Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

By Florence Onuegbu

The Lagos State Government has warned religious leaders in the state to intensify adherence to safety protocols in their worship centres to avert the second wave of coronavirus.

The Commissioner for Home Affairs, Prince Anofiu Elegushi said this on Monday, during the commemoration of the International Day of Tolerance at Ikeja.

Elegushi said that there was the need for the worship centres to take the issue of COVID-19 safety protocol adherence seriously to avoid another lockdown.

He said that some countries such as the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and France among others were currently experiencing the second wave of the virus.

We cannot afford to allow this to happen, I beseech us to continue to use our face masks, wash our hands frequently.

Also, maintain social distance in public places while also using alcohol-based hand sanitisers from time to time to combat infection or transmission. I believe together, we shall overcome the scourge.

Let me reiterate and admonish our beloved people not to relent in supporting and understanding the efforts of the Lagos State Government.

We should not let down our guards, as it is not yet Uhuru, the battle against this dreaded virus is yet to be over.

All guidelines and safety protocols of mitigating against the COVID-19 should still be stringently adhered to, the commissioner said.

He said that with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, peoples lifestyle, worldview and global economies had not been the same.

According to him, a lot of people, families have lost their loved ones, lost their livelihoods while companies and organisations are winding up.

He said that the State Government, in its social responsibilities, had put measures in place to assist Small and Medium Scale Enterprises with soft loans and grants.

The Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had also appealed to corporates not to lay off staff.

We are indeed faced with several health and economic challenges at this time but the Almighty God has been benevolent to us in Nigeria generally and in Lagos State in particular, coupled with the resilient spirit known to Lagosians.

The State Government has observed with a high sense of pride of how Lagos residents had risen to the occasion to partner with government in the area of support and donations as exhibited by well meaning citizens and corporates in providing succour to residents during and after the lockdown resultant from the spike of the coronavirus.

It is quite commendable that Lagos residents were tolerable of one another.

During this period, residents exemplified a high sense of humanity whereby everyone looked out for the wellbeing and welfare of one another. This is love in demonstration, Elegushi said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Abdullahi Shugaba

Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State says that synergy between Nigerian Army, Air Force and other security agencies is the only way to end banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling and other criminalities.

Masari stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during his site inspection of the proposed Nigerian Air Force landing site in Funtua on Monday.

There must be synergy between the Army, Air Force and other security agencies towards tackling the menace.

The governors in North-West and North-Central zones cant do anything because they dont have the expertise knowledge of fighting, it is the soldiers that are trained to fight.

I therefore urge the Army, the Air Force to go back to their drawing board and strategize and fashion way out how to synergize.

Our role is to provide logistics and necessary support to enable them succeed to arrest the situation, Masari said.

Masari said that the provision of the Air Force landing site in Funtua would go a long way in improving security for the people of Katsina State and their neighbours, like Zamfara and Kaduna States.

He explained that the the facility was being provided for Air Force aircraft to land when they received distress call on eventualities.

All necessary arrangements have been put in place to compensate the affected people for their land and the work will soon commence in earnest for the project, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Director-General of NAPTIP, Mrs Julie Okah-Donli

By Emmanuel Acha

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) says it has secured conviction of no fewer than 38 sexual offenders in the last one year across the country.

The Director-General of NAPTIP, Mrs Julie Okah-Donli disclosed this on Monday in Enugu, during the training of stakeholders and members of state task forces on human trafficking in the South East.

Okah-Donli said that the 38 people were those recorded in its register between November 2019 and November 2020.

She said that the essence of the sexual offender register launched in November 2019 was to name and shame sexual offenders in the country.

As at last week, a total of 38 convicted people have been documented in the register with 414 cases reported and 108 fingerprints digitally captured, she said.

On human trafficking, Okah-Donli said that the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic posed greater challenges to the crusade against the crime.

