The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Georgina Ehuriah-Arisa will launch her autobiography, On Merit, on 17th September, 2020 in Abuja.
Ehuriah-Arisa joined the Civil Service in 1984 and steadily rose through the ranks. On Merit offers an insight into the Federal Civil Service – its very heart and soul, reforms, what it takes to climb, and survive the tortuous corporate ladder and how to expand one’s capabilities along the way to the top.
In On Merit, Ehuriah-Arisa also writes about her early life, being a child living through the Civil War, its aftermath and the relationship and financial challenges she had to deal with.
“Writing a book that puts my life out there has required a special kind of courage, but it is my act of giving back to a system that gave me the privilege to serve and rewarded me for that service. I have always prided myself on the fact that the single most important factor that drives my actions is courage,” she says.
It was this courage that made her run into a burning building to retrieve important work documents that would otherwise have been destroyed during the fire that engulfed the Independence Building which housed the Ministry of Defence and Armed Services Headquarters in 1993.
“Georgina Ehuriah-Arisa, embodies all the qualities I have been urging both the male and female staff of the Federal Civil Service to embrace,” former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Engr. Ebele Ofunneamaka Okeke (CFR) says of the author. “She made a lot of sacrifices to build herself up to meet the challenges that would crop up in modern Civil Service. She read for long hours, kept late nights, attacked all the tasks that appeared on her desks wherever tour of duty took her with all her might, and the result is the content of this book,” she added.
Ehuriah-Arisa is one of Nigeria’s most highly decorated Civil Servants, having received the National Honour of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON), the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award and the Presidential Civil Service Merit Award in addition to other institutional and ministerial awards.
The book launch which will be held in Abuja will be attended by past and current Civil Service stalwarts, journalists, and a cross-section of Nigerians from the academia and professional communities.
On Merit will be available in bookstores in Nigeria from 15th October, 2020.
The Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in its bid to ensure the sector achieve its mandate of diversifying the economy from crude oil, is seeking deeper partnership with Bauchi State for efficient and effective mining for the growth of the economy.
The Minister of State Mines and Steel Development Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah (Dr) stated this during a courtesy visit to the Governor of Bauchi State, Sen. Bala Mohammed recently.
Dr Ogah stated that the visit was to sensitize the State of the numerous benefits it stands to gain, if operators in the State abide by mining guidelines and pay the royalties due to the Federal Government, stating that with the abundance of Minerals yet to be harnessed, the state could be the hub of mining in the country.
He reiterated Federal Government’s 13% derivative for States monthly from mining, adding that the more revenue generated by States, determines the accruals it would receive from the Federation Account Allocation Committee.
The Minister sought Bauchi State Government’s collaboration in carrying out adequate enlightenment and sensitisation campaign, to prevent illegal operation of local and foreign miners who pine away the State’s wealth. He urged the State to ensure improved communication and information sharing, with the Ministry as well as joint security surveillance against banditry.
He assured the Governor of the Ministry’s continuous support to ensure increased mining operations in the State. Adding that a good relationship between Operators and the Communities would bring employment and create wealth for the community as well as attract huge impart of investments.
Speaking at the event, the Governor of Bauchi State, Sen. Bala Mohammed emphasized the State’s abundant endowment of mineral resources, which if properly harnessed could sustain the country.
He further expressed willingness to partner with the Ministry to expand mining activities in State, to increase revenue generation for the benefit of Bauchi people, and recalled that the first mining site in the country was located in Bauchi State, and therefore, should be the leading State in mining.
The Governor emphasized the importance of community engagement that would aid in avoiding disputes, between communities and investors which will in turn create an enabling environment for genuine investors.
In a related development, the Hon. Minister, during a visit to the District Head of Rishi in Toro Local Government Area of the State, and inspection of some mining factories in the Community, encouraged citizens to establish and ensure good relationship between them and Mining Companies in the community.
The District Head of Rishi, Abdullaziz Umar Zaku (Alh.), disclosed that the town has a history of mining dating back to 1929, and that the community has many resources, including red and white zinc among.others . He appealed that a Natural Resource School be established in the community, as it has abundance of natural resources as well as various mining sites and companies.
Tine-Iulun M. A For: Director (Press & Public Relations Unit)
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has described the coming into being of modular refineries in the country as the result of the enabling environment created by the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Minister stated this in Ibigwe in Ohaji Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State on Tuesday during a media tour of the Waltersmith Modular Refinery and Petro-Chemical Company Limited, which is due for commissioning next month.
