Fidelity Bank Supports Improved Maternal Health in Lagos

Leading Financial Institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has donated maternity kits to 30 pregnant women at Mushin Primary Health Centre (PHC), Lagos.

The donation, organized by the Great Minds Inductees Class, was made possible through the Fidelity Helping Hands Program (FHHP), a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative by Fidelity Bank Plc aimed at promoting staff involvement in community development.

Through the FHHP, staff across the bank's business locations identify projects that benefit their immediate community and gather funds to implement them. The bank's management then matches this contribution with an equivalent amount and allocates it for the chosen projects.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, the Divisional Head, Brand and Communications Division, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr Meksley Nwagboh, noted that, “The project was borne out of the need to support pregnant women by providing them with essential materials for a safe delivery.”

Nwagboh noted that, “Maternal mortality remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, with the country accounting for a substantial proportion of global maternal deaths. In fact, a 2023 United Nations report indicate that nearly 28.5% of global maternal deaths occur in Nigeria. This is an alarming statistic and as a bank given to improving the welfare of our host communities, we deemed it fit to support initiatives to address this challenge in the Mushin community with this donation.”

Appreciating the bank’s gesture, the Medical and Health Officer for Mushin Local Government Area, Dr. Kayode Odufuwa, noted that, "This intervention by Fidelity Bank will help reduce maternal mortality and encourage more women from less-privileged backgrounds to register for antenatal care.” 

“On behalf of the Chairman of Mushin LGA, Mr. Emmanuel Bamgboye, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to Fidelity Bank for extending its donation of maternity kits to pregnant women at this center. We appeal for continued collaboration with the Bank to further strengthen healthcare services within the area,” he stated.

On her part, the Apex Nurse and Deputy Director of Nursing Services in Mushin LGA, Mrs. Bolanle Odunlami, poured encomiums on Fidelity Bank for their generosity while noting that, “The donation is a much-needed relief for many mothers who are unable to afford essential delivery kits. Fidelity Bank has truly shown empathy by coming to the aid of our patients, and for that, we are extremely grateful,”.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Mary Olusanya, expressed her heartfelt appreciation for the bank’s support. “I appreciate Fidelity Bank for helping us. Many pregnant women cannot afford these kits, but this donation ensures that we can have safe deliveries and better healthcare,” she said.

Ranked as one of the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank is a full-fledged customer commercial bank with over 8.3 million customers serviced across its 251 business offices in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, as well as on digital banking channels. The bank has won multiple local and international awards, including the Export Finance Bank of the Year at the 2023 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, the Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023, and Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking and Finance Awards; Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023; and Best Domestic Private Bank in Nigeria by the Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2023.

Gas Explosion Rocks Filling Station In Ikeja, Lagos

Gas explosion rocks filling station in Ikeja, Lagos state today August 8. The fire has now been put out by men of the state fire service.

Breaking: Four Rescued Alive As Helicopter Crashes Into Building In Ikeja, Lagos

 

Four rescued alive after an Helicopter crashed and bust into flame into a building in Ikeja, Lagos.

Report says the incident occurred opposite AP fuel station, close to a branch of the United Bank for Africa in the Oba Akran area of the state capital.

It was learnt that the incident occurred around 3.30pm.

According to the National Emergency Management Agency, the operator of the helicopter is not known yet.

“There were two white men and two black men on board. Three craters on the spot created by impacts on the ground,” Ibrahim Farinloye of NEMA said.

Emergency responders were still being awaited at the time of filing this report.

Breaking: Many Trapped As Another 7 Storey Building Collapse In VI, Lagos

 

Six persons are currently trapped under the debris of a collapsed seven-storey building under construction in Victoria Island, Lagos.

 

The building located on Oba Idowu Oniru Street, beside Avi Maria Hospital, Victoria Island Lagos in the early hours on Sunday, September 4, 2022.

The Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed the incident on Sunday morning.

“Upon arrival at the scene of the incident, an uncompleted 7-story building undergoing construction was found to have collapsed. About six people are reported to be trapped under the rubbles of the collapsed structure,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

“The Agency’s heavy-duty equipment excavator will be required for the rescue of the trapped victims. We have activated the Lagos State Response plan. Operation still ongoing.” he added.

