The Super Eagles of Nigeria have qualified for the round of 16 at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after edging Guinea-Bissau 1-0 in their final Group A game.
An own goal by Opa Sangante in the first half was enough to seal qualification for Jose Peseiro’s men.
The result means the Super Eagles qualify second on seven points behind Equatorial Guinea, who top on superior goals scored.
Equatorial Guinea produced one of the shocks in AFCON history as they thrashed Côte d’Ivoire 4-0 in the other game.
The Ivorians will now have to wait to see if they will qualify as one of the third best placed teams.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA) to commence an investigation into a viral video clip made by one Mr. Kayode Oladipo about 20 plots of lands he supposedly bought in 2017 from a Property Company, RevolutionPlus without any physical allocation of the said plots.
Following the Governor’s directive, the Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai; Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Housing, Barr. Barakat Odunuga-Bakare and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Housing, Engr. Gbolahan Toriola, on Friday, invited the Management of RevolutionPlus Limited, led by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, Dr. Bamidele Onalaja, for a fact-finding meeting.
According to the Commissioner for Housing, the information-gathering meeting by the top government officials will help find lasting solutions to frequent reports of fraudulent practices in the State’s real sector and thus protect the interest of investors and investees in the Real Estate business transactions in Lagos State.
Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Housing, Barr. Barakat Odunuga-Bakare recalled that before the viral video made by Mr. Kayode Oladipo, there had been some concerns raised by members of the public about the conduct of RevolutionPlus Property Limited to some of its subscribers.
The members of the investigation team reiterated the resolve of the State government to investigate the allegation against RevolutionPlus Limited in line with LASRERA Law 2022.
According to them, LASRERA Law 2022 empowers the agency to investigate petitions and complaints from members of the public to protect and promote sanity as well as boost further investors’ confidence both at home and foreign investments for the sector in Lagos State.
The CEO/MD of the real estate company, Dr. Bamidele Onalaja, affirmed that Mr. Kayode Oladipo (complainant) subscribed for 20 plots of land from RevolutionPlus Property Limited at Dallas Court, Lekki and Royalty Gardens, Ajah, in Lagos State.
Dr. Onalaja explained that two out of the original 20 plots were fully paid for by the client, while the necessary documentation has been completed and handed over to him. He noted that the remaining 18 plots of land have not been fully paid by Mr. Kayode Oladipo as he defied the payment agreement on the contract.
He also said that any property not fully paid for with its associated costs will not be processed based on contract conditions because, in case of non-compliance, the company policy requires the relocation of such subscribers to another site upon completion of payment or refund of the deposited sum less 40% of the amount paid.
Dr. Onalaja noted that having defaulted in his payment pattern, RevolutionPlus Property Limited relocated him to another land site at Amazon Estate, Epe, which he declined. At the same time, the option of refunding the sum advanced was also rejected by Mr. Kayode Oladipo, the complainant.
He said the company had finalised the allocation of five plots to Mr. Kayode Oladipo at Amazon Estate based on the payment made with necessary documents forwarded to him.
The CEO of RevolutionPlus Property Limited also added that Mr. Kayode Oladipo did not make a payment of N40,000,000.00 to the company as claimed in the viral video, urging members of the public to disregard his claims as untrue and misleading.
Meanwhile, in the course of the committee’s investigation, Mr. Kayode Oladipo who was contacted on the phone, maintained that he paid the deposit sum of N18,606,000.00 to RevolutionPlus Property Limited in 2017. He also said along the line, that he lost his job and couldn’t continue with the payment as he initially agreed.
He confirmed that he declined the option of relocation to Amazon Estate, Epe in Lagos State, and wants the State Government to compel RevolutionPlus Property Limited to allocate his subscribed plots of land to him.
The Investigation Committee explained to Mr. Kayode Oladipo that having defaulted in his payment arrangement, the real estate company has the right to offer the option of relocation to another site equivalent to money paid or the option of a refund of the amount paid less 40% as stipulated in the agreed contract of sales by both parties.
Blacktalker reports that after the deliberations by the investigation team, Mr. Kayode Oladipo (Complainant) agreed to accept the allocation of five plots of land at Amazon Estate, Epe of Lagos State which is equivalent to the present value of his payment.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has scheduled a free Mock Examination for all the prospective candidates for the first-ever Computer-Based WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2024- First Series which starts on Wednesday, 31st January, 2024.
In a statement signed by acting Head of Public Affairs, WAEC, Moyosola Adesina, the Council said the mock examination will hold on the 23rd and 24th of January, 2024.