Some heartless human traffickers are already taking advantage of the situation to deceive and recruit vulnerable youths and traffic them.

Therefore, we must re-strategise and double efforts in curbing the menace, the director-general said.

Okah-Donli said that NAPTIP, in conjunction with state governments and with the support of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and other partners had between 2019 and 2020 inaugurated State Task Forces on Human Trafficking.

She said that the workshop was aimed at equipping members of the task forces with the necessary skills to curtail incidences of human trafficking.

The state task forces on human trafficking are strategic instruments that NAPTIP adopted to harness counter trafficking efforts at the sub-national level.

It will create important synergies in the fight against human trafficking in the country, she said.
The NAPTIP boss said that no fewer than 443 traffickers have been convicted and about 17, 000 victims rescued by the agency.

Our resolve is to end human trafficking in Nigeria and I commend the commitment of IOM who are the sponsors of this project and the commitment of NAPTIP officers on this project, Okah-Donli said.

Ms Bertha Ngunelu, IOM Project Officer, Counter Trafficking said that the organisation had continued to collaborate with NAPTIP over the years.

Ngunelu said that such collaboration was aimed at addressing the issues of human trafficking through the establishment of state based task forces to address the peculiarities of each state.

Trainings like this will provide a platform to provide conceptual clarity on human trafficking, smuggling and irregular migration, the project officer said.

She added that IOM had assisted in the return of no fewer than 19, 000 migrants to Nigeria from Libya and European countries. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The European Union (EU) has provided Command, Control, Communication and Information Systems (C3IS) equipment to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to enhance its operational efficiency.

The Chief of Military Public Information for MNJTF, Col. Muhammad Dole, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in NDjamena Chad.

Dole said that training had been jointly organised by the service providers and MNJTF for personnel that would operate the C3IS equipment across the sectors.

The Force Commander of MNJTF, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Yusuf, commended the EU for the provision of the C3IS equipment, describing it as most critical to enhancing the operational performance of the troops in the field.

Yusuf said that the equipment was closely related to the recent provision of Helicopters and Petroleum Oil and Lubricants (POL) through the framework of African Union to MNJTF.

He said that the C3IS would enable conveyance of classified messages and communication through the secured net.

Yusuf equally commended the service providers for the display of resilience and vigour in the execution of the project.

He assured the EU that all the support provided would be optimally utilised in accordance with the global best practices to enhance the operational efficiency of the troops.

He therefore urged the Sector Commanders to ensure proper utilisation, maintenance and safety of the equipment.

The force commander also implored the trainees to pay attention and apply themselves fully to the training procedures and processes.

As the pioneer trainees, you are expected to learn and strictly understand how to operate the equipment, as you will be the one to install it at sector level.

MNJTF has taken steps to provide alternative power supply at the Sector Headquarters in order to ensure uninterrupted power supply for the communication equipment.

When completed, the C3IS system is expected to enable rapid deployment of strategic and operational communication capabilities within the MNJTF Area of Operation, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

By Florence Onuegbu

The Federal Government says there is the need to rebuild the trust between the government and the governed in the aftermath of the EndSARS protest.

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, said this during the Rebuild Lagos: Dialogue and Partnership event organised by the Lagos State Government to inaugurate the Eight-member Board of Trustees of Rebuild Lagos Trust Fund held at Ikeja.

Osinbajo said that there was the need for government at all levels to rebuild the lost confidence with the people so as to forestall a repeat of the destruction witnessed in the country in the aftermath of EndSARS protest.

He said that never should the carnage witnessed in Lagos be allowed to repeat itself.

The vice president described the destruction as a national tragedy and a major setback for the country, adding that the bulk of income from non-oil products the country was getting came from Lagos State.

Never in the history of our nation has this former capital city, and our nations commercial nerve centre experienced such mindless acts of violence and the enormity of destruction that occurred.

