Hello Dear Reader,
I don’t know about you but it does seem like the 30 days of April came and went in just two days! That was so fast! What is even more interesting is the fact that it is the same month in which Christians ended the Lenten Season and celebrated Easter and Muslims began the fasting for the holy month of Ramadan. Now to be honest, I look forward to the end of Ramadan too where Muslim faithfuls troop to praying grounds in their numbers to go offer Eid prayers to Allah. With Eid outfits of different colours on display, what a pleasant sight it will be.
Having said all of these, it can be understood that the adequate practice of one’s faith is highly advantageous in any society. Religion can be more or less a lubricant in the giant wheel of society. It is a tool which contributes to the smooth running of human affairs.
The Lent and the month of Ramadan are particularly the time when believers look to their objects of faith for intimate guidance to run the course of life. It is a refreshing period meant to rid hearts and minds of the fallible, defective, weak, and imperfect human nature. The effect of this in the long run, is creating a semblance of a sane society, one that isn’t solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.
But you know what, the most interesting part of these is the celebrations that come after fasting. I know I’m not alone in this. We love the feasting that follows the Lenten Season, where families exchange food and smiles. Same goes for Eid-El-Fitr. Although it is only meant to mark the end of Ramadan, Eid-El-Fitr is not void of some food sharing. I can’t wait for that time to come. My muslim friends sure owe me a lot.
As we celebrate these, yabacity.com is always here to celebrate with you. We wish you a pleasant month of May.
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Here are the highlighted headlines for the month of April:
- COVID-19: Lagos Leads as Nigeria’s Vaccination Figure Crosses 700,000
- Court Bars FG from Blocking SIM Cards not Linked to NIN
- Law Enforcement Officers to Wear Body Cameras in Lagos – Sanwo-Olu
- 2023: INEC Announces Date to Resume Continuous Voter Registration
- Yaba: The Pulse of Lagos Mainland
- Huawei Technologies partners with UNILAG on online education
- Casino Cinema – The Colosseum of Lagos
- LASG resuscitates sanitation competition amongst LGs/LCDAs
- Lagos Mainland rewards elderly, widows, others with cash gifts
- Moving forward, finishing the race with joy
COVID-19: Lagos Leads as Nigeria’s Vaccination Figure Crosses 700,000
About 26 days after Nigeria commenced vaccination of its citizens against the COVID-19 virus, over 700,000 people have received the first dose of the vaccine.
As of Wednesday evening, 718,412 eligible Nigerians have been vaccinated, according to an update by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
Nigeria commenced COVID-19 vaccination in early March, having received 3.94 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine through the COVAX facility.
The vaccination started with healthcare workers who are often at the risk of exposure to infections being the first responders to patients.
The country recently received another 300,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from telecom giant, MTN, as part of the latter’s contribution to Africa.
COVID-19 vaccination has since commenced in all states across the country except for Kogi which is yet to receive doses for the vaccines.
Kogi, which has reported only five cases since the onset of the pandemic, was not supplied with doses of the vaccines.
“This is because their cold store is still under repairs following vandalisation during the EndSARS protest,” the NPHCDA head Faisal Shuaib, said at a briefing.
Court Bars FG from Blocking SIM Cards not Linked to NIN
A Federal High Court in Lagos State has barred the Federal Government from blocking SIM cards not linked to National Identity Numbers (NIN) in April.
The Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy had, through the Nigerian Communications Commission, asked operators to block all SIM cards not linked to NIN by April 9, 2021.
The deadline had caused many Nigerians to gather at offices of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in disregard of COVID-19 protocols.
However, a former second National Vice-President of the NBA and human rights lawyer, Monday Ubani, filed an originating motion and asked the court to stop the Nigerian Communications Commission from disconnecting all SIM Cards not linked to NIN.
Ubani sought four reliefs including an order that the two-week ultimatum is inadequate and will not only cause him hardship but will also infringe on his fundamental right to freedom of speech and right to own property as provided under sections 39(1) and 44(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
He also sought an order of the court to extend the deadline.
Delivering judgment on March 23, 2021, Justice M.A Onyetenu, ordered that the deadline be extended by two months from the day of the judgement.
The court ruled that the ultimatum of April 9, 2021, be halted as the timeline is grossly inadequate and will not only cause severe hardship but will likely infringe on the fundamental rights of Nigerians to freedom of expression as guaranteed by Section 39(1)(2) and Section 44(1) of the 1999 Constitution.
The judge further declared that in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rising cases in Nigeria presently, the deadline given to over 200 million Nigerians to register their SIM cards with NIN, will lead to a rush, thereby resulting in the clustering of Nigerian citizens in a NIN registration centre, subjecting them to the possibility of easily contracting COVID-19.
Law Enforcement Officers to Wear Body Cameras in Lagos – Sanwo-Olu
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has disclosed that law enforcement officers in the State would start wearing body cameras.
Speaking on Tuesday, the Lagos governor stated that plans were already in motion to that effect.
While revealed that law enforcement officers would be trained on the use of the equipment, Sanwo-Olu added that they would be trained by the Lagos state Law Enforcement Training Institute (LETI).
Recall that the general manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Olajide Oduyoye, had back in February said the officers will use cameras to capture traffic violations.
“This year, we are going to be having body cameras on officers to capture incidences because things happen so fast,” he had said.
“You can’t really say let me get my camera. But if you have your body camera on that is recording, then you can capture all sorts of different things that you can use against offenders.
“Those who willfully disobey traffic signs go in the middle of the night to remove those signs. When they are caught, they will say that there were no signs. They go and remove the signs to prove they aren’t aware of the signs. This happens all the time.”
2023: INEC Announces Date to Resume Continuous Voter Registration
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday, announced that the continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise will resume by June 28, 2021.
According to the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu who made the announcement during a press conference in Abuja, the exercise will be done nationwide and will continue till the first quarter of 2022.
He noted that the registration will be done in line with COVID-19 guidelines and protocols.
Yakubu however pointed out that Anambra State will be given priority attention at the moment because of the governorship election coming up in the state.
The electoral body has scheduled the Anambra governorship election for Saturday, 6th November 2021.
“Effective from Monday 28th June 2021, the CVR exercise will commence nationwide and carried out continuously for over a year until the third quarter of 2022,” he said.
“However, emphasis will initially be on Anambra State where more centres will be established in view of the governorship election already scheduled for Saturday, 6th November 2021.
“In order to complete preparations for the governorship election, the CVR exercise in the state will be temporarily suspended in August 2021. This will enable the commission to clean up the data for the state and print the PVCs (permanent voter cards) for registrants.
“As time goes on, the commission will provide more details on the CVR exercise, particularly the innovations that will ensure a safe and stress-free experience for registrants. In doing so, we will fully consult stakeholders. In fact, the first in the series of these consultations will take place after the Easter break.”
The INEC boss called on those who are eligible to vote but have not registered to vote, to take advantage of the voter registration about to resume and get their PVCs so as to be able to fulfil their civic responsibilities.
Yaba: The Pulse of Lagos Mainland
Geographically speaking, Lagos is basically divided into two major parts as far as location is concerned; those who reside on the Island and those who reside on the Mainland. These areas are separated by one of the longest bridges in Africa – the Third Mainland Bridge. When you speak of the mainland part of Lagos, especially in terms of its popularity and being home to most hubs and hotspots, you can hardly ignore Yaba. In fact, it is safe to refer to Yaba as the heartbeat of Lagos Mainland.
Yaba is a cosmopolitan hub for blue chip companies, startups, relaxation spots as well as having the highest concentration of educational institutions in any community in Nigeria. In addition, Yaba is not devoid of the Lagos madness. Major environs and areas in and around the Yaba area include Onipanu, Akoka, CommercialAvenue, HerbertMacaulayWay, Alagomeji, and Tejuosho among others.
Living the Life
As one of the major and most popular neighbourhoods in the Lagos mainland, you cannot be cut short of fun as it houses a lot of restaurants, local bukaterias, clubs, lounges, cinemas, museums and tech hubs.
Who You Would Meet
In this neighbourhood, you can find people of different classes in the society. From tech whiz kids to passionate traders and savvy businesspeople, erudite scholars and academic luminaries to mention a few. In a nutshell, if you have not been to Yaba, you have not been anywhere. This is the place to live, work, learn and basically experience life the Lagos way.
The Real Estate Market
Yaba is strategically located at the heart of the Lagos Mainland. It is also close to the Third Mainland Bridge which links Lagos Island and Lagos Mainland. These facts positively influence the value of properties in the neighbourhood. The beauty about real estate in Yaba is the fact that it is quite affordable. You would not have to spend the ridiculous amount of money that people spend to acquire property on the island or other highbrow areas of the mainland, yet you would get choice property. Talk about peace of mind without necessarily breaking the bank!
Unwinding
From the posh restaurants to the local food spots, you would find them in droves in Yaba. You can watch movies at Ozone Cinemas on Commercial Avenue, eat at White House, Signature or Firewood and party at Road Runners Club. Yaba is a centre hub for technology. The cost of living in this neighbourhood is quite affordable. The Yaba night life is an experience to relish giving you all the vibes one can find in Lagos. Yaba is a one-stop centre for everything and anything you want.
Where to shop
The Tejuosho Ultra Modern Shopping Centre, and the E-centre are places where you can do all your shopping whether conventional or unconventional shopping. In addition, there are many stores where you can make small purchases.
Now, why would you want to work or live anywhere else?
Huawei Technologies partners with UNILAG on online education
Huawei Technologies Co., Nigeria Limited, a Chinese Multinational Technology Company, has offered to partner with the University of Lagos on the delivery of online education.
Representatives of the company, led by the Deputy Managing Director, Enterprise Business Group Nigeria, Mr Ken Zhao Wenjun, paid a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor on Wednesday, April 7, 2021.
Mr. Wenjun, in his opening address, said Huawei has been in Nigeria for over 22 years. He also disclosed that their company has signed agreements with over 95 Academies in Nigerian Universities. He commended UNILAG for fostering a relationship that has stood since 2016 while also appreciating the efforts made by UNILAG Management concerning online education in the midst of Covid pandemic.
In his response, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, said since January 2021, UNILAG has leveraged online technologies to deliver education services (lectures and examinations) to over 50,000 students. He expressed happiness at the blossoming of the cordial relationship that exists between the University of Lagos and the People’s Republic of China, which began during the tenure of former Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rahamon Bello.
He disclosed that the University, in its unrelenting digital drive, has embraced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and have some robots stationed in some strategic places across the institution.
The Vice-Chancellor looks forward to a flourishing partnership between both institutions for the elevation of qualitative education delivery in the country.
Casino Cinema – The Colosseum of Lagos
Today, Lagos is an embodiment of a cosmopolitan culture. It is a cosmopolitan metropolis with a multitude of cultures stemming from its multi-ethnic population. It is also the commercial hub of West Africa and therefore, anything that threatens its security will also threaten the economy of Nigeria and that of the West African region, by extension.
The Casino Cinema, the façade built like the Colosseum in Rome, was a semi-oval amphitheatre in Yaba.
On 6 July, 1967, Nigerian Civil War, also known as Biafra War, officially started. On July 19, 1967, there was a bomb explosion around Casino Cinema in Yaba, Lagos.
According to history, a fuel tanker loaded with fuel and explosives parked just in front of the Casino Cinema, when people were going inside the cinema.
One of the remains of that ruins, Casino Cinema, at Alagomeji was demolished in 2016. Casino Cinema, an iconic edifice of the 1970s/80s, which struggled, but failed to survive poor administration of the 1990s.
Just a few kilometres away from the legendary Kakadu Night Club at Alagomeji, Yaba area, the now-extinct Casino Cinema has been demolished to make way for an apartment building.
LASG resuscitates sanitation competition amongst LGs/LCDAs
… Sets up assessment committee, to commence work in May.
Lagos State Government on Sunday announced the resuscitation of the Environmental Sanitation competition amongst all Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas in the State.
A statement signed by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello, said the competition is being brought back to reawaken the consciousness of every resident within Local Governments and serve as the pivot of the campaign.
He explained that since the programme suffered a setback in 2017 through a court stoppage of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, everyone has let down their guard thus aggravating various environmental issues.
While maintaining that part of the benefits derivable from the resuscitation is bringing about a healthy competition on sanitation and hygiene practices amongst communities, markets and LGs/LCDAs, the Commissioner averred that other inherent benefits include improvement in the environmental conditions of the State, especially on highways, roads and streets, markets, schools and curbing street trading.
Bello said the competition will take input of major actors, such as local government Chairmen, community leaders, traditional rulers, transport unions and market leaders in the communities.
He informed that an assessment committee, which will start work in May, has been constituted with membership drawn from the Environment Ministry, Local Government and Community Affairs and other relevant MDAs to inspect all public utilities. The assessment committee will also inspect the general aesthetics of the scheduled LGs/LCDAs and the commitment of each to environmental management.
The Commissioner listed some of the criteria for the assessment of each LG/LCDA to include culture of bagging of refuse, clean and flowing drains, LAWMA/PSP patronage and vegetal control.
Others are market cleanliness, landscaping and beautification of LG/LCDA Secretariats, control of illegal structures, shanties, black spots, illegal refuse dumps, encroachment on drainage setbacks, street trading, abandoned buildings, land and property.
The assessment is scheduled to round off in November with an award ceremony during which mouth-watering prizes will be presented to the winner and first runners-up LG/LCDA.
Consolation prizes will also be given to the cleanest market, school, environmental sanitation and hygienic motor park/garage amongst others.
Lagos Mainland rewards elderly, widows, others with cash gifts
The Council Chairman, Lagos Mainland Local Government, Hon Mrs. Omolola Essien, yesterday, rewarded senior citizens of the Lagos Mainland with cash gifts.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary, Toheed Dada, the cash gifts were giving to the aged, elderly, widows, widowers and people living with disability who are residents of Lagos Mainland Local Government Areas.
The cash gifts were distributed to senior citizens across the local government’s nine wards.
However, Council Chairman, Mrs. Omolola Essien pledged her commitment to monthly reimbursement of senior citizens across the local government.
She also thanked them for their prayers and supports towards her administration.
Moving forward, finishing the race with joy
In his welcome address in tandem with the Men’s Missionary Union 108th Annual Conference themed, ‘Moving Forward, Finishing the Race with Joy’, the Executive Chairman of Yaba LCDA Hon. (Dr.) Kayode Adejare Omiyale implored participants to acknowledge themselves as blessed children of God by divine inheritance, making reference to the book of Acts 20:32.
He reemphasized the various virtues of Yaba LCDA as home to major higher institutions, religious headquarters, residence to many notable Nigerians which made some streets named after them and also, home to many corporate entities.
“I exhort us all as members of the Christendom not to relent as partners in progress with the Government of the day in navigating the path to salvage the prevailing state of crime and insecurity in the country, let us also join hands in fervent prayers that the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the world will be a thing of the past and all of us will finish well.”
The guest speaker, Pastor Tunde Bakare in his speech enjoined all Christians not to limit their participation in politics to just voting cards collection but further in getting involved in the process of choosing who become party candidate from ward level to the top, saying, “This will enable the country to have the right and godly person at helm of affairs. By inference the country of our dreams will be achieved.”
Present at the event were Vice Chairman Hon. Bolanle Aileru, delegates from various Baptist Church denominations and others.
