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6,000 people enter Lagos daily, only 3,000 leave – Deputy Gov

Published

2 weeks ago

November 3, 2024

6,000 people enter Lagos daily, only 3,000 leave – Deputy Gov

Lagos Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, has disclosed that no fewer than 6000 people enter Lagos on a daily basis, with about 3000 of them staying back with no known addresses.

He said the population of Lagos estimated at about 27m is struggling with the state’s N2.2 trillion which is equivalent to $1.3bn, noting that the budget of New York State in the United State with 19.5m population was $237bn as of 2023.

Hamzat spoke on Thursday during the 2024 Annual Directors Conference Dinner tagged, “Business Meets Government Dinner.”

The Deputy Governor represented his boss, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the dinner chaired by Justice Amina Adamu Augie, retired Justice of the Supreme Court.

Hamzat who said the state cannot stop people trooping to the state in search of greener pasture however stated that the population explosion has put pressure on the state’s annual budget.

He said the challenges facing Nigeria could be traced to the collapse of the family unit, reiterating that many women had turned to widows not on account of the demise of their husbands but because they had been left to cater for their children alone.

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He said, “The budget of Lagos 2024 is N2.3 trillion. Now the next one is Rivers, N700bn, look at the gap. But that N2.2 trillion is $1.3bn. The budget of New York State with population of 19.2m as at 2023, the budget is $237bn.

“The budget of Lagos with 27m people and counting because every day over 6000 will come in and only about 3000 will go back with no known address. So it keeps increasing because people want to live a good life. You can’t blame them for that. But our budget is $1.3bn, the highest in the country.

“The next one is less than half, it is about one-third which is Rivers but the budget of the State of New York with less population (19m) is $237bn.”

The Deputy Governor said his study indicated that there were 130,000 wives whose husbands have abdicated their duty of catering for the family.

He added, “So a lot of times you receive text. I keep receiving text, I need help, I am a widow. So I was now wondering how many widows we have in Lagos.

“What did we find out? There are widows but the husbands are still living. As at the last count when I said enough, we had 138,000 women. The high percentage, the men just leave. So a man has a wife with three children, four children, five children and you just leave. So those are the problems in this country. If we don’t solve the family unit, nothing will work.”

According to him, the budget of Children Protective Service in New York alone is $5.5bn bigger than the budget of Lagos, Rivers, Oyo, Ondo, Ogun and Katsina.

“Out of that $237, $5.5bn is just to make sure that the children don’t get abandoned. If you can’t take care of those children, they will take them from you,” he added.

Hamzat told captains of industries, government officials and participants at the dinner to clean their corners.

“We don’t hold ourselves accountable. We all criticise other sectors. As a professor, how is it that our girls are complaining that in order to get marks, you need to harass them? So you should solve your own problem. Clean your own environment. So if we all clean our environments, this country would be great,” he stated.

President and Chairman of the Governing Council, Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD) Nigeria, Alhaji Tijjani M. Borodo, in his opening remark, stated that the event became pivotal owing to the need for leaders in government and business to align their visions and actions to overcome business environment challenges such as policy inconsistencies, infrastructure deficits, and bureaucratic bottlenecks.

6,000 people enter Lagos daily, only 3,000 leave – Deputy Gov

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Gunmen kill two soldiers in Abia checkpoint attack

Published

11 hours ago

November 13, 2024

Trends Admin

Gunmen kill two soldiers in Abia checkpoint attack

Early Wednesday morning, gunmen attacked an army checkpoint in Ekenobizi, a border community between Abia and Imo states, located in Umuopara, Umuahia South Local Government Area.

The assailants reportedly arrived around 6:18 a.m. in a white Lexus SUV (model 350/400) and launched an assault that resulted in the deaths of two soldiers.

A military source, who wished to remain anonymous, provided details of the incident but could not confirm the exact number of attackers involved.

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Confirming the incident in a press release on Wednesday, Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Unuakhalu of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA said: “In the early hours of today, 13 November 2024, troops of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA, deployed at a checkpoint along the Umuahia – Owerri Road in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State, came under attack by the irredentist group Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed affiliate, the Eastern Security Network.

“During the attack, the gallant troops were able to repel the assault, forcing the attackers to retreat in disarray with gunshot wounds, abandoning one Sienna and one Lexus Jeep used in the attack. However, in the ensuing firefight, two soldiers paid the supreme price.”

The Joint Task Force appealed to residents of the South East, particularly those in Abia State, for credible information to help track down the fleeing attackers and combat criminal elements in the region.

The force reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property in line with global best practices and the rules of engagement.

Gunmen kill two soldiers in Abia checkpoint attack

metro

94 arrested as task force raids Lagos rail corridor squatters

Published

11 hours ago

November 13, 2024

Trends Admin

94 arrested as task force raids Lagos rail corridor squatters

At least 94 illegal occupants and squatters along the railway corridor from Pen Cinema to Fagba were arrested by the Lagos State Taskforce in an early morning sting operation on Wednesday.

During the raid, substances suspected to be hard drugs—such as Indian hemp, colorado, and other harmful drugs—were seized, along with various weapons.

It was gathered that those arrested attempted to resist the task force’s actions.

In a statement, Director of Public Affairs, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, confirmed that those arrested will face prosecution.

He added that the agency dismantled shanties and makeshift structures along the railway corridor, clearing a distance of some kilometers.

The Taskforce Chairman Adetayo Akerele explained that the eviction aimed to provide relief for residents around the Fagba, Agege, and Pen Cinema railway routes, following numerous complaints from the public about criminal activities in the area.

He noted that the squatting had violated environmental and sanitary regulations.

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Akerele also highlighted the health and safety risks posed by the presence of squatters along the rail corridor.

He warned the evicted individuals not to return and assured residents and train passengers that regular patrols and surveillance would be conducted to prevent the re-establishment of shanties in the area.

“The rail tracks are not meant for habitation or the sale of narcotics. Anyone caught converting this place into a den of criminals or an area of residence will face severe consequences according to the law,” Akerele was quoted as saying.

Speaking on the raid, Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed that a locally fabricated short gun was recovered.

“94 suspects were arrested during the midnight operation; a locally fabricated short gun and several wraps of illicit substance suspected to be indian hemp, charm and a jack knife were recovered.

“The suspects will be charged to court accordingly,” Wahab stated in a post on X.

94 arrested as task force raids Lagos rail corridor squatters

metro

Okpebholo sacks all political appointees, Board executives in Edo

Published

12 hours ago

November 13, 2024

Trends Admin

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State

Okpebholo sacks all political appointees, Board executives in Edo

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has swept out all Board, Parastatal, and Agency appointees from his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki, in a decisive move to overhaul the state’s public service.

A statement released on Wednesday by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, confirmed the immediate dismissal of all political appointees and Permanent Secretaries brought in from outside the state Civil Service.

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The statement reads:

“For the information of the general public, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, Governor of Edo State, has approved the dissolution of Executives of all Boards, Agencies, and Parastatals in the Edo State Public Service with immediate effect.

“In addition, all Permanent Secretaries appointed from outside the State Public/Civil Service and all Political Appointees are hereby relieved of their appointments.”

Affected individuals have been directed to return all government property in their possession to the senior Public Officers in their respective Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.