Rescue operation is still ongoing to save the trapped victims.

Breaking: Many Trapped As Three-storey Building Collapses In Ebute Metta, Lagos

A three-story building has collapsed at 32, Ibadan Street, Ebute Metta, Lagos.

 The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service made the announcement late Sunday, adding that rescue operations have begun.

The announcement read, “An alert of a collapse of a three storey building by 32 Ibadan Street, Ebute Meta was received at 21:48 hours, Sunday with Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service already at the scene.

“Search and Rescue ongoing with updates to follow, please.”

More details soon….

 

LAWMA Boss, Ibrahim Odumboni, Reportedly Sold Multi-million Naira Vehicles As Scrap – Report

 

Ibrahim Odumboni, the acting managing director of the the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has been accused of allegedly flouting procurement law and selling multi-million naira vehicles of the Authority as scrap, PREMIUM TIMES reported.

When Ibrahim Odumboni was appointed acting managing director (MD) of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) in May 2020, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was confident he was the perfect fit for the job.

In a statement, Mr Sanwo-Olu said the former banker would bring his wealth of experience as a former LAWMA executive director in charge of business development to revitalise the often-troubled agency.

Mr Odumboni replaced Muyiwa Gbadegesin, who was removed for infractions including allegations of misappropriation of funds.

However, the tenure of the 40-year-old Mr Odumboni has also now become controversial, with some officials querying his management of the agency’s assets.

In one instance, Mr Odumboni was queried by the state’s commissioner for environment for selling at least 55 mostly serviceable heavy-duty vehicles and a D9 bulldozer as scraps without following due process, and at a cost the commissioner described as ‘alarmingly undervalued.’

Between March 4 and 6, 2021, Mr Odumboni directed the disposal of 22 trucks, one engine and a D-9 bulldozer, located at LAWMA’s depot in Agege and Ikeja, documents seen by PREMIUM TIMES revealed.

LAWMA staffers aware of the sale said many of the vehicles were still serviceable at the time they were sold as scrap. The vehicles were sold to Blackcann Limited, a scrap metal company.

LAWMA officials knowledgeable about the transfer of the vehicles to Blackcann Limited told PREMIUM TIMES the vehicles were moved from the depots at night in what they said appeared a move to evade questions about their destination from inquisitive officials.

The vehicles comprised four Man Diesel compactors, 10 Mercedes Benz compactors, four Mack compactors, one Hof compactor and two Daf compactors, from the Agege Transfer Loading Station (TLS). The engine scrap was also stationed at the Agege TLS. Others were a bulk mover and M29 compactor from the Ikeja depot. The D-9 bulldozer was moved from the Solous depot in the Alimosho area of the state.

In a memo authorising Blackcann Limited to take possession of the vehicles, Mr Odumboni claimed they were being removed from the depot for “assembling”.

“I hereby authorised Messrs Blackcann Limited to move all scrap metal and beyond Economic Economic Repair (BER) trucks at the depot to Lagos Waste Management Authority facility at Ikorodu for assembling,” Mr Odumboni stated in the memo dated March 4, 2021.

However, PREMIUM TIMES obtained release vouchers signed at the Agege depot before the vehicles were released, which tell a different story. The vouchers indicate that the vehicles were taken by LAWMA’s Engineering Department to either “Ikorodu Road,” or “Owode Onirin”, a popular scrap metal market along Ikorodu Road.

Also, contrary to the claim in the memo that the vehicles were taken from the depots for assembling, the release vouchers stated that they were taken for “safekeeping”.

A LAWMA official who asked not to be named for fear of being victimised pointed out further inconsistencies in the MD’s memo.

“LAWMA does not have any facility in Ikorodu,” the official said. There are only two sites remotely associated with LAWMA in the town, one is a dumpsite at Ewu-Elepe, the other place is a moribund Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project between Earthcare, a compost fertiliser manufacturer and LAWMA at Odoguyan along Shagamu Road.”

“It was a blatant lie to even say the vehicles were being taken for assembling. What does he mean by that? Are the vehicles going to be put together to manufacture new ones? In fact, our engineering department is stationed at our head office in Ijora, and repairs of vehicles are either done at our depots or at Ijora,” the source added.