Perhaps, it is worth emphasising that the destruction and disruption of life and work in Lagos is a national tragedy and a major economic setback for the nation, even as we face the most difficult economic challenges in our generation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

We have seen how the noblest causes, such as the EndSARS protests designed to call attention to a serious malignant problem of brutality and extrajudicial killings, can be subverted, leading to the exact opposite of its objectives; chaos murder, looting and arson.

So, we saw what can happen when the restraints of law and order are loosed and anarchy is given free rein.

These trying times offer an invaluable learning opportunity, a teachable moment, and it is the lessons we draw from this period that will shape our path going forward, he said.

Osinbajo urged the private sector to collaborate with the Lagos State Government to rebuild the state.

It is now time to rebuild. It is time for the painful and costly task of reconstruction and rehabilitation.

It is now time for the private sector, our international friends and partners, and all who love this city to make their contributions to the rebuilding and reconstruction effort. When Lagos works, it works for all.

But it is clear that the task of reconstruction goes beyond physical infrastructure or brick and mortar.

There is a moral, social and ethical reconstruction to be undertaken as well. We must rebuild trust between the government and the governed; the vast majority of who are young persons, rebuild trust between law enforcement agents and the communities that they are meant to serve.

We certainly cannot afford to alienate our young people who constitute the majority of our society and bear the burden of enterprise, resourcefulness and innovation required to propel our economy into the future.

For their sake and ours, we need broad-based and inclusive prosperity that creates opportunities on a scale commensurate with the aspirations of our population, he said.

Osinbajo said that beyond restoring what had been lost, the task before all was nothing short of the reformulation of the social contract. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

(NNPC) has announced N153.17 ex-depot price for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol for the month of November.

By Nana Musa

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has warned motorists against panic buying, assuring that there is enough fuel on ground.

Alhaji Suleiman Yakubu, IPMAN National Public Relations Officer said that the long queues in some parts of Abuja were due to panic buying.

Yakubu told the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) on Monday in Abuja that there is no fuel scarcity, there is enough on ground.

People should not fear and do panic buying as there is enough fuel in reserve.

Mr Ezeh Obi, a taxi driver said that some petrol stations were not selling fuel, which might have resulted to panic buying and the long queues in Abuja.

He urged petroleum products regulators to ensure that all fuel stations with stock were selling.

NAN reports that some filling stations in Abuja were seen with long queues as motorists were trying to buy petrol. . (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Abubakar Sani Bello, Niger State Governor

By Rita Iliya

Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger has tested negative for COVID-19 following repeat tests of the viral disease.

This was contained in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mrs Mary Noel-Berje, in Minna on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the governor had on Nov. 9, announced that he tested positive to COVID-19 via his official Twitter handle and immediately went into isolation.

She said that the governor was pronounced free of the virus and confirmed fit to resume his official duties having gone through repeat tests which turned negative.

I am happy to announce to you that I have been confirmed negative and declared fully recovered. I can now resume my official work. I thank you all for your prayers and good wishes, she quoted the governor as saying.

NAN reports that Governors Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna, Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo and Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti had tested positive to the virus earlier.

Other Nigerian governors that tested positive for COVID-19 include Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Women participating in a marathon

By Olanrewaju Akojede

The Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) on Monday announced its plans to hold the Y2020 mini-Marathon for women tagged Lagos Women Run on Saturday.

LSSC Director of Public Affairs, Titi Oshodi-Eko, in a statement in Lagos, therefore, issued travel advisory for motorists due to the planned closure of some major roads for the race.

Oshodi-Eko said that the mini-marathon, which would be both virtual and actual race, would attract over 10,000 women who have expressed interest around the world to participate in Africas largest female fitness gathering.

Any individual, team and organisation can also participate from anywhere in the world through the virtual run with the use of a LWR running App, which can be tracked and monitored.

Only the elite and invited runners will participate in the Real Run.

The actual race will be conducted in full compliance with all health and safety protocols of COVID-19, she said.

