Epe-City News Blog

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has successfully contained the fire that broke out at Ebute Ero Market, near the Police Station adjacent to Carter Bridge, Lagos Island, in the early hours of today, Saturday, November 30, 2024. The fire, which raged overnight, was prevented from spreading beyond its point of origin as a result of the swift response of Lagos firefighters from the Ebute Elefun, Dolphin, Sari-Iganmu, and Alausa stations. Their effective management of the situation minimized further damage. While the fire has been extinguished, it resulted in the loss of several lock-up shops within the bungalow structures that trade in various tools and kitchenwares. As the operation winds down with mop-up exercise, an enumeration is ongoing to determine the number of shops affected and the estimated value of the losses incurred. The investigation to uncover the exact cause of the fire is also being carried out. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported from the incident. Marga...

  Chaos erupted in Abuja’s Kuchibiyi community in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory when a native doctor, Ismail Usman, accidentally shot himself in the stomach while testing the efficacy of a self-proclaimed “bulletproof” charm. According to local accounts, Usman, known for preparing traditional herbs and charms, attempted to demonstrate the potency of his charm by firing a homemade gun at himself on Thursday. The charm, however, failed, leaving him with severe injuries. A resident of the area, Samson Ayuba, explained the sequence of events: “Usman is a native doctor who creates concoctions and traditional remedies. On Thursday, he decided to test a bulletproof charm he had made. Unfortunately, the charm failed, and he ended up shooting himself.” The incident was confirmed by SP Adeh Josephine, spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Police Command. She disclosed that Usman was initially rushed to Kubwa General Hospital for emergency care and later tra...

… State clamps down on noise pollution, street trading; waste-to-wealth initiatives launched Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, announced intensified enforcement of environmental laws, including actions against noise pollution and illegal street trading.  Several churches and mosques have been sealed for violating noise regulations, reflecting the state’s commitment to maintaining public order. With Lagos hosting 10% of Nigeria’s population on a limited landmass, the city faces immense pressure on its infrastructure, Wahab explained.  The government manages over 13,000 tons of municipal solid waste daily and is promoting private sector participation to enhance waste management, though residents’ refusal to pay for collection hampers progress. Innovative waste-to-wealth agreements and advocacy campaigns aim to prevent improper disposal and decommission major landfills.  Additionally, Wahab highlighted infrastructure improvements re...

As part of preparation towards the successful Year 2025 Promotion Exercise, the Lagos State Civil Service Commission (CSC), recently held a stakeholder meeting with the Executive Members of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASSCSN). Addressing the Union Executive Members, the Permanent Secretary, CSC, Mr. Akinbode Obadina, noted that the essence of the meeting was to engage and update the Association on the Commission’s plans and arrangement for the commencement of Year 2025 Promotion Exercise. Obadina informed that as part of a strategy towards the actualization of the alignment of 1st January Notional and Financial dates for eligible and successful officers in the Year 2025 Promotion Exercise, the Commission would be kick-starting the Promotion Exercise early in January, 2025. He recalled that the Commission’s efforts in ensuring that Officers who participated in the Year 2024 Promotion Exercise got the 1st January Notional date and 1st April as their Financial dat...

  Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, will officially present the Year 2025 Appropriation Bill to the Lagos State House of Assembly today, Thursday, November 21, 2024. The presentation, scheduled for 12 noon, underscores the administration’s commitment to sustaining the momentum of growth and development in the state. This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso. According to the statement, the proposed budget, tagged “Budget of Sustainability”, serves as a strategic framework for continuity, resilience and prosperity. It aims to consolidate on the achievements of previous fiscal plans while addressing emerging socio-economic challenges. The budget is structured around five critical pillars that align with the administration’s THEMES+ Agenda which include Infrastructure Sustainability – ensuring the maintenance and expansion of world-class infrastructure, Economic Diversification – fosteri...

The Ifelodun Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos, under the leadership of Mayor Olufemi Akanbi Okeowo, is set to roll out a first-of-its-kind Mega Empowerment and Food Palliative Program designed to uplift the lives of residents and support economic growth within the community. This monumental event is scheduled as follows: *Venue: Nigerian Army Signal Barracks, Mile 2, Lagos* *Date: Wednesday, 27th November 2024* *Time: 10:00 AM* The program will feature the distribution of an extensive list of empowerment items, food relief packages, and direct cash support. The initiative reflects the administration’s commitment to improving living standards and fostering economic empowerment. Empowerment Items to Be Distributed:  1. Mini Buses (Korope)  2. Tricycles (Keke Marwa)  3. Baking Flour  4. Blood Pressure Monitors  5. Cattle Feeds  6. Sewing Machines  7. Cover Button Machines  8. Deep Freezers  9. Fish Feeds  10. Gel Nail Dryers ...

By: Olanrewaju-Smart Wasiu A familiar atmosphere of a legislative hearing beckons as I took my seat as the U.S Federal Trade Commission's representative appearing before the Senate Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law to present FTC’s stance on regulation on Artificial Intelligence and Open Innovation. Professor Latanya Sweeney's DPI 640 simulation took me back to my days as Chief of Staff in Nigeria's House of Representatives, though this time in a different role and context. The preparation was thorough – we had studied the U.S Senate procedural guide, analyzed video clips of past hearings, and examined recent AI Insight Forums convened by Majority Leader, Senator Chuck Schumer. Now faced Chairman Kevin Wren and Caroline Kracunas acting as the second Senator. My position paper advocated strongly for open innovation in AI development, a stance that put me in direct debate with OpenAI's representative. Drawing from the FTC's statutory mandate as stipulat...

Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa, has reversed his predecessor’s policy of 18 years as entry age for University admission. The policy initiated by Professor Tahir Mamman, former Minister of Edication, had generated controversy. But while briefing journalists upon assumption of office, on Tuesday, Alausa said the policy was detrimental to the federal government’s efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children in the country. He said it is also not sustainable for the education sector, explaining that the 16-year age limit would be maintained and exceptions would be granted for “gifted children”.

IGP Orders Thorough Investigation into Possible Security Threats, Networking The Nigeria Police Force has arrested 130 suspects comprising 113 foreign nationals (87 males and 26 females), primarily of Chinese and Malaysian origin, and their 17 Nigerian collaborators (4 males and 13 females) for their alleged involvement in high-level cybercrimes, hacking, and activities that threaten national security. This strategic operation was conducted through a coordinated raid on a building at the Next Cash and Carry area of Jahi, Abuja, where the suspects were reportedly using computers and other sophisticated devices to facilitate criminal activities.  The operation which was led by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police for Zone 7 Headquarters, Abuja, AIG Benneth Igweh, on Saturday, 2nd November 2024, comprised officers of the Nigeria Police Force Zone 7 Command Abuja and the National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC). We are  investigating the matter and scientifically analysing the ...