The official claimed that each of the compactors was worth at least N2 million and the D-9 bulldozer was worth at least N20 million when they were sold.

When reached for comment about the disposal of the vehicles, Peter Benjamin-Black, the CEO of Blackcann Limited, declined to comment. During a telephone interview, he told this reporter to direct the questions to LAWMA.

Mr. Odumboni may have flouted the state’s procurement law in the manner he disposed the vehicles.

Section 80 (2) of the Lagos State Public Procurement Law states that “the open competitive bidding shall be the primary source of receiving offers for the purchase of any public property offered for sale”

The law defines Open Competitive Bidding as ”the solicitation of bids from domestic contractors and suppliers registered or incorporated to carry on business under Nigerian Law.”

Subsection (3) of Section 80 further empowers a Parastatal Tender Board shall issue regulations, detailing operational principles and organizational modalities to be adopted by the procuring entities engaged in the disposal of public property with the approval of the governor.

Section 86 stipulates the punishment for an officer of the state found to have contravened any provision of the law. It said such an official “commits an offence and is liable upon conviction to summary dismissal from the government service and between five and 10 years imprisonment without the option of fine.”

The Second Controversial Sale

The sale of the vehicles did not go down well with some LAWMA officials. But while the murmurs about the first deal was yet to abate, Mr Odumboni initiated the sale of another 34 vehicles, which he claimed were unserviceable.

This time, however, he sought official approval to dispose of the vehicles. But even the disposal of this set of vehicles was tainted with the allegation that the vehicles were grossly undervalued.

It was learnt that several of the vehicles were procured about three years ago, during the era of Visionscape, a controversial waste management company backed by the administration of the immediate past governor of the state, Akinwunmi Ambode.

PREMIUM TIMES obtained details of the amount for which some of the vehicles were sold: Eight damaged vehicles were sold to Olaseni Danzaki Limited. They include three Renault 5CBM compactors for N750,000, a Mantiga trailer head for N1.5 million, a Mantiga compactor for N800,000, a Mantiga truck head for N1.1 million, a Sino Truck for N1.5 million, and an MT-013 Fuel tanker for N1 million.

Six Actros Mercedes Benz trucks were sold for N900,000 each to Defroser Global Enterprises. The company also bought another set of four Actros Mercedes Benz trucks for N800,000 each and a Daf towing vehicle for N400,000.

Two Man Diesel trucks were sold to Collect-A-Can for N800,000 each, another set of seven Man Diesel trucks for N750,000 each, another truck for N400,000 and a trailer back for N300,000.

The vehicles were sold around the last week of April 2021.

The Query

Vexed by the irregularities he suspected characterised the sale of the vehicles and acting on complaints from some LAWMA officials, Tunji Bello, the commissioner in charge of the Ministry for Environment, the supervising ministry of LAWMA, on May 5, 2021, officially demanded explanation from Mr Odumboni about the deals.

The query was titled: “Re: Alleged Boarding of Vehicles and Equipment belonging to LAWMA without Due Diligence,” and had the serial number: MOEWR/HC/C/2019/VOL.1/67.

“I write to inform you that there are allegations that you directed managers of the Authority’s facilities to release several (about 30) heavy-duty vehicles (compactors, tipper heads etc) and a D-9 V-track Caterpillar bulldozer for disposer without consultation with or notification of the management and the vehicles were moved out in the dead of the night to the popular scrap metal market in Lagos (Owode Onirin).

“Furthermore, it has also been alleged that you officially initiated further boarding of an additional set of 32 vehicles, a considerable number of which were only recently purchased, and all of which were alarmingly undervalued.”

He directed Mr Odumboni to respond within five days of getting the query.

PREMIUM TIMES could not confirm if Mr Odumboni responded to the query. Mr Bello did not respond to questions asking him if Mr Odumboni responded to the query and what his response was.

It also remains unclear if any disciplinary action was taken against the LAWMA boss for the suspected infractions.

Odumboni Keeps mum

Odumboni did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES inquiries on the allegations.

