Oduduwa News

The Federal Government, in collaboration with the Lagos State Government, has commenced the payment of Conditional Cash Transfer to another set of beneficiaries in Apapa area of the State for the months of July and August 2020.

Speaking at the second edition of the disbursement of the Cash Transfer to the beneficiaries in Apapa Local Government Area of the State on Thursday, the Honourable Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke, acknowledged the efforts of the Federal Government for extending the gesture to Lagos State and its consistency in making the monthly payment accessible to indigent Lagosians.

Arobieke noted that the process of enrolment of about 6,810 households captured by the State Cash Transfer Office (SCTO) was approved by the Governor and commenced in April to fast-track the conditional cash transfer to beneficiary households in order to alleviate the sufferings of the poor and vulnerable.

While noting that the beneficiaries were validated based on the completion of the enrolment exercise and issued identification cards by the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO), the Commissioner disclosed that the payment process would be conducted in the 30 wards of the six targeted Local Government Area, namely Apapa, Amuwo Odofin, Epe, Ibeju-Lekki, Badagry and Lagos Island Local Government Areas.

She reiterated that the sum of N10,000 for the months of July and August 2020 will be paid to each beneficiary household, through the designated household caregiver, who will, in turn, utilise the money for the better living of the household.

“I will like to appeal to Lagosians that this is a continuous exercise and in case you are yet to be captured in this batch, there are more opportunities that would be cascaded to the rest of the Local Government Areas in the State”, Arobieke assured.

In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of Apapa Local Government Area, Mr. Owolabi Elijah Adele, expressed gratitude to both the Federal and Lagos State Governments for extending the gesture to the local level and for elevating the standard of living of indigent residents in the council area.

Recall that the Household Uplifting Programme (HUP), otherwise known as Conditional Cash Transfer, an initiative of the Federal Government geared towards the distribution of resources to the vulnerable population including the aged and physically-challenged was officially flagged off at Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of the State a few months ago.

The Environmental Task Force in Oyo State has arrested 13 people who violated environmental laws in the State during the last sanitation exercise.

The offenders were caught at Gate, Mokola, Adamasingba, and Arometa axis in Ibadan and were tried by the tribunal at the environment task force office, according to the State’s environmental law.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Dr Bashir Olanrewaju, while speaking with journalists restated the State government’s stance of zero tolerance for filth, adding that the government would not relent in its effort to maintain a clean and healthy society.

He enjoined the people of Oyo State to avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse and register with State-accredited refuse collectors to dispose their waste and cooperate with government in ensuring a cleaner and hygienic society.

The Chairman of the state Environmental Task Force, ACP Francis Ojomo said the team was able to arrest two people, a male and a female for interrogation and a lead to arrest other culprits.

Ojomo said Molete was a volatile area with various joints where Indian hemp and other hard drugs were peddled but assured the general public that those perpetrating evil acts at the area would soon be brought to book.

He said the injured persons have been admitted at an undisclosed hospital and were responding to treatment.

The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) and the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu will tomorrow, Friday, 18th September 2020, commission the MSMEs Fashion Shared Facility, known as “Eko MSMEs Fashion Hub-1”, at No. 5 Ogunsiji Street, off Alade Market, Allen Avenue, Ikeja in Lagos.

The Honourable Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Dr. (Mrs.) Lola Akande, who disclosed this today at a press conference held in Alausa, Ikeja, also said that the 5th edition of the Lagos State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Exclusive Fair with the theme, “MSMEs in the time of COVID-19: Survival Strategies to Beat the Odds”, will hold from 22nd to 27th September, 2020, at the Blue Roof, LTV, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos.

She explained that the MSMEs Fashion Shared Facility is an initiative of the Sanwo-Olu administration designed to promote ‘Made-in-Lagos’ brand through job creation, stressing that the project is also geared towards boosting the IGR of the State, through the expected revenue from the fashion hub.