Waltersmith Modular Refinery and Petro-Chemical Company Limited in Ibigwe in Ohaji Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State
“We can show Nigerians that while every government has been talking about modular refineries, no government has succeeded in turning the dream into reality until now,” he said.
Alhaji Mohammed said with the coming on board of medium scale refineries like Waltersmith, Nigerians will soon experience cheaper petroleum products.
“With this kind of refinery, all issues of subsidy become completely irrelevant because we would be able to get fuel at a cheaper price, especially because everything that is being produced will be for local consumption,” he said.
The Minister lauded the partnership between the Waltersmith Refinery and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board that holds a 30% stake in the refinery, which will start with 5,000bpd, add 25,000bpd in the second stage and then another 20,000bpd to bring the capacity to 50,000bpd in the third and final phase.
He said the Administration will continue to showcase its monumental achievements because it has performed well in the execution of projects across the country.
“I am glad we are here today blowing our trumpet because we have created an enabling environment for this project,” he said, after he and his entourage, as well as Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and some members of the National Assembly, were taken on a tour of the refinery, one of many of its type that are in different stages of completion in the country.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Mr. Simbi Wabote, said the Board believes that at least 10% of Nigeria’s oil production should be refined through the modular refineries, because of its capacity to generate employment.
“With an average of ten direct jobs created for every 1,000 barrels per day capacity of a modular refinery, we believe that about 2,500 direct jobs and over 25,000 indirect jobs can be created if 10% of Nigeria’s production is refined using modular refineries,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Waltersmith Modular Refinery and Petro-Chemical Company Limited, Mr. Abdulrazaq Isa, said from 14 October, 2020, 23 trucks will commence the loading of products such as Diesel, Kerosene, Heavy Fuel Oil and Naphtha from the refinery.
“What we are doing is in support of government initiative and this is coming at the right time as the government is deregulating the market,” he said. ”We really support the government policy on deregulation and removal of subsidies because it creates a market for what we are doing.”
The Minister and Governor Uzodinma, as well as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and National Communication, Senator Danladi Sankara; Chairman, House Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Value, Mr. Olusegun Odebunmi, and over 30 journalists were conducted round the production facilities of the refinery by the Chairman, Mr. Isa.
The dialogue between the Federal Government and Organized Labour on the recent increases in the price of fuel and electricity tariff has been adjourned to a later date. This is to allow the parties consult and streamline their positions for the overall interest of the public and the economy.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige (Dr.), stated that the dialogue was “to consider the state of the economy and events that has necessitated recent increases in electricity tariff and the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).”Adding that the meeting, was hinged on Federal Government’s desire for Nigerians, to show unity of purpose in the quest for solutions to the Socio-Economic challenges induced by COVID-19.
“Our society is undergoing socio-economic transition due to upheavals caused by COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected price stability and major means of production. It has therefore become very cogent that we gather as one entity in unity and understanding to forge a social pact or social concertation to enable us reconcile our economic growth and realize a sustainable development built on social cohesion”, he stated.
Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, SAN, stated that the Federal Government’s policy directions had always been propelled by the desire to bring succor to the very vulnerable in the society. He stated that the dialogue was to enlighten and engage Labour, on the reason behind the recent increases in price of PMS and electricity tariff.
The concern of the Organized Labour was centred on the negative impact of Government policies on increases in price on the socio-economic well-being of Nigerian workers, as well as the citizens in the lowest rung of the economic ladder.
The Unions argued that for the Nigerian workers, the increases had effectively eroded the value of the new national minimum wage, stating their readiness to partner with government in fashioning out solutions to the challenges created by COVID-19. The Organised Labour sought to know the strategies Government had put in place to counteract the negative effects of these policies on the common man.
The Organized Labour urged Government to always involve them in policy formulation, and at all times consider the challenges posed by its policy pronouncements.
The presentations by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, and Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), James A. Momoh on the reasons behind the policies are expected to guide the Organized Labour in properly understanding the push for the policies.
At the dialogue on the government side were Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono; Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari; Executive Secretary, Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, Abdulkadir Saidu; representative of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Infrastructure, among others.
On the Organized Labour side were President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba; President, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Quadri Olaleye; President, United Labour Congress (ULC), Comrade Joe Ajaero; Executive officers from Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), among other labour unions.
