant authorities in the event of any form of emergency/disaster through the State emergency toll free line 767 or 112.

GEION defies FIRS, Minister’s directive to pay ARCO Group reconciled monies owed

…as PENGASSAN and NUPENG Gets Set For Mother Of All Labour Strike

Buba Ali is dead. He died out of frustration waiting for money he worked for, but was not forthcoming! His family said he slumped one early morning, and gave up the ghost. Musa Hassan is dead too. He died out of the frustration that killed Buba Ali.

 Both men died broke despite having worked in the prosperous Nigerian oil industry. Their families are aggrieved but embarrassed and do not want us to use their real names in print.

Ali and Musa are victims of a cross fire between an indigenous oil company known as Arco Group and an American company known as General Electric International Operations Nigeria (GEION), both being operators in the oil and Gas industry. Late Ali and Musa Hassan are among the several number of people who are being owed by Arco Group, an organization that was cheated out of a contract deal and forced by circumstances not to be able to make severance payment to exiting staff.

Late Ali and Musa Hassan represent the agony that most of the ex staffers are facing due to General Electric Operations Nigeria (GEION) refusing to pay what is duly owed to Arco Group, despite the intervention of The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Minister of Labour and Employment.

But respite seems to be in sight as the oil industry, is presently boiling. The industry is angry. The labour unions are angry. And the union leaders of PENGASSAN and NUPENG have declared that all hell will be let loose after their 14 day ultimate for GEION to fulfil the payment of arrears due ARCO Group by this weekend.

The general anger has been provoked by the fact that never has a foreign organization been so defiant to the authorities or an agency of the federal government. And the labour unions are peeved and set to go on a sympathetic protest to identify with ARCO Group an organization that is being owed by GEION a foreign company to the tune of ₦1,891,752,214.48, $7,326,125.99 and EUR 328,189.32, inclusive of accrued interests. These being accumulated reconciled monies, said to have been dubiously concealed by the American company.

According to our investigations, the issue dates back between 2006 and 2015, when ARCO General Electric International Operations Nigeria (GEION) had a joint contract for the maintenance of Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC)’s gas plants in some different locations in Delta and Rivers states of Nigeria.

Somehow along the line, GEION is said to have changed ARCO Group’s position to that of a sub-contractor to GEION, reducing its work scope, and making all manner of unjustified deductions from Arco’s invoices.

But the major act of contention was the issue of the deduction of withholding tax (WHT) at the rate of 10% from payments due to Arco, rather than the stipulated statutory rate of 5% which was supposed to be paid to ARCO Group.

ARCO Group reported the illegal deductions when it demanded WHT credit notes from GEION for the sums deducted from its invoices purportedly as tax. Rather than a coherent explanation, GEION could not explain why the credit notes, reluctantly provided it, did not match the volume of monies deducted from its invoices, ostensibly as WHT.

Upon further investigations, the issue became messier when it was found out that it wasn’t ARCO Group alone that short changed in this manner by GEION. And that attracted a further investigation by the Federal Inland Revenue Service, and the obvious was found out that GEION had not been straight in its withholding tax credit notes dealings.

FIRS in 2017 confirmed that the applicable rate of WHT to be 5%, and instructed GEION to furnish ARCO Group with credit notes to match purported WHT deductions from ARCO’s invoices. While in other climes, GEION would have been slammed with stiff penalties for such fraudulent error, GEION instead was given opportunity to attend a reconciliation meeting between FIRS, ARCO Group and itself, where at the end of the meeting, was confirmed that the total amount over deducted from ARCO Naira invoices was ₦446 million and some $3 million had been over-deducted in the Dollar invoices.

The reconciliatory meeting also confirmed that between 2006 and 2008, the sums of ₦74 million and $1.275 million deducted by GEION were not remitted as required by law, and could therefore not be accounted for. Another sum of $563,861.05 deducted from 12 ARCO invoices in 2014 could not be traced!

The matter eventually reached a dead end when on Tuesday 24th September, 2019, the Hon. Minister of Labour reconvened the meeting to deliberate on the FIRS report, and issued final instructions to the parties through a letter dated 4th October, 2019, that GEION should make the payments as agreed upon. But GEION has continued to turn a deaf ear to the all entreaties at all fronts.

It was at this point that the labour leaders in PENGASSAN and NUPENG stood up in one accord and said “no, enough is enough,” that no foreign company should hold its government agencies in such disregard.  It was against this backdrop that the unions gave a 14 day ultimatum to industry stakeholders to call to order General Electric International Operations Nigeria, GEION, and all other authorities, over the non-payment of terminal benefits to its members who were laid off in August 2019 by ARCO Group.

The ultimatum which commenced on last Monday was signed by PENGASSAN General Secretary Lumumba Okungbawa and the General Secretary of NUPENG Afolabi Olawale. The ultimatum was addressed to the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

Both the Labour unions said that the ultimatum became necessary after GEION failed to act according to the decisions reached at the reconciliation meeting with the Minister of Labour and Employment held in September. Which among other things agreed that GEION should within 7 days apply to FIRS for the refund of the over-deducted sums paid to FIRS as agreed during the reconciliation exercise with FIRS. That GEION and ARCO should meet afterwards between the following 2 weeks to reconcile the deductions that had not been done and ensure that the workers who were laid off are paid within one week. Tax deductions made by GEION on behalf of ARCO supposed to be remitted to FIRS but which was not done, should be returned to ARCO within 3 weeks.

GEION was also supposed to meet with FIRS within 2 weeks because of the sum confirmed by the Lagos state Inland Revenue Service office as having been remitted by GEION but presently under dispute for further reconciliation. The unions noted that the refusal of GEION to heed to the agreements is a slap on constituted authority and an affront for which they will have no option but to go on an indefinite strike after the expiration of the ultimatum.

A combination of PENGASSAN and NUPENG strike in Nigeria has always been the most feared in the country as it literally means the paralysis of the economy of a nation that largely depends on oil for survival and popularly referred to as the giant of Africa boasting of about 180 million people.

A nation which critics lament is already going through severe hardship due to insecurity, insurgency attacks in the northern part of the country and land border closure that has restricted trade flow in several sectors of the economy. Can the country survive the impending doom of economic stand still in the next one and a half week? Only time will tell.

Nigerian Roads Not in Bad Shape, Says Fashola

AgegePulse Magazine

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has described as mere hypes, reports on the poor state of the country’s roads.

He insisted that Nigerian roads were not in a bad state as often portrayed.

Fashola was responding to question asking him to justify the amount of approvals given for Nigerian roads and yet they remain in terrible state.

“The roads are not as bad as they are often portrayed.

“I know that this is going to be your headline, but the roads are not that bad”, he told State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi.

The minister explained that but for funding challenges, most road projects would have been long completed.

Fashola also stated that some parts of the country faced peculiar issues like high water table, which made construction in the rainy season difficult.

He mentioned the South-East and South-South among areas with such difficulties.
The minister added that the ministry and contractors were waiting patiently for the rains to subside so that they could return to sites.

The minister said: “When I come here to announce that a particular amount was approved for a contract that doesn’t mean the amount has been paid contrary to what you suggest. “You are mindful also that minister of finance, different arms of government are escalating the fiscal challenges we face as a nation in trying to fund the budget. You are also mindful that the last few budgets in Nigeria for almost 20 years have been deficit budgets and these are terminologies that are realities and I think we should acquaint ourselves with if we are  not just to report news but also educate the public.

“You must also be aware that between awarding a contract and also mobilizing to site there is a distance. First of all we have to have an agreement that is the relationship between the ministry of works or any other ministry and the ministry of justice, then there is a role that banks play, they have to give guarantee. These are things that I would like to know if I was a correspondent in order to be able to help me inform members of the public.

“Building materials – rocks, laterite, quarry, iron rode have to be ordered, construction companies don’t keep them. The process of producing blasting rocks requires approval from the office of ministers of Justice and even the office of the NSA to get approval to get dynamite. All of these are the things that go on. So the point that I am making to you is that there is a distance between approval, implementation, actual construction and the result.