“Candidates are expected to log on to the mockcbt.waec.org.ng portal from their mobile phones or personal computers to take the examination.
The mock examination portal will be accessible all day, for the two days.
Candidates would be allowed to access the mock examination page a second time if the first attempt fails”.
According to WAEC, information containing login details of registered candidates will be sent to their respective email addresses and phone numbers as soon as registration closes.
“Also, a link to the tutorial video on how to use the examination portal will be made available on all our social media platforms.
WAEC wishes all candidates for the examination success and a wonderful experience”.
The Lagos State University, LASU has announced that all admitted full-time undergraduate students of Stream 1 and Stream 2 in the *2023/2024 academic session who have completed their LACACA operations can now access their matriculation numbers.
In statement issued by the University’s management, the students can do so by printing four (4) copies of their Admission Clearance Certificate from the LACACA operations portal and submit a copy each at the Admissions Office, Faculty Office and Departmental Office.
They can also log on the website of LASU: www.lasu.edu.ng; point to the ‘STUDENT’ tab and click on ‘CHECK MATRIC NUMBER’.
On the displayed page, the statement urge students to enter their “JAMB REGISTRATION NUMBER” and thereafter click on “SUBMIT”to view their Matriculation Number.
Lagos State Government on Sunday announced a ban on the usage and distribution of Styrofoam and other single use plastics in the State with immediate effect.
This was announced by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab in a statement he personally signed.
According to Wahab, the decision was reached following the menace which the single use plastics especially the non-biogradeable Styrofoam was causing on the environment.
He added that most drainage channels in the state are daily clogged up by Styrofoam through its indiscriminate distribution and usage despite the regular cleaning and evacuation of the drains with humongous amounts.
He reiterated that the larger chunk of litterings across major roads and markets which LAWMA contends with daily is made up of styro foams.
The Commissioner noted that the State Government cannot fold its hands and watch the continued desecration of its environment especially for a coastal city.
Mr Wahab has subsequently directed the State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Kick Against Indiscipline to immediately commence the implementation of the ban.
He asked two agencies to clamp down on all the production companies and distribution outlets for Styrofoam in the state to prevent further distribution.
Mr Wahab explained that the State took the present action, relying on several enabling laws and regulations such as the National Environmental (Sanitation and Waste Control) Regulation 2009 which was established pursuant to NESREA Act that prohibited and specifically ban single use plastic in the country but has not been enforced.
Other laws, according to Wahab, include the 2017 State Environmental Management and Protection Law which states under section 56(I) (y) “prevent, stop or discontinue any activity or omission, which is likely to cause harm or has caused harm to human health or the environment.
The Commissioner advised producers, distributors, and end-users of these styrofoam packs to take the ban seriously and find alternatives or risk heavy fines, and other penalties including sealing of their premises.
He warned that they could also be made to bear the costs of the daily cleanup of their products from our roads and drainage channels which runs into tens of millions of naira daily.
“Our state cannot be held hostage to the economic interests of a few wealthy business owners compared to the millions of Lagosians suffering the consequences of indiscriminate dumping of single use plastics and other types of waste”, he stated.
According to Wahab, the well known consequences include climate change, flooding, and diseases like cholera.
He adviced Consumers and residents to boycott styrofoam packs and single use plastics while imbibing the practice of using reusable food containers and water bottles for their food and drinks.
“The convenience of single use plastic comes at a huge cost to the society. We must all make small sacrifices for our collective well-being”, Wahab pleaded.
To engender a cordial working relationship among principal officials at the Local Government level, critical stakeholders in local government administration across the 57 LGAs and LCDAs in Lagos State have gathered to brainstorm and identify gaps hindering effective governance at the grassroots.
These top government officials comprise of the Chairman Local Government Service Commission, Commissioners representing the five IBILE zones across the State, Permanent Secretaries of Local Government Service Commission and Local Government Establishment and Training Office, Council Managers, Council Treasurers, Human Resource Administrators of 57 Unified Local Government Areas LCDA and officials of the Local Government Service Commission among others.
Speaking at the retreat organized by the Lagos State Local Government Service Commission, the Chairman of the Commission, Hon. Kamal Bayewu affirmed that all public servants have vital roles to play in upholding the principles of ethical governance.
He informed that the theme of the Retreat: “Organizational Behavior in the Public Sector: Ethical Governance and Brand Carriage in Administration”,underscores the pivotal role that this Commission plays in fostering a culture of ethical governance and upholding the standards of our administration.