The need for organizations in the country to protect their critical data and information Technology (IT) architecture has become imperative in order to avoid several types of breaches. Being in the business agility and cyber security ecosystem, FPG Technologies & Solutions Limited (a member of FlexiP Group), your go-to partner for practical digital transformation (DX) consulting services and technologies, business insights and productivity solutions recently became a reseller of Accuras, a United Arab Emirates (UAE) based information technology company focused in building software solutions that large enterprises have to depend upon day to day, hour to hour. This partnership has been lauded by industry watchers as very timely and a demonstration of global organizations confidence in Nigerian IT firms which FPG Technologies represent.
Being the sole distributor and implementer of Delphix products in Turkey, Middle East and Africa; Accuras now extends its solutions and services delivery capability to Nigeria and West Africa with this new partnership with FPG Technologies.
With a combined expertise of the two technology companies, they would be able to deliver transformational DataOps, Data Management, Data Protection and Data Governance capabilities to large enterprises, including Finance and telecommunications companies in Nigeria and West Africa region.
Every company is a DATA COMPANY or is in the process of becoming one and Delphix gives data stakeholder teams self-service access to personal, production-quality, data environments that enable them to accelerate innovation and significantly reduce data compliance risks. This solution improves the speed of access to test and analytical data. This allows businesses to off-load production systems for analytical purposes and accelerates the software development lifecycle.
Delphix accelerates innovation by rapidly delivering secure enterprise data anywhere and ensures that non-production data is as secure and compliant as production data. Over 40% of the worlds Fortune 100 companies use Delphix to drive innovation and digital success.
Speaking of the partnership, Rex Mafiana, CEO of FPG Technologies said, “this partnership further shows our commitment and strengthens our portfolio in our bid to help our customers in their digital transformation journey, from a company that may be maximizing their Data to one that surely does. Your organization’s ability to virtualize it’s data securely is a measure of your digital transformation maturity as it enables you to unleash innovation and truly weaponize your Data for efficiency and the bottom-line”.
“We have been passionate about the transformational change delivered by Delphix solution since signing as a reseller in 2016, in 2018 we have extended our partnership as a distributor to Middle East and Africa region. We have brought the DataOps and Data Protection message to Turkey, Middle East and Africa. Today we are extremely excited that we will bring transformational data capabilities to our clients in Nigeria and West Africa by partnering with FPG technologies. We are very impressed by the success that FPG Technologies achieved in the region so far and we are totally sure that we the right alignment with FPG Technologies to combine our expertise together in order to do what we do best”,Ercan Eray, Accuras’ Chief Executive Officer added.
Sent in by
Anthony Nwosu
“this partnership further shows our commitment and strengthens our portfolio in our bid to help our customers in their digital transformation journey, from a company that may be maximizing their Data to one that surely does…”
While South Africa and the rest of the continent are slightly behind the Cloud curve, Andrew Cruise, managing director of Routed, says there is opportunity aplenty during this period of digital transformation where Cloud migration is on everyone’s lips.
“Specialist expertise like ours however is much harder to come by. We partner with service providers, typically MSPs and ISPs/Telcos, and SaaS and PaaS providers. Our providers resell our Cloud as the foundation for value added managed services or connectivity services and usually host their internal applications on our platform too.”
Cruise adds it used to be the case that local South African internet infrastructure simply wasn’t up to the task of meaningful Cloud uptake, but now the country is well positioned to be a digital services hub for Africa. “Fast, reliable, cheap Internet (i.e. fibre) is a necessary and a sufficient condition for successful Cloud business strategies. We need good Internet for Cloud to be an option, and once it’s an option it becomes a no-brainer.”
Today, with vastly improved connectivity, there is no obstacle, apart from outmoded ways of thinking, to utilising Cloud for almost any workload. “It would be nice if South Africans in general can be persuaded to buy local. The presence of the hyperscalers like Azure and AWS is a blessing and a curse: their marketing machines promote Cloud as an option, but immature thinking also persuades some that there are no other genuine alternatives like Routed.”
“Local businesses like ourselves need to be encouraged and promoted so that the Cloud landscape is not dominated by large faceless global giants.” Cruise says the corollary challenge of businesses’ legacy approach will still take some time to overcome. “Generally, a more educated public is a benefit to us, as we are not trying to be the silver bullet which fixes every Cloud problem but do want our use cases to be promoted more widely.”
The two winners of the 2020 GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize were announced this evening at the Africa Green Revolution Forum Virtual Summit in Rwanda: Moses Katala co-founder and CEO of Magofarm Limited (Tanzania) and Daniella Kwayu co-founder and CEO of Phema Agri (Tanzania). Each winner will receive US$50,000 to support and expand their agribusiness operations. Part of the Generation Africa youth initiative, the aim of this prize is to identify and inspire young people across Africa to seize the opportunities across the value chain of the $1Tn agrifood industry on the continent in the decades ahead.