“The other point I wish to make known to you also is that the problem of the other places you talk about – Warri, Benin – Sapele road and the South East, first of all you must understand that those places don’t stand in isolation, the Niger Delta is the longs of Nigeria that is a rain forest. It’s a high water table area. These problems are not as pronounced now in January and February, the reason is that, that is the dry season of the year.

“This is the raining season, it’s weather conditions and there is no country in the world that doesn’t face transport challenges in an extreme weather. In some places it’s winter and snow they cancel flight, it’s transportation,  they cancel rail Programmes. In some places it’s typhoons, hurricanes while in some places you can’t even come out. So this is the season, we are just getting to the end of the raining season. Flood, it will affect road, we have seen cities submerged, we’ve seen infrastructure blown up in other parts of the world, it’s one world – it’s the rainy season, it’s the same planet, this is our own time to experience it. It’s moving out of Nigeria now and going somewhere else.
“So what we experienced in this year is unusual, it’s not a good time to be in the transport system. We also want this season to quickly end so that we can go back to work during the dry weather.”

Fashola assured Nigerians of massive mobilization of contractors for roads rehabilitation ahead of the Yuletide season
He said: “That takes me to the point about preparation for the end of the year. You know that we have the ember months preparation, the team has already started work we would be working with law enforcement, we would be working with FRSC and we would be working with our contractors.

The plan is that, in places where they have not yet constructed, they should make palliative so that the heavy traffic movement during the end of the year is manageable and reduce the inconvenience of our commuters.

“You must understand also that on every road where construction is going on it’s a construction site. So help us manage the understanding of the public that you can’t drive through a construction site at normal speed. The ideal thing is that you slow down a construction site but we can’t afford to do that. We regret it but we do our best to bring them to the barest minimum.

The inconvenience is pronounced also by way that we don’t control weather and if we don’t have rain fall in one year it will also affect food as well. So these are the realities of existence about three months in every year and then we will move on to much better weather.

“Let me also say that today in council my colleague in transportation Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi announced something we expect to benefit from those initiatives on some critical routes during the next few weeks that will bring the relief to our roads network as soon as those rail services come on stream. I am confident that all of these problems would become history within a short time.”

Source MetroWatch 

How My Older Daughter Beat Our 13-year-old To Death In Lagos

When a Lagos trader Mr. Emeka Omenka and his wife Ifeoma allowed their 13-year-old daughter Precious to visit her half-sister in Lekki, they never knew it was a decision they would regret the rest of their lives.

Precious, a Junior Secondary School (JSS) 3 pupil died on October 25 at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Ebute Metta from complications of the beating she allegedly received from her older half-sister Nneka and her mother Seki Eko on October 14.

According to the death certificate issued at the hospital, the primary and secondary causes of death were Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) and Cardiopulmonary Collapse.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, AKI is a sudden episode of kidney failure or kidney damage that happens within a few hours or a few days and causes a build-up of waste products in the blood, making it hard for the kidneys to keep the right balance of fluid in the body.

Other causes of AKI, the foundation said, are decreased blood flow to the kidney caused by shock, clotting, bleeding or severe diarrhoea, severe allergic reaction, overuse of pain medicines used to reduce swelling or relieve pain from headaches, colds, flu, and other ailments.

The teenager went to Nneka’s house in Ikota, Lekki on October 12 on the latter’s request.

Omenka said his 13-year-old daughter was returned on October 16 looking weak with complaints of body pains. He said Precious gave details of how she was kicked in the stomach, chest and sides several times, adding that she was beaten with a mop stick and a cable as well. They tried to relieve the pains with analgesics and hot water massage.

“I am in pain,” he said. “My heart is broken. I do not even know where to start. I am finding it so difficult to understand how my older daughter and her mother beat up my girl so badly to the point that she died as a result of wounds she sustained. Nneka is my first daughter. I had her out of wedlock with one Seki Eko I was in a relationship with. She runs a beer parlour at Oluwole Market. But Nneka was trained by my wife Ifeoma who loved her like her own child.