According to her, Vice President Osinbajo will perform the commissioning of the edifice via zoom teleconference, while the Lagos State Governor would cut the tape at the venue in line with COVID-19 protocols of physical distancing.

She maintained that the current administration has left no stone unturned in the development and continuous growth of the MSME sector in Lagos State, adding that the fashion industry, also regarded as the creative industry in Nigeria, is almost completely driven by MSMEs and is believed to be one of the most promising alternatives to the nation’s dwindling oil fortunes.

In her words: “This Centre, which is the first phase of the shared MSME Fashion facility, has been equipped with state-of-the-art machinery to afford MSMEs in the fashion space the opportunity to utilise the infrastructure for a token, thereby enhancing productivity and apparel quality that can compete favourably with their counterparts around the world”.

Noting that the hub is also for the retail of various types of ready-to-wear clothes and accessories as well as a centre tor capacity building and continuous skilling of those in the fashion industry, Akande noted that the available vibrant pool of local talents in the fashion sector has earned Lagos State the reputation of the ‘Fashion Capital of Africa’.

On the EKO MSME Exclusive Fair, the Commissioner explained that the event will provide access to free stalls for entrepreneurs in the State to showcase their products and improve sales as well as network for new contacts.

“As we are aware that new technologies are springing up faster than we can create and service, innovations are taking place at lightning speed. It is, therefore, imperative that this administration develops, designs and implements services and policies that would benefit MSMEs in the State”, Dr. Akande asserted.

She, however, enjoined all stakeholders in the fashion industry to make maximum use of the facility in order to enjoy its benefits.

The Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola has on Thursday flagged-off the groundbreaking of Osun Ethanol Bio-Refinery Factory, located in Ayekale, Boripe Local Government Area of our State.

In his statement while performing the groundbreaking, Oyetola said the project, coming amid the harsh economic realities occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic, was harvested from the Economic and Investment Summit held last year.

The governor was quoted as saying, “this Ethanol Bio Refinery project sits on over 21 hectares of land conceded to it as equity.

“When completed and becomes fully operational, the Osun Ethanol Bio-Refinery Factory is estimated to attract about $70m to the State and generate 10,000 jobs. The product, ethanol, is one of the safe energy sources the world is turning to as a measure of preventing global warming.

“Today’s flag-off is an indication that our strategy for the delivery of economic prosperity has begun to yield good returns and a sign of the many good things to come. We have no doubt that Osun Ethanol Bio-Refinery Factory will open a window of investment opportunities for our State.

“I congratulate the Kabiyesi and the people of Ayekale for the citing of this factory in their community. I appreciate them for welcoming the project with open arms, and I want assure our people that our admin. is poised to deliver the benefits of democracy to all and sundry in Osun.

‘We are committed to go the whole hog to collaborate with our partners and private investors to achieve our dream of making Osun the industrial hub of the South West. Our readiness to achieve this dream is confirmed by the series of projects commissioning we embarked on in the last two weeks across the State.

“I urge all well-meaning sons, daughters and lovers of Osun to establish industries and facilitate projects for the development of the State. I also enjoin all our people to continue to relate with each other in peace so that economic activities will continue to thrive in our State”.

Organised Labour has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if the Federal Government refuses to reverse the recent increases in fuel and electricity tariff.

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Ayuba Wabba while making the announcement on Wednesday in Abuja said the NLC’s central working committee (CWC) has resolved to issue a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to reverse the increase.

He said workers and Nigerians are disappointed that the government decided to increase both the price of fuel and electricity tariff at a time “other countries across the world are giving palliatives to their citizens to cushion the effect of COVID-19.”

“NLC central committee will also mobilise its members, civic society allies, and other social partners to resist this policy because it has driven many into poverty,” Wabba added.

The two weeks ultimatum will end on September 28.

Earlier last week, the National Association of Nigerian Students NANS had also given a 2-week ultimatum to Federal Government to reverse the hike in fuel price and electricity tariff and that failure to do so, Nigerian students shall be embarking on nationwide protest after the ultimatum lapses.