Four entrepreneurs were also named to receive a $2,500 Impact Award: Elizabeth Gikebe, founder and CEO of Mhogo Foods (Kenya), Millicent Agidipo, co-founder and production manager of Achiever Foods (Ghana), Dysmus Kisulu, co-founder and CEO of Solar Freeze (Kenya) and Paul Matovu, founder and CEO of Vertical Farm and Micro-Gardening (Uganda). These entrepreneurs were selected by the judges for the notable environmental or social impact of their businesses, each striving to reach the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and benefit their communities. All 12 top finalists will receive mentorship, program linkages and other guidance to continue their entrepreneurial journeys.
The second annual 2020 GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize competition began in April and closed in June of this year. Over 3,000 applicants between the ages of 18 and 35, from 29 African countries, registered to compete. Although their diverse ventures spanned the entire agrifood value chain from primary production to innovative digital technologies, all six young men and six young women entrepreneurs from nine African countries who made it to the Top-12 shared at least one thing in common: they saw problems and made bold plans to solve them by launching new companies in the agrifood sector across Africa.
Top-12 finalist ventures and entrepreneurs this year hail from Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.
At the finale pitch competition earlier this week, each finalist presented a live online three-minute pitch to eight judges who then had two minutes to ask questions. Here’s a link to view the pitch competition which was broadcast globally at the AGRF Summit and on social media on 8 September 2020. bit.ly/3izr9ae
This year the eight judges (see below) evaluated both the business founder and the venture based on five criteria:
Innovation
Business Model
Social & Environmental Impact
Market Potential and Traction
Management Team.
To make it through to the Top-12, each finalist first had to submit a comprehensive online application by the June deadline. The Top-24 selected to be semi-finalists then had to produce their own pitch videos and participate in 30-minute online interviews with a panel of judges.
“Throughout all the COVID challenges of 2020, the GoGettaz agripreneurs remained focused and driven, caring not only for their businesses and employees but their countries and fellow citizens as well. In the face of the global crisis, they adapted their business models to new demands and challenges,” said Dickson Naftali, Head of the Generation Africa initiative based in Nairobi. “Our Top 12 young finalists this year are already driving forces for growth and transformation in their own communities. Their agribusinesses are each so different, but they are all steering Africa to become a continental superpower in agriculture”.
2020 GOGETTAZ US$50,000 AGRIPRENEUR PRIZE WINNERS
Daniella Kwayu, co-founder and CEO of Phema Agri in Tanzania. Phemaagri.com
Phema Agri is a digital agriculture platform connecting investors looking to grow their money with smallholder farmers looking for working capital solutions. Via their crowdfunding platform (phemaagri.com) Phema Agri matches de-risked, vetted, trained and market-linked farmers looking for investors. In return, farmers share their profits with their investors. The platform is a B2B2C business model linked directly to bank payments and mobile network operators for ease of transactions.
“The Agricultural financing gap in Africa is US $150 billion as of 2019,” stated Daniella in her online application. “There aren’t any direct competitors for an agriculture crowdfunding platform in Tanzania. We are the first market entries in this sub-sector. investments in Agriculture. Our key unique differentiator is our ability to apply technology to provide safely structured market curated investment in a convenient way.”
Phema Agri aims to achieve its goal of financing 1m farmers and controlling 5 value chains in the East African market. They are currently operating in 2 value chains (pig and poultry value chains) with the aim of adding other value chains (maize, potatoes, wheat) and training more farmers in these value chains. The financial support from the 2020 GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize will be utilized to secure market contracts and market analysis to structure and connect more farmers to markets.
Moses Katala, co-founder and CEO of Magofarm Limited in Rwanda. Magofarms.com
Magofarm Limited aims to solve the problem of rising costs of animal feeds and the increasing demand for sustainable, eco-friendly and nutrient rich protein ingredients. According to the UN Food and Agriculture organization (FAO), commercial poultry farmers in Africa have experienced a 20% increase in the price of animal feeds containing soybeans and fishmeal as protein ingredients. The current protein ingredients in the market are not only expensive to produce, but their production cycles can have a strong negative impact on the environment, noted Katala in his Stage 1 application.