“When I got married to my wife, it was difficult for her to conceive and so she brought up Nneka like her own child. So, when she came and said Precious should come to her place in Ikota, we did not have any reason to deny her request. Her husband lives in Dubai. She promised to send her to a private school to appreciate my wife for taking care of her.

“Precious went to her place on October 12. It was that weekend that it rained all through. Then, on October 14, which was a Monday, it also rained and Precious said she peed on the bed. That was her offence that made my daughter and her mother to descend on her like that.

“When they finished, they brought her back and dumped her at my place in Apapa Road, Ebute Metta. She was complaining of body pains and narrated what happened to her at her sister’s place in tears. I could not bear it and I wept as she was talking.

“My wife and I bought painkillers that we gave her. My wife was also using hot water and cloth to massage her body. We did not know that it was so bad. When we saw that she was not getting better despite the painkillers, we decided to take her to FMC because that’s where she was born.

“She was already stooling on her body and her mother was cleaning it. So, at the hospital, she was rushed to the emergency room after the doctors said she was short of blood. They did so many tests and scans and discovered that she was bleeding internally and that her bladder burst too.

“She was in the hospital some days and was booked for emergency surgery. I was busy running around to raise money to save my daughter’s life. I even borrowed from friends and family members so that she could be saved but at last we lost her.

“Nneka did not tell me what happened to my daughter and did not even come to the hospital until her relative from her mother’s side who works at the FMC called her to rebuke her. That was when she came and spent about N14,000 on my daughter’s drugs that day.

I did not go to the police station then because I was busy running around for my daughter to be alright. But after she passed on…my kinsmen advised I report at the station. I went to Denton Police Station and Iponri but they told me it did not happen in their jurisdiction and that I should go to Lekki to report.

“I just sent a message to her husband and told him what she did. My wife has been inconsolable since then.

“I want justice for my daughter. I feel very disappointed that this happened to my family. I want human rights to come and government to investigate this case. Nneka is my daughter but Precious is also my daughter and she did not deserve to die like that,” he said.

The mother of the deceased told our correspondent she was still in shock over the incident, denying insinuations that Precious might have been ill.

She said: “My daughter was very healthy and even cooked for her younger ones that day before following Nneka. Nneka and her mother should explain what happened to my daughter. Nneka was brought to my house when she was 17 and we trained her in the university. I never did any wrong to her and then, she chose to pay me back this way?”

Our correspondent contacted Nneka for her reaction to the allegation and she said she would call back because where she was in a noisy place. After 90 minutes, our correspondent called again but she asked, “Who gave you the information? I cannot answer you if you do not say who gave you information. If you are recording me, I am recording you too and we all have our exhibits.”

Later, a woman, Tolu Fagbayila who said she was Nneka’s manager and public relations person called but declined to give her client’s side of the story.

She insisted on a physical meeting for a way forward.

Our correspondent told her a physical meeting was not necessary and that Nneka’s reaction could be sent through email, WhatsApp or SMS by the lawyer or anyone speaking on her behalf but that was not done.

Nneka reportedly told those around her the teenager died as a result of ruptured appendicitis, adding that the girl was ill before she took her to her house.

Efforts to reach her mother Seki Eko on her telephone number were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, a coalition of child advocates has signified interest in the matter following The Nation online report of the case.

Mr. Omenka told our correspondent that the advocates have contacted and interviewed him, adding that they also volunteered to take over the case and ensure justice.

Sources at the police station said an order to exhume the teenager’s body would be sought so that autopsy could be conducted.

Police spokesman Bala Elkana confirmed the case was reported at Ajiwe Division in Ajah, adding that the suspects have been arrested.

He said, “The father of the girl reported the incident at Ajah Police Station. He said he has since buried the girl. We have arrested the suspects and the case has been transferred to homicide section of State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence (SCIID) Yaba.”

Source: The Nation

LAGESC to commence operation zero tolerance on street trading, hawking

AgegePulse Magazine

The Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) has announced that Operation Zero Tolerance on street trading and hawking will commence across Lagos soon, just as the Agency promised to liaise with relevant stakeholders to ensure a successful exercise.