Customs Seize Rice-Laden Dangote Truck, Other Contraband Worth N373m In Ogun, Lagos

The Comptroller General of Customs Strike Force, Team A unit on Thursday revealed that it’s officers seized a Dangote truck loaded with 250 bags of banned imported rice and other items worth N373,629,700 within four weeks at different locations in Ogun and Lagos States.

Addressing newsmen in Lagos on Thursday, Controller of the CGC Strike Force Team A, Deputy Comptroller Mohammed Sani Yusuf explained that amongst the seized items include three 20ft containers of Timber, 1000 bags of 50kg rice, 3,143 pieces of used tyres, 320 bale’s of used clothing, 44 sacks of Donkey hides, and 137.3kg of Indian Hemp

According to Controller Yusuf, “I am happy to state that within a period of four weeks, the reconstituted Strike Force Team ‘A’ has collected the sum of N648, 300,986.00 as revenue through demand notices. It also made seizures worth a total duty paid value (DPV) of N373, 629,700.

I want to reiterate, very sternly that we don’t believe in settling down before executing our task in a sensitive assignment as this. Smugglers who thought they could take advantage of the recent changes to carry out their unlawful trade were disappointed.

“it is pertinent for me to advise importers, licensed customs agents and freight forwarders to imbibe and always operate on good business etiquette by making sincere declarations all the time. With us on the ground, there will be no hiding place for those wishing to cut corners. They should always acquaint themselves and be guided by policies of the Federal Government and be abreast with the import and export prohibition lists. We will not take ignorance as an excuse under any guise.

“We are working 24 hours from day one and they have us to contend with any time they dare to carry out their illicit activities either at night or in the day. | am happy to declare that our operatives are relentless and uncompromising as far as this task is concerned.

“This is just the beginning of heated anti-smuggling action which we have embarked upon in the entire South West area of the country. We are ready to run smugglers out of town with the full support and encouragement of our CGC, Col Hameed Ibrahim Ali, Rtd. This task is aimed at protecting our national economy and preventing dangerous importation as well as exportation that contradicts the law.

“Our patrolling and interdiction capacity is recharged for round the clock operation against smugglers and anyone attempting to circumvent the due process of import and export,” he said

Tragedy : Truck Kills 17 Grammer School Pupils In Lagos

There was tragedy on Tuesday afternoon at Grammar School Bus Stop, along Ogba-ojodu Berger Road Lagos when a delivery truck, allegedly chased by officials of Lagos State Traffic Management Agency LASTMA rammed into school children returning back from school killing about seventeen in the process.

According to report the school children who are pupils from Grammar school, were coming back from school when the truck driver who was attempting to escape from the officials rammed into them.

An witnessed told Vanguard that the, “the sight is something else, the kids were crushed, the accident happened immediately the school opened their school gate after the close of school. I am not sure about the number, as at when I left they said 17 children were confirmed dead.”

Tragic: Eight Children Die Of Suffocation In Locked Vehicle In Lagos

 

Not fewer than Eight children have died of suffocation inside an abandoned vehicle at Jah-Michael community, in the Olorunda local government area of Lagos State.

The children were said to have entered the vehicle to play and they reportedly got trapped.

The subsequently suffocated inside the parked vehicle owned by one of their parents, Saliat Kazeem.

The event has been confirmed by the Lagos State Police spokesman, Adekunle Ajisebutu.

He noted that the children’s bodies have been recovered and deposited at the Badagry General Hospital’s morgue for autopsy to determine the cause of death.

The Lagos Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu has also ordered an investigation into the case.

Ajisebutu said, “The eight children were said to have mistakenly locked themselves in an abandoned car while playing. Their bodies have been recovered and deposited at the Badagry General Hospital’s morgue for an autopsy so as to determine the actual cause of death.

“Notwithstanding the report made to the Police, the Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered a thorough and speedy investigation into the circumstances surrounding their death. The CP also commiserates with the families of the victims.”

Outrage As A Bag Of Beans Hits N100,000

 Following the recent hikes in food price in Nigeria, it is safe to say that more Nigerians will be afflicted by hunger and malnutrition as food prices continue to spike, market survey indicating that a bag of beans now sells for as high as N100,000.

On a monthly basis, prices of food items appear to be rising in major cities in Nigeria. For example, the prices of beans have gone up over the last one month compared to previous months.

A bag of beans sold at N30,000 in early September now costs between N50,000 and N100,000 in early October.

In a market survey by People Gazette across Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Bauchi, and Bayelsa, showed that the prices of beans have doubled in the past weeks.

The price of a big bag of beans, the ‘oloyin’ variety, ranges from N88,000 to N100,000, while ‘plastic rubber’ cost between N3,500 and N5,500. Another beans variety, ‘drum’, cost between N80,000 and N95,000, while the ‘plastic rubber’ cost N3,000 or N3,500. A big bag of white beans cost between N50,000 and N60,000, while the ‘plastic rubber’ price could be N2,500 or N3,000.

The prices of other staple foods such as rice, yam, egg, garri, groundnut, and maize are also on the rise. Groundnut oil cost N27,000 for 50kg and N5,400 for 5kg. A bag of rice cost N30,000 and N4000 for ‘plastic rubber’. A bag of garri was priced at N16,000.

In August, food inflation rose to 21.03 per cent due to the hike in local food items. The inflation growth and depreciation of the naira against the dollar have put pressure on the prices of commodities consumed by Nigerians, with prices of foods constantly changing.

The current realities are forcing many households further down the depth of hunger and malnutrition.

Popular Controversial Nigerian Singer, Naira Marley Buys New Property In Lagos

Naira Marley has acquired a property in Lekki. The singer shared the good news via his Instastories as he acknowledged people congratulating him about the house which is situated in Lekki

Congrats to him. See more photos below

Woman On The Run As 60-year-old Lover Dies During Sex In Lagos

There was pandemonium at River Bank Hotel in Ijora-Badia area of Lagos State as a 60-year-old man, Raji Adio, died while having sex with his lover who fled the facility after making the discovery.

Woman Kills Husband For Refusing To Release Money For Their Daughter's Birthday Party In Lagos

The Lagos state police command has arrested 23-year-old Stella Peters for stabbing her husband, Haruna Bala, to death today Tuesday September 17th.

How Nonso Diobi Fed And Sheltered Me In Lagos Before I Became A Star - Yul Edochie Reveals

Actor cum politician Yul Edochie has taking a walk back to the memory lane to celebrate Nonso Diobi on his birthday.

I Never Promised To Fix Apapa Gridlock In 60 Days - Lagos State Gvernor, Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has made a clarification that he never promised to solve the Apapa gridlock crisis in 60 days.

The governor said this while fielding questions from State House correspondents in Abuja on Tuesday saying he never promised to clear the traffic congestion in 60 days rather, he would review what has been done on Apapa roads in 60 days.

All You Need To Know About MTV Shuga Naija Auditions Tomorrow

MTV Shuga Naija

MTV Shuga Naija is officially coming back to Nigeria, which means the auditions for the Pan African TV series will also be making a return. This is exciting news not only for fans of the show but also for acting hopefuls all over Nigeria who are hoping to catch a big break.
To make sure that you don’t fall for a scam or become a victim of false information, we’ve created an official guide with everything you need to know about the MTV Shuga Naija auditions.

Lagos Ranks Among World’s Cheapest Cities

Base on research, Economist Intelligence Unit’s bi-annual survey declared Nigeria’s commercial city, Lagos is one of the 10 cheapest cities in the world.

We gathered that Lagos was ranked 127 in the survey that compares the cost of more than 150 items such as cars, food, rent, transport and clothing in 133 cities.

Jimi Agbaje Dumps PDP As Party Accuses Him Of Bad Luck In Lagos

The People Democratic Party Governorship Candidate of Lagos state Jimi Agbaje has dumped the People Democratic Party over an unresolved disagreement between him and the leadership of the party in the state.

Biafra: What We’d Do If Igbo People Are Attacked Again In Lagos – IPOB

The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) has vowed to go on reprisal if Igbo people are attacked in any part of Lagos again.

it was gathered that there were pockets of violence in some areas believed to be dominated by the Igbos in Lagos during the 2019 presidential and National Assembly elections.

God Will Not Allow Any Other Party To Rule Lagos Except APC - Oba Of Lagos

The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu has said that God will not allow any other party apart from All Progressives Congress (APC) to take over the State in the forthcoming general election in 2019.