Hon. Bayewu who was a former local government Chairman of Ajeromi Ifelodun, emphasized the need for the actions and decisions of government officials to be guided by integrity, transparency, and accountability.
According to him, by adhering to ethical standards in governance, local government officials will not only build trust with the public but will also be contributing to the overall development and progress of Lagos State.
In his words: “It is important for us to know that we all are major contributors to how our employer, the Lagos State Government is perceived by members of the public either directly or indirectly.
“By embracing a customer-centric approach in all our dealings, we can enhance the overall experience of the public and reinforce our commitment to quality service delivery.”
He reiterated that the whole essence of the retreat is “to let us appreciate the need for continuous enhancement of our knowledge and skills. The world is evolving rapidly, and as public servants, we must keep pace with the changing dynamics.
“We must always embrace opportunities for professional development, training, and capacity building. By staying updated and adaptable, we can better serve the public and contribute to the growth and development of our State.”
He implored participants at this Retreat to ensure that their actions are consistently reinforcing the trust the public places in their care, just as he expresses the hope that the retreat will be a catalyst for positive change and will ignite a renewed sense of purpose and dedication to duties.
The Permanent Secretary Local Government Service Commission, Mrs Abosede George while appreciating participants for their presence and contributions at the event, implored them not to relent in their efforts to work towards achieving the THEMES PLUS agenda of the present administration.
She said all hands must be on deck to deliver good and quality governance to Lagosians at the grassroots, stressing that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration believes in the capacity development of employees of the State including local government workers.
On his part, the Chairman of Conference 57 who is also the Chairman of Bariga LCDA, Hon Kolade Alabi, described the initiative of bringing the decision-makers at the local government level together as ingenious and proof that the current leadership of the Local Government Service Commission values inclusivity.
While saying that the retreat should be an annual gathering at the beginning of every year, Hon. Alabi maintained that such a gathering will assist in unlocking some bottlenecks in local government administration and will also reduce conflict or interest arising from inadequate knowledge of how local government works.
He used the occasion of the Retreat to plead for a “bottom-up” approach to governance where local government areas will be fully involved in every decision of government from the federal to the State government levels.
He said: “Our local government system has the best hands of knowledgeable individuals. The government at the grassroots has the capacity and capability to turn things around hence the need for us to continue to develop and build the capacities of these officers through conferences and workshops like this because the future of this country lies in effective local government administration.”
…Scores Killed In Three Boat Accidents In 2024 Due To Regulatory Failure
A Lagos indigenous advocate and human rights activist, Yakubu Eleto ESQ, has called on the National Assembly to review the Act establishing the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to allow states to control their inland waterways.
In a statement on Tuesday, Eleto said it is unfortunate that Nigerians continue to die in hundreds every month in unavoidable mishaps because of the failure of NIWA to efficiently regulate the activities of boat operators and enforce safety standards across jetties in the country.
The lawyer said despite the recent Supreme Court ruling giving NIWA exclusive control of the waterways in Nigeria, the Authority has failed woefully to be alive to its responsibility, which is a result of a capacity problem.
According to the advocate, in the first two weeks of January 2024, three accidents have been reported in the country’s inland waterways with scores killed due to the inefficiency of NIWA.
The most recent accident occurred on January 15, 2024, when a boat carrying 100 people in Niger State capsized with several dead casualties unknown.
Also, on January 8, 2024, 11 people died when two wooden fishing boats were travelling capsized in Bonny Rivers in Rivers State with five of the victims being members of the same family.
Similarly, between January 4 and 5, 2024, eight persons were confirmed dead in a boat accident that occurred in River Niger around Mmiata Anam in Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Eleto said, “This is aside from the thousands who lost their lives in the last five years. Unfortunately, these fatalities have been attributed to overloading, careless driving, poor maintenance of boats, and non-usage of life jackets, all of which are failures of regulatory compliance that were not enforced by NIWA.
“It is unthinkable that two weeks into 2024, scores of Nigerians have been killed due to the negligence and incompetence of NIWA. It is more troubling because we are yet to enter the rainy season. If things are not quickly arrested, the casualties in the rainy season will be worse. But God forbid.
“The current National Assembly led by Senator Godswill Akpabio and Hon Tajudeen Abbas will save thousands of Nigerians from early graves by reviewing the NIWA Act in line with the provisions on the concurrent legislative list which gives the Federal Government and State Governments’ shared regulatory authority over areas like the waterways.