“We are also on a mission to reduce food losses in the developing world,” Katala said. “Food losses represent a waste of resources in terms of land, energy, water and inputs, and leads to unnecessary CO2 emissions. According to the FAO, if food wastage were a country, it would be the third largest CO2 emitting country in the world after China and the USA. The world urgently needs a sustainable solution to tackle food waste. The yearly cost of global food waste is estimated to be $990 billion”.
“By breeding black soldier fly larvae, Magofarm acquires tremendous waste reduction capabilities. For every 1 tonne of black soldier fly larvae we breed, we contribute to upcycling 3 tons of food waste from the environment, which we use as a raw material. For each ton of fishmeal or soymeal replaced by our insect-derived protein (magomeal), an environmental saving of between $2,500 and $3,200 per ton is achieved in the form of avoided fossil fuel consumption, land usage and carbon emission”.
$2,500 – IMPACT AWARD WINNERS
Elizabeth Gikebe, co-founder and CEO, Mhogo Foods Ltd in Kenya (Mhogofoods.com): Mhogo Foods is a socially conscious cassava processor making gluten-free flour, crisps, starch and animal feeds while also training and supporting women smallholder farmers. Mhogofoods.com
Millicent Agidipo, co- founder and CEO ofAchiever Foods Limited (AchieverFoods.net/en) in Ghana: Achiever Foods is on a mission to save lives through indigenous and organically grown Turkey Berries that help promote blood health and a strong immune system, especially amongst pregnant women. AchieverFoods.net/en
All 12 top finalists will receive mentorship, program linkages and other guidance to continue their entrepreneurial journeys
Dysmus Kisilu co-founder and CEOSolar Freeze (SolarFreeze.co.ke) in Kenya: Solar Freeze helps battles post-harvest losses for smallholder farmers of perishable goods through potable solar-powered cold storage units and “sharing economy” cold-chain logistics. SolarFreeze.co.ke
Other top-12 2020 GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize finalists:
Fadja Dijou Barry, GoMarkit SL, Sierra Leone. GoMarkitSL.com
Dexter Tangocci, Integrated Aerial Systems, South Africa. www.IASystems.co.za
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai yesterday, Monday, 14 September 2020, commissioned some landmark Special Intervention Projects in Osun State. At Asamu, Ola-Oluwa Local Government Area (LGA), the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai commissioned a hospital, and, at Kuta, Aiyedire LGA the COAS also commissioned a Bailey Bridge constructed across River Osun at Kuta on KUTA-IKOYI-EDE road.
The two completed projects are named after the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai. The hospital and bailey bridge projects had been initiated and sponsored by the Chief of Army Staff. The projects are part of the COAS several contributions in support of the Nigerian Army non-kinetic line of operations.
The citing of the hospital in Asamu was much welcome by the people. “The hospital and bridge will promote our health, the standard of living of our people and also increase commerce in our area” His Royal Majesty, Aafin Olowu of Kuta, Oba Hammed Adekunle, Makama Oyelude, Tegbosun III stressed.Despite the Nigerian Army giant combat approach to tangling insecurity, the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General TY Buratai identify the vital role of civil military cooperation (CIMIC) projects in deepening Nigerian Army civil military cooperation posture, bridging gap between the Nigerian Army and the civil population, and, curbing the menace of hate speech syndrome.
The Nigerian Army under the present leadership of Lieutenant General TY Buratai has exhibited high level of commitment, dedication, preparedness and above all; resolve in drawing the civil populace closer to her army, the Nigerian Army through projects targeted towards winning hearts and minds.
These CIMIC sponsored projects are very core to creating strategic naratives and winning hearts and minds. The battle of naratives is crucial to the fight against insurgency. Non-kinetic line of operations is a force multiplier and enabler in revising civil populace narative.The Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai in his remarks expressed appreciation to all the State Governors within 2 Division AOR for their selfless contributions and support of Units and formations under their respective domain.
The COAS also thanked His Imperial Majesty O’oni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II for his contribution to boosting the Nigerian Army against COVID-19 epidemics. It is worth noting that at the heat of the epidemics His Imperial Majesty O’oni of Ife donated the motorised modular fumigators to the Nigerian Army. A concept initiated and developed by House of Oduduwa Machine and Tools under the supervision of His Imperial Majesty O’oni of Ife, to fight against the spread of the epidermic.At the commissioning ceremony His Excellency the Executive Governor of Osun State Mr Adegboyega Oyetola was present.
