Lagos, Ogun establish Joint Development Commission

The Lagos and Ogun State Governments have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, to establish the Lagos-Ogun Joint Development Commission, this is part of efforts by the two states to stimulate greater economic development, cooperation and ultimately aimed at bettering the lives of their citizens.

 

The two Governors met on Monday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital to sign the MoU.

In his remark, Governor Sanwoolu of Lagos State said, "This alliance will accelerate the integration of physical and socio-economic development of our states and enable us to mutually tackle issues prevalent in key economic sectors, including transportation, environment, housing, health, infrastructure and security.

The MoU according to him, was a game changer that will transform the urban agglomeration that exists between Lagos and Ogun States.

 

On his part, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State said ,the new Commission is a common alliance that will focus on socioeconomic issues bordering on infrastructure development, revenue management, trade and investment, boundary dispute resolution, security and intelligence sharing, environmental and physical planning, as well as agriculture and food security.

He said, "This innovation will further strengthen the synergy between both states, while providing numerous benefits for residents as the Commission become operational.

 

"We are driven by the desire to stimulate socio-economic growth, bridge development gaps and ensure that Lagos megacity status is complemented by pervasive infrastructural development even in boundary towns.

 

He revealed that the best way to accelerate socio-economic development in the state is by embracing a collaborative approach for growth, development and urban sustainability with Lagos State Government.

 

PANDEMONIUM! as Soldiers storm Oshodi terminal to arrest killer of colleague

Oredola Adeola Major activities on Thursday morning in Oshodi terminal were disrupted, when some Nigerian soldiers in military convoy stormed popular Oshodi metropolis to arrest killer of an Air-force Officer whose body was dumped around Mosafejo axis, Oshodi on Wednesday. The Soldiers then stormed Oshodi to arrest the hoodlum. Some commercial buses were vandalised, during the search for the suspect. As at the period of filing this report normalcy has since been restored to the area, when combined team of Lagos State Task Force joined the soldiers to forestall peace and arrest the perpetrators...

The deceased identified as Ajayi Kayode, Shabba (Nickname), according to a lady to claim to be his niece, reportedly boarded a commercial bus heading to Ikorodu on Monday, where a fight broke out between passengers and the driver of the bus. He tried to intervene, rescued a lady who was being harrased during the altecation and and in the process got one of the passengers involved in the fight really angry.

The bus driver reportedly drove to Ikorodu and asked every other passenger to alight except the officer. Since Monday friends and family, including his heavily pregnant wife, have been searching for him until his body was later found around Oshodi on Wednesday.

Isjijabah launches tricycles with safety shield against Covid-19

Oredola Adeola| Alhaji Abiola Azeez, Al-Istijabah, Chairman Zone C, TOOAN of NURTW and Board of Trustee Member, Lagos State NURTW, has launched a new set of tricycles that come with in-built safety shield for commuters in compliance with the Covid-19 regulations and guidelines for transport workers in Lagos State.

The unveiling ceremony which was held on Wednesday at the Lagos NURTW State Headquarter in Agege, Lagos State was conducted by Alh. Musiliu Akinsanya, MC Oluomo, NURTW state Chairman in the company of state excos, Lagos State Commissioner of Transportation and representatives of LASTMA, VIO, Area G Police Command and other top dignitaries. Alh. Akinsanya while cutting the ribbon commended Alh. Istijabah for the innovative and exceptional leadership he has brought to the Union.

Alh. Istijabah in his reaction to the commendation disclosed that he launched the tricycle in compliance with guidance issued both by the Federal and State Government on COVID-19, limiting the number of people riding Keke to three persons (driver plus two passengers) at any given time. Mr. Nitesh Kumar, representing the Wandel/Simba Groups, revealed that the tricycles produced by Simba Groups, distributors of TVS branded tricycles comes with protective partitions erected between the rider and passengers. The safety shield is a transparent acrylic sheet, which serves to protect riders and passengers from one another While onboard.

Speaking on behalf of the Zone C Chairman, Comrade Rowland Igbauma, the Zonal Secretary said that Alh. Istijaba purchased the tricycles specially with safety accessory, as a result of the pivotal roles played by workers in the country's transport sector, in containing the spread of the virus. According to him, the Zone has plan to release over 2000 of the shielded tricycle as Palliative for its members during this period. He added that the new tricycle is a palliative to members of the Zone, who have been hit by the impact of the Covid-19 guidelines by the government.

Com.Roland said, "We have made it affordable and accessible through all the 20 branches under the Zone. Members will have opportunity to own the tricycles through cheap and affordable conditions. We want our members to enjoy the benefit of associating with the Zone. That is why we are releasing the tricycle through the branches. "We are determined to make payment and ownership of the tricycles easy for the members. We are going to help them process and maintain the tricycle. Speaking about enforcement of compliance orders for operators, Mr Roland disclosed that the Zone will be working with the branches in regulating activities of the operators.

New York Police arrest killer of GOKADA founder

Oredola Adeola with agency reports

The New York Police Authorities have arrested the suspected killer of the Fahim Saleh, leading tech entrepreneur who is also the founder of popular GOKADA motorbike taxi app and commercial bike operating in Nigeria.

GOKADA founder, Fahim Saleh

The 33-year-old, Fahim Saleh, became popular for his role in creating popular ride-sharing companies in Nigeria and Bangladesh. He is a son of Bangladeshi immigrants based in US. He founded his first company while still in high school. He went on to co-found the ride company Pathao, which is popular in Bangladesh and Nepal, in 2015.

 His body was found decapitated and dismembered in his Manhattan apartment on Tuesday. According to the New York Police, the suspect Tyrese Haspil, 21, was the GOKADA founder's executive assistant who allegedly decapitated and dismembered his boss in his New York room.

The Police have arrested and charged him with second-degree murder.Further investigation shows that murderer allegedly owed Saleh tens of thousands of dollars.

 Haspil is accused of using a taser on Saleh and then fatally stabbing him on Monday.

Rodney Harrison, NYPD Chief of Detectives told reporters after the arrest on Friday that the suspect handled [Saleh's] finances and personal matters.

Harrison said, "It is also believed that he owed the victim a significant amount of money. Saleh's body was discovered by his cousin who checked on him on Tuesday afternoon after he had not been seen for several days."

According to US media reports, CCTV footage from the building in which Saleh lived showed him entering a lift with a man wearing a mask on Monday.

His body was dismembered with an electric saw placed nearby, police said.

19 Northern states support FG's cancellation of school resumption

The Commissioners of Education in 19 Northern States have supported the decision of Mallam Adamu Adamu, Minister of Education,  to suspend school reopening in order to protect the school against spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last week, the Minister reversed his earlier announcement, authorising schools to reopen for students participating in Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (SSCE) and Junior Secondary Certificate Examinations (JSCE).

Meanwhile, the commissioners after a virtual meeting on Saturday, issued a communique in Kaduna State  to consider school reopening and other issues to strengthen the education sector.

The communique was signed by the Commissioner of Education, Kaduna, Dr Shehu Makarfi, who is also the Chairman of the Northern States School Exchange Programme.

The meeting was attended by commissioners of 13 of the 19 northern states namely, Kaduna, Bauchi, Gombe, Niger, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Taraba, Kogi, Kwara, Katsina, Kano, Borno and Jigawa.

The commissioners applauded the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, for taking a decisive stand against school reopening and pledged their full support.

According to them, keeping schools closed considering the spike in cases of COVID-19 across the country is a sure step in ensuring that children remain safe.

“We have, therefore, resolved that schools should be reopened only when it is safe to do so and when states have complied with the minimum COVID-19 safety protocols as outlined by the NCDC.

“We will also participate in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination and other examinations only when it is safe to reopen schools and when coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Education,” they said.

The commissioners also resolved to carry out a holistic assessment of schools to determine safety status for reopening and submit reports to their respective governors for consideration.

“Schools’ infrastructure, such as dilapidated classrooms, students’ hostels, source of safe water, sanitary facilities, including hand washing equipment and security are critical and should be improved.

“We will equally clear schools of bushes and grasses, as well as fumigate school’s surroundings to support learning and ensure safety when schools resume,” they said.

The Commissioners however charges  the Federal Government to support states in putting safety measures in place for school reopening, adding that most of the state do not have sufficient funds to meet expected standard.

Lagos Area Boys hold Pa James hostage, demand settlement from Funke Akindele's gift

Oredola Adeola

Veteran actor Kayode Olasehinde “ Ajirebi ” better known as Pa James,  has cried out over repeated harassment and hostages on him by Lagos Area boys following actress Funke Akindele's promise to rent an apartment for him.

Pa James in a statement said, "Gbese de(I am in trouble) area boys held me down that I should settle them because my sister Jenifa Funke Akindele bought me a new house. I am so grateful to Jenifa, if not for her, where will I be staying today bc flood swept away my house. But see me with another unexpected wahala, that my level has changed, area boys will not allow me free movements again, that I should settle them. The truth is that Jenifa rented me an apartment, a high class one. But I pray someone will take it up there and buy me a house. She has done her best. Kudos to her!!!.

Recall that, on July 7 ,Pa James via Instagram   cried out for help after his belongings got soaked following the incessant rainfalls in Lagos .

Pharm(Mrs) Akinbile-Yusuf cancels, reschedules "controversial" LAGOS DIGITAL PARTY

Following the criciticm that greeted the purported plan by the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Pharmacist (Mrs.) Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf to host Lagos Digital Party, the event earlier scheduled  to hold on Friday, July 10, 2020, has been cancelled and rescheduled indefinitely.

Recall that The Editorials earlier broke the news and also shared editorial viewpoint on what should be the major focus of the tourism ministry amidst tourism potentials of Lagos State.

The virtual party which was the first major activity to be initiated since the Commissioner took over the affairs of the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, was widely condemned by major tourism stakeholders.

This action of the new Commissioner was widely condemned by both tourism writers and major players in the sector, who had expressed joy at the interest and commitment earlier shown by the Commissioner towards uplifting the hospitality and tourism industry in the state despite impact of Covid-19 pandemic.


The Commissioner who announced the cancellation and indefinite postponement of the virtual party on Thursday, disclosed that the decision was reached after meeting some musicians who have also expressed interest in participating in the event for wider mileage.

Akinbile-Yusuf  disclosed that the entertainers paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry on Thursday to express plan to collaborate with the State Government to expand the scope of the virtual party.

 She said, "Although the Ministry initially planned to feature only Disc Jockeys at the event, the musicians which comprise of hip-hop artistes and Fuji singers insisted on contributing their quota to the digital event, thus necessitating the postponement.

"The postponement would also allow more Lagosians to be aware of the event aimed at repositioning the entertainment industry towards achieving a Greater Lagos.

Explaining the rationale behind the event, Akinbile-Yusuf noted that the event is a way of experimenting with the new norms in the entertainment industry

She further disclosed that the Ministry planned to use the Digital Party to take Lagosians out of depression, entertain them and also create awareness about the new trend in the entertainment industry.

She however apologised to intending participants for any inconvenience which the postponement may have caused Lagosians, especially promising  that the virtual party will meet the entertainment needs of the populace.

She urged Lagosians not to be overwhelmed by the present situation across the world in respect of the COVID-19.