“Reviewing the NIWA Act will be a life-saver to many Nigerians as the move will give at least 30 coastal states including the Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA to regulate and control their waterways to forestall avoidable deaths through strict compliance with standard operating procedures, enforcement of the use of life jackets, and recruitment of water guards to get the job done as it is done in Lagos through LASWA.
“If it can be done in the area of tax collection where both federal and states are allowed jurisdiction, why not in the area of waterways to guarantee the safety of lives and encourage water transportation?”
Nigeria has boosted its credibility as one of the favourites to lift this year’s African Cup of Nations following a 1-0 win over the host nation Cote D Ivoire.
Defender William Troost-Ekong gave the Nigerian team a 1-0 lead from the penalty spot in the 55th minute after striker Victor Osimhen was bundled by Ivorian defenders in the penalty box
The Super Eagles have matched the firepower of the host country in the game today which was a contrasting performance from the one against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.
Before the goal, both teams had their chances, with the Nigerian team being the most wasteful in front of goal.
Following a drab performance against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday, Nigerian fans feared the Eagles might not make it past the group stages. Still, the display against the Elephants today has again raised hopes for a solid outing in Ivory Coast.
Nigeria’s giant real estate company, Adron Homes and Properties, has expressed solidarity and salutes the Nigerian Armed Forces on the occasion of the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
In a press statement e-signed and released by Adron Homes’ Director of Public Affairs, Michael Oyadele stated that, “On this solemn occasion of Armed Forces Remembrance Day,We All At Adron Homes extends our heartfelt gratitude and deep respect to the brave men and women of the Nigerian Armed Forces.”
“Their unwavering dedication, sacrifice, and valor in defending our nation have not gone unnoticed. As we reflect on this day, let us remember and honor the heroes who have paid the ultimate price for the peace and security we all enjoy today.”
“Adron Homes stands in solidarity with the Armed Forces, acknowledging the sacrifices made to protect our great nation. We are inspired by their courage, commitment, and selflessness.”
“To the families of the fallen heroes, we offer our sincere condolences and support. Your loved ones’ legacy will forever live on in the hearts of our grateful nation.”
“As we celebrate Armed Forces Remembrance Day, let us unite in appreciation for the men and women who continue to safeguard our peace and freedom. May their sacrifices serve as a reminder of the collective responsibility we share in building a prosperous and secure future for Nigeria.”
“Thank you to the Nigerian Armed Forces for your service, sacrifice, and resilience. Adron Homes proudly salutes you on this important day,” the statement reads.
Happy Remembrance Day.
From All Of Us At Adron Homes
Adron Homes – Building Cities, Communities And Homes.
The Dominican University, Samonda, Ibadan has unveiled the Academic Chair of Philosophy of African Architectural Aesthetics dedicated to renowned architect Demas Nwoko.
The occasion celebrated Nwoko’s remarkable contribution to the field of architecture, particularly his design of the historic Dominican Chapel, which has stood strong for the past 50 years and has now become a popular tourist and pilgrim destination.
This prestigious chair aims to promote the study and exploration of African architectural aesthetics, ensuring its preservation and further development.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field, Nwoko was presented with awards and an honorary certificate of recognition of the masterpiece; The Dominican Chapel, by the University Registrar, Rev. Fr. Samuel Onyiba, OP, and the Superior of the Dominican Community, Very Rev. Fr. Paul Akpomie, OP, respectively.
In his remarks, Pa Nwoko believed that the service he rendered throughout his career was predestined by God. Reflecting on his life journey, he shared how he initially veered away from architecture and pursued a career in fine art, but a life-altering train accident during one of his travels brought him back to his true calling.
As he delivered his speech, Demas proudly boasted about his unwavering dedication to the profession. Despite his numerous accomplishments, he emphasized that he remains passionate and driven, constantly seeking new challenges.
”I can assure you that I am not finished yet’ he said. His tireless work ethic and unmatched expertise have enabled him to continue attracting job opportunities like never before.
Nwoko expressed his gratitude to Dominican University for the thoughtful honor bestowed.
He also expressed his hope that the Chair would eventually transform into a school of art And Architecture, which he would be actively engaged in by being one of those that would constantly be presenting lectures on a weekly or monthly basis.
The unveiling of the Demas Nwoko Chair of Philosophy of African Architectural Aesthetics served as a testament to Demas Nwoko’s enduring legacy and his profound impact on the world of art and architecture which also marks a significant milestone in the recognition and appreciation of African architectural aesthetics, ensuring its preservation and continued growth for generations to come.
The event concluded with a reception, where attendees had the opportunity to engage in further discussions and social networking, followed by a tour of the iconic Dominican Chapel.