His Imperial Majesty O’oni of Ife Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II was ably represented. His Royal Majesty Aafin Olowu of Kuta Oba Hammed Adekunle Makama Oyelude Tegbosun III added colour and wealth of experience to the ceremony. Senior Government officials, senior military and paramilitary officers serving and retired were also present.The commissioning ceremony climaxed when His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Osun State, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola received the COAS in a dinner organised in honour of the Chief of Army Staff, at the Government House, Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
During the party, among senior officers present was the Chief of Policy and Plans, Army Headquarters, Abuja, Lieutenant General Lamidi Adeosun, former Chief of Defence Staff Lieutenant General Ipoola Alani Akinrinade, the Chief of Training and Operations, Army Headquarters, Abuja, Maj Gen NE Angbazo, Commander Infantry Corps, Maj Gen SO Olabanji, and many other senior officers (both serving and retired) were in attendance including senior Osun State government functionaries, to mention but few.
The General Manager of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Olajide Oduyoye, has assured the public that due diligence will be observed in the case of a female officer seen displaying professional misconduct at Aromire Junction, Ikeja on Friday, September 11, 2020, in a viral online video.
In a release by the Agency, Oduyoye disclosed that the officers in the video – Mrs. Adepeju Odunlami and her male counterpart – have been invited for investigation, just as he gave an assurance that appropriate disciplinary action will be meted out on the erring personnel as laid down in the Lagos State Civil Service rules.
According to the General Manager, a statement written by Mrs. Odunlami claimed that the driver of the black Honda vehicle, with registration number SF 885 KJA, ran the red light at Aromire junction and drove without a seat belt.
Giving a further update about the incident, Oduyoye said the lady wrote that the vehicle returned through the route on the same day but the driver and front-seat passenger still did not strap their seat belts.
“She, therefore, decided to apprehend the recalcitrant driver for the traffic infraction. This led to an altercation with the passenger biting her finger and the driver punching her head resulting in lacerations which she also said got her enraged”, the General Manager explained.
While noting that the driver of the vehicle actually committed a traffic infraction, Oduyoye said the LASTMA official should have simply documented the details of the vehicle for action by the Zonal Authority instead of allowing the issue to degenerate to the level of assault.
“The LASTMA official demonstrated poor professional judgement as a public servant, whose conduct is the focus of the public, thereby misrepresenting and casting smear on the State Government and the Agency”, Oduyoye submitted.
He reiterated that LASTMA continuously trains its staff to discharge their duties professionally and will continue to do so, urging members of the public to report all misdemeanour by any officer on Lagos roads, so that appropriate steps can be taken for a more efficient and effective service by personnel of the Agency.
The Lagos Marina is set to regain its beauty and serenity, with the planned stoppage of barge operations along the coastline.
The Federal Government, in conjunction with Lagos State Government, on Tuesday, ordered the stoppage of all such operations, which have desecrated the once beautiful and peaceful Marina coastline.
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is to revoke barge approvals granted some companies operating in Lagos.
The Honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, and the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who defied the early morning downpour to inspect the activities around the Marina coastline, made the stop-work order during an unscheduled visit to the Marina.
They went around the coastline, seeing the long row of trucks and containers that have constituted health and security hazards on the Marina. Amaechi and Sanwo-Olu kept on shaking their heads on seeing the devastation of the coastline that used to be the pride of the State, attracting crowds of visitors.
Amaechi and Sanwo-Olu found the “unwholesome” activities on the coastline “shocking” and “unacceptable”.
The Minister spoke of an urgent need to sanitise the entire Marina coastline and restore its tranquillity and beauty.
He ordered that trucks must immediately stop coming to Marina to load.
Amaechi said the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) did not grant anyone permission to carry out barging operations, insisting that all such activities must stop immediately.
“The Federal Ministry of Transport has agreed with the Lagos State Government to ensure that whoever is making use of the Marina coastline should stop. We have agreed with the Commissioner of Police to stop those using the roads and we have agreed with NPA to cancel all barge permits pending when each person will come back to NPA, NIWA and Lagos State Government to renew such approval,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu directed the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to arrest and prosecute anyone who flouts the order to stop “unauthorised activities” on the Marina.
He said the State Government would do everything to bring sanity to the coastline.
“We are also talking to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing because we understand that some of the approvals were from the Federal Ministry of Works. So, we are also taking up that responsibility and we would do what we need to do,” the Governor said.
Also at the inspection were the Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman, representatives of NIWA, Ministries of Works as well as Waterfront Infrastructure Development and the Police.
Gbenga Omotoso
Honourable Commissioner for Information and Strategy