The Corps Marshal of the agency, CP Gbemisola Akinpelu  (rtd), who disclosed this today at Alausa, Ikeja during an advocacy campaign to the President-General, Association of Commodity Women and Men of Nigeria, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo said the exercise is in line with the mandate of the present administration for promoting a cleaner, hygienic and beautiful environment that gives aesthetic pleasure.

According to her, “The Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration has always maintained the State government's resolve towards ensuring a greener and cleaner environment. It is therefore important to seek the support of your association and members to key into this vision towards ensuring adequate synergy in order to eradicate street trading, hawking, and indiscriminate dumping of refuse and other environmental nuisance associated with some market places”.


Mrs. Akinpelu opined that the activities of street traders on major roads, such as displaying of goods on roads setbacks and walkways, hawking on highways and indiscriminate dumping of waste impede the free flow of traffic, adding that the traders also expose themselves to various dangers including auto accidents.

While appreciating the tremendous contribution of the leadership and members of the Association towards the socio-economic development of Lagos State, the Corps Marshal, however, solicited for the cooperation of the traders in ensuring proper waste disposal.

In her response, the President-General, Association of Commodity Women and Men of Nigeria, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo appreciated the Corps Marshal’s efforts to sanitise the environment and expressed readiness to partner with the agency in the area of advocacy in markets across the State.

She, however, appealed for a human face in the Agency’s interactions with traders and assured of increased assistance from the body.

Policeman dies as 2 multi-storey buildings gutted by fire in Lagos Island

AgegePulse Magazine

  
Fire fighters as well as other emergency responders are still battling to put out the fire on Martins Street. (Twitter/ @rrslagos767)
Fire fighters as well as other emergency responders are still battling to put out the fire on Martins Street. (Twitter/ @rrslagos767)

Two multi-storey buildings were gutted by fire at different locations in Lagos Island on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 destroying goods and property worth millions of naira in the ever busy commercial city centre.
A five-storey building situated at Oluwole Market, adjacent to Mandillas Building, and another three-storey building located at Dosumu Street, both in Lagos Island, were burnt on Tuesday.

While the fire at the three-storey building on Dosumu street was successfully put off, fire servicemen were still battling to extinguish the fire raging at the six-storey building at Martins Street as at 7:40p.m. on Tuesday.

Fire fighters as well as other emergency responders are still battling to put out the fire on Martins Street. (Twitter/ @rrslagos767)
Fire fighters as well as other emergency responders are still battling to put out the fire on Martins Street. (Twitter/ @rrslagos767)

As at the time of filing this report, the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS) posted on it twitter page (@rrslagos767) that the incident had claimed the life of a policeman from a nearby division.

"We are still at the scene of the fire incident. Though it has reduced to a reasonable extent, Efforts are still on to put it out completely. Partial building collapse occurred during the process which claimed the life of a policeman from a nearby division." they twitted.

Fire fighters as well as other emergency responders are still battling to put out the fire on Martins Street.

(Twitter/ @rrslagos767)
Fire fighters as well as other emergency responders are still battling to put out the fire on Martins Street. (Twitter/ @rrslagos767)

According to NAN reports, a combined team of servicemen from Lagos Fire Service, Federal Fire Service, Julius Berger, UBA and Union Bank were at the scene battling to extinguish the fire.

Confirming the reports, the Director General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said at the scene that emergency officials were able to localise the fire and stopped it from spreading to other buildings.

“We received a call earlier this morning that there is a fire incident that involves two multistorey buildings at Martins Street and Dosumu Street in Lagos.

“Immediately we activated our emergency response plan and other stakeholders in managing emergency moved to the scene.

“We are able to locate and localised the fire but the major challenge we are having is access to major source of the fire; secondly, we discovered that they stored highly inflammable materials in the building.

”The way the building is positioned is adjacent and interlocked to the centre area, but we make use of combined team method to localise the fire which spread from one shop to the other but we are trying to put it off now,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

Olufemi appealed to Lagosians, especially traders at Lagos Island markets, not to panic.
He, however, pleaded with traders to stop putting generators and petrol inside their shops to avoid similar accidents in the area.

