Celebrities

LAGOS: Govt to overhaul all state-owned infrastructure for sustainability

Published

3 years ago

December 21, 2021

THE state government has declared its readiness to completely refurbish all its infrastructure and make the assets more sustainable using standard guidelines for designs of office buildings recently produced and approved for the purpose.

The General Manager, State Infrastructure Asset Management Agency (LASIAMA), Adenike Adekanbi, who made the disclosure on Monday in Ikeja, said various buildings are presently undergoing rehabilitation based on the initiative and approval of Mr. Governor, who has also given the agency the target to Ikeja health facilities and education infrastructure.

She said: “The process we follow in settling for assets to refurbish is in line with the T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda as well as Mr. Governor’s directive to focus on health and education. We are investing in capital projects for those places. So our first consideration is always health and education and then other offices come next.

“We actually get a lot of requests and it is very difficult for us to prioritise, but what we try to look at is safety. We have to consider if the building is safe. The ones that are not safe you have to do something quickly about them and then you go from there. But we prioritise health and education facilities and then consider others afterwards,” Adekanbi stated.

She also revealed that infrastructure renewal and maintenance ongoing in the State was a deliberate measure by the government to transform the landscape and create the right kind of work environment for the workforce, stressing that Mr. Governor believes that government buildings are not only workplaces but also a statement to the public on how the government conducts its businesses.

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On expectations from the agency, Adekanbi maintained that Governor Sanwo-Olu sees LASIAMA as an agency that is contributing to the economy.

In her words: “I think the biggest thing for Mr. Governor is that we are creating jobs. So when you have an infrastructural renewal agency like this, one of the biggest things we do is create jobs and contribute to the small and medium scale businesses in the economy. That’s really big for him. He is really interested in that.

“When you handle a construction job you create jobs for that sector, when you have a maintenance job, you also create jobs for the sector. It’s a continuous thing. So I think he sees us more as an agency that is not only sustaining and preserving infrastructure but also an employment creation agency, thereby contributing to the State’s economy,” the General Manager explained.

Adekanbi listed Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that LASIAMA has worked or is working on to include Lagos State Fire Service Stations, Lagos Television (LTV), FADAMA Coordinator’s office, Drivers Institute (LASDRI), Blocks III and IV at the Secretariat, Alausa, which hosts the Ministries of Works and Infrastructure as well as Health and Information and Strategy, respectively, among several other public buildings.

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Celebrities

Dame Maggie Smith, beloved actress, passes away at 89

Published

6 days ago

September 27, 2024

Seun Okerayi

Dame Maggie Smith has passed away at 89, leaving behind a rich legacy in film and theatre as a beloved actress and cherished mother.

Oscar-winning actress Dame Maggie Smith has passed away at the age of 89, leaving a lasting legacy in film and theatre.

Dame Maggie Smith, the Oscar-winning British actress renowned for her contributions to stage and screen over more than seven decades, has passed away in a London hospital.

Also read: Lada Gaga goes make-up free for Oscars 2023 performance

Her sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, announced her death in a heartfelt statement, saying, “It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith.

She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September.”

Born on December 28, 1934, Smith was the daughter of an Oxford professor of pathology. She made her stage debut in 1952 with the Oxford University Dramatic Society.

Throughout her illustrious career, Smith garnered numerous accolades, including a Tony Award, two Academy Awards, three Golden Globes, and five BAFTAs.

Late in her career, she gained international fame for her portrayal of the Dowager Countess of Grantham, Violet Crawley, in the popular television series “Downton Abbey.”

She won her first Oscar for Best Actress in “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” in 1969 and claimed a second Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Desdemona in “Othello” the same year.

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In addition to her film and theatre achievements, Smith portrayed Professor Minerva McGonagall in the “Harry Potter” series, captivating audiences with her performances.

Her sons shared that Smith was “an intensely private person” who was surrounded by friends and family at the time of her passing.

They expressed their deep sorrow, stating, “She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.”

They also thanked the public for the “kind messages and support” they have received during this difficult time.

Celebrities

Minister orders probe into alleged bribery in Nigerian prisons

Published

1 week ago

September 26, 2024

Seun Okerayi

Minister Orders Probe into Alleged Bribery in Nigerian Correctional Service

The Minister of Interior orders a probe into alleged bribery in Nigerian prisons following claims by Bobrisky that officials arranged for him to serve his sentence in a private apartment.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered an investigation into alleged bribery within the Nigerian Correctional Service following claims by Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, that he served his sentence in a private apartment arranged by officials.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has directed a thorough investