By Sodiq Adelakun

The Lagos State Office of Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement has provided financial assistance worth N1 billion to 1,681 vulnerable residents, aimed at alleviating economic hardship.

According to Dr. Tajudeen Afolabi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Office of Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement, this financial support is a demonstration of the state government’s commitment to the welfare of its citizens.

Speaking on Monday during the ongoing ministerial press briefing to mark the second term in office of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Dr. Afolabi also announced that the Governor plans to revive the school feeding programme for primary school pupils before the end of the year.

He said the move is expected to benefit thousands of pupils across the state, providing them with a nutritious meal during school hours.

According to him, “Sanwo-Olu Listens’ financial assistance to struggling Lagosians is a social welfare programme designed to provide financial assistance to vulnerable citizens in Lagos State has been sustained for five consecutive years.

“It is a fact that Lagos is not immune from the ever-increasing poverty rate in Nigeria, hence the government of Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, cognisance of this unpalatable trend has therefore taken necessary steps in providing support to help reduce poverty.

“During the period under review, 1,681 vulnerable residents of Lagos State were assisted in one way or the other.”

He added that 1,074 individuals are still awaiting this benefit, which will be addressed within the next two weeks.

“So far, we have spent N1 billion on financial assistance since the program began. Once we complete the distribution to the remaining beneficiaries, we will provide the total sum expended.”

Regarding the school feeding program for primary school pupils, the Commissioner stated, “Once we finalise all the details, we will provide an update. There are many steps involved, including determining the number of pupils.”

“By the end of the year, we will disclose the total amount spent on the school feeding program.”

He also mentioned that to ensure proper engagement and feedback, the state government launched the Lagos Citizens Gate App in April 2023.

By Sodiq Adelakun

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced that up to 1.2 million students in federal tertiary institutions will be eligible for student loans in the program’s initial phase.

This was revealed on Monday by the Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, ahead of the formal launch of the application portal on Friday.

According to Sawyerr, students from federal institutions that have completed uploading their data will be able to apply for the loan in this first phase, which begins on May 24.

The application process has been streamlined to ensure ease of access for all qualified students in these institutions.

The NELFUND program is a key part of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at providing financial support to needy students. The loan will cover obligatory fees and stipends, enabling students to pursue their academic goals without worrying about the financial burden.

 He also added that the Fund will pay 100 percent of institutional fees directly to the institutions of learning account while also providing stipends to the students monthly based on when school is in session.

He stressed the importance of some of the key features of the student loan including, No physical contact between the loan applicant and NELFUND, a user-friendly Loan Application portal, comprehensive support where applicants can access online support to assist and flexible repayment plans.

According to him, “We encourage all students in federal institutions to take advantage of this opportunity to secure the required financial assistance for their education. Applicants must submit their applications as early as possible to ensure timely processing.”

By Sodiq Adelakun

The Lagos State Government has taken unwavering action against event centres and social facilities that violate safety regulations, sealing over 840 of them in the last one year.

This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Gbenga Oyerinde during the ongoing Ministerial Press Briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Center on Monday.

According to him, the Lagos State Safety Commission has carried out enforcement actions at various facilities, including event centres, clubs, lounges, hotels, and construction sites, to ensure compliance with safety standards.

Notable examples of sealed facilities include the Lekki Conservation Centre and Quilox.

In addition, the Commission has inspected over 7,819 facilities to ensure safety, issuing fire safety compliance certificates to 5,220 of them.

It was gathered that the Commission has carried out at least 365 advocacy initiatives to promote environmental safety.

In his words, “Our ministry in working in line with the THEMES Plus developmental Agenda of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to mitigate risks and protect life and property of government and citizens of Lagos’ State, have sealed eight hundred and forty event centres and social facilities for safety violations and non-compliance of extant laws.”

The Commissioner also stated that fire safety officers from the States Emergency and Fire Rescue body successfully rescued 376 victims, preserving an estimated property worth of N152.22 billion, albeit with a regrettable loss of 82 casualties and N25.37 billion in property.

He also revealed that additional fire stations were added in Ibeju Lekki, Ifako Ijaiye among other locations across the state.

“In line with efforts to bolster infrastructure, three new fire stations are nearing completion in Ijegun-Egba, Satellite Town, and Ijede, while an ultramodern workshop at the Alausa headquarters is nearly finished to cater to the agency’s fleet maintenance needs.

“Additionally, land spaces have been identified for the development of additional fire stations in Ibeju, Lekki and Ifako Ijaiye,” he reiterated.

He added that Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service had prioritised fire mitigation and Emergency Response Strategies

He also said “the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service is sustaining its focus on enhancing fire mitigation and emergency response strategies, aligning with the administration’s THEMES Plus Agenda. Under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, a collective effort was emphasised to address the challenges posed by fire incidents effectively.

“Key statistics from the year’s emergency calls revealed a total of 2,537 incidents, including 1,627 fire calls, 191 rescue calls, 93 salvage calls, and 4 explosions, alongside 607 false alarms.

“This highlighted the critical need for increased awareness of fire safety measures to combat the impact of negligence and non-compliance with safety codes,” he stated.

The Commissioner also highlighted the collaborative efforts with the Ministry of the Environment to improve the NYSC Temporary Orientation Camp (Youth Hostel) at Iyana-Ipaja.

Furthermore, he also revealed that the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) responded to a total of 1,906 incidents between January 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024, comprising 1,461 incidents in 2023 and 445 incidents in the first quarter of 2024.