Oshodi-Eko noted that the race would commence at Tafawa Balewa Square, passing through some major roads and highways before coming to an end at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

The Lagos State Government has, therefore, advised motorists coming from Victoria Island and Ikoyi to make use of Carter Bridge (Idumota Bridge) to Iddo Oyingbo Herbert Macaulay Adekunle to connect to the Third Mainland Bridge

Those from Ebute-Ero to Eko Bridge should make use of Adeniji-Adele Interchange to Carter Bridge (Idumota Bridge) to Iddo-Oyingbo-Herbert Macaulay Way to Adekunle through Third Mainland Bridge or Herbert Macaulay Way to Jibowu and onward connection to their destinations.

Motorists from Orile-Iganmu Bridge going to Lagos should make use of Iganmu Sifax Ijora Ijora Olopa Carter Bridge to access their preferred destinations.

Road users plying Adeniran Ogunsanya, Bode Thomas to Stadium inwards Barracks/Ojuelegba are to use Akerele Road Randle Road Lawanson Road Ojuelegba to connect their destinations while Lagos Island-bound vehicles from Surulere are free from restrictions, she said.

Oshodi-Eko added: Motorists should plan their journey according to the issued travel advisory for the duration of the race.

The Lagos State Government appeals to road users to bear the temporary inconvenience the road restriction might cause, she said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

#EndSARS protesters

By EricJames Ochigbo

The House of Representatives ad hoc Committee perusing activities surrounding the #EndSARS protest has started hearing to find lasting solutions and halt further breakdown of law and order.

The committee, chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Ahmed Wase (APC-Plateau), met with heads of security agencies in the country behind closed-doors on Monday in Abuja.

Earlier, Wase recalled that the house had on Oct. 20, passed a motion and resolved to address the breach of national security during the protest.

The house resolved to set up this committee to be chaired by me and we have the Majority and Minority Leaders as members.

The chairmen and deputies of all the relevant committees on the house on security and three members each are also members.

The essence is to address a peaceful protest and ensure that we have a harmonious nation.

This is our first meeting and we are going to take inpute from the various service chiefs, he said.

The deputy speaker, however, said that security issues are not addressed in the media and asked the press corps to leave the hall to enable members to interface with the security agents.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports agencies represented at the meeting include: the Nigeria Police Force (NPF); Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

Others are the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) and the Nigerian Correctional Service.

NAN reports that the meeting began at about 3.30 p.m and lasted for about two hours.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Vehicles plying Lagos road

By Yemi Adeleye

The Lagos State Government has announced a six-week partial closure of the service lane inbound Maryland from the end of Gani Fawehinmi Park to the end of the 2nd pedestrian bridge, Ojota from Tuesday.

The state Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, in a statement on Monday in Lagos said that the step was part of the ongoing reconstruction of Ikorodu Road.

Oladeinde said that the partial closure was to allow the contractor handling the stretch of the project from Ojota to Maryland bound to continue with the next phase of the construction.

The commissioner said: By the new arrangement, motorists coming from Ikeja axis are advised to use 7UP road through Billings way to link Oregun/Kudirat Abiola Way inbound Ikorodu road by Ojota bus stop.

Traffic inward Ojota Bus stop/Maryland from the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway could either proceed to Oworonshoki/Gbagada or descend the loop by Abiola Garden to connect Ikorodu road (inbound Ketu), and ascend the loop back to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway through the loop beside LAMATA Office to access Ikorodu road to Ojota.

He assured that adequate road signs had been provided to guide motorists movement.

According to him, the state government effort is aimed at ensuring thorough repair works within the stipulated time of the construction works.

Oladeinde added that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) would be fully on ground towards ensuring smooth and steady traffic flow.

Motorists plying the corridor are advised to endure any likely inconvenience.

The project is aimed at finding a lasting solution to traffic congestion on that axis in line with efficient traffic management and transportation policy of the state government, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News