Chief (Mrs) Folashade Ojo, Iyaloja of Lagos, who also visited the scene, called for regular public power supply to prevent indiscriminate use of generators causing fire outbreaks.

Olanrewaju Elegushi, Special Adviser to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Lagos Central Business District, sympathised with the affected traders and also said the state would soon provide fire hydrants in the area to enable the servicemen have access to wate

Pulsing com

Eight held as army foils Boko Haram bid to attack Lagos

AgegePulse Magazine

Eight Boko Haram suspects arrested in connection with plans to attack facilities in Lagos are being held by the military, the army said at the weekend.

The Nation gathered on Sunday that the insurgents made attempts about two weeks ago to attack one of the universities in the state, but operatives of the 81 Division beat them to their game.

Four persons directly involved in the botched plan were arrested and immediately whisked to the Army Headquarters in Abuja for further investigation....

read full article

https://lagosreporters9ja.com/2019/11/04/eight-held-as-army-foils-boko-haram-bid-to-attack-lagos/

POLICE ARREST A LAGOS NOTORIOUS CULTUST

By Tunji Oyeleye

Operatives of Operation Crush from Bariga Division, Lagos, have arrested one Adegboro Odunwole alias Gobe.

A statement by the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, made available to Crime Fighters, Police and You, on Sunday, November 3, says Gobe was arrested on November 1, 2019 at about 1400 hours.

Elkana said the arrested suspect was a factional leader of “AIYE” confraternity which operated on Akilo street in Bariga.

According to him, Gobe had been on the watch list of Lagos State Police Command for a long period as he was said to be responsible for series of violent attacks and killings in Bariga.

The Lagos PPRO said that the suspect would soon be charged to Court.

MFM Coach, Tony Bolus Lauds players over opening day win

AgegePulse Magazine

Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries FC head coach Tony Bolus has praised his charges after their 1-0 win over Heartland FC in a Matchday One fixture of the 2019/20 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season decided at the Okigwe Stadium in Owerri on Sunday.

The Olukoya Boys gave a good account of themselves against the Naze Millionaires as they claimed an opening day win courtesy of a 39th minute header from Clement Ogwu when he connected a long throw-in from Najeem Olayinka.

Fidelis Ilechukwu's men created lots of goal-scoring chances shortly after MFM FC's goal but the Lagos-based team goalkeeper Folarin Abayomi denied the hosts with breathtaking saves. His bright display in between the sticks earned him the man-of the-match award.

After the crucial victory Bolus appreciated his boys for their brilliant performance.

“I need to appreciate my boys for their effort today and for keeping and playing to instructions. They maintained the tempo of the game from the beginning to the end of the game. They were able to keep their cool and the ball and I appreciate their effort a lot and I believe it's going to continue till the end of the season," he said.

The former Giwa FC manager also talked about the lapses he noticed during the match and promised to make amendment before his team’s next league game against FC  Ifeanyiubah.

“There were lapses in the team despite the victory so we will go back home to the drawing board and right our wrongs.

"We had opportunities to be two to three goals up but we failed to make them count although they had theirs also but our goalkeeper was great in goal today. All the same we still need to work on the team to prepare for FC Ifeanyiubah,” he concluded.

Hamza Koudeih: Unravelling a Money Laundering Honcho

AgegePulse Magazine

Hamza Koudeih is a Lebanese, resident in Lagos and steeped in money. From his $1.3million residence in Eko Atlantic Pearl Tower to his high-end automobiles, Hamza Koudeih oozes money, all of which he made doing nothing in the country but money laundering. .
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According to investigation, he has done this to the tune of a whooping $19million. The acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, described the recent arrests of a social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha for his alleged involvement in internet-related fraud and money laundering and Koudeih, his international collaborator, as a landmark achievement of the Commission in the recent time.

For details of this and other stories, visit our website: www.efccnigeria.org
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#InternetFraudsters #YahooBoys #YahooYahoo #Scam #Fraud #Crime #Corruption #EFCC #TheFightAgainstCorruption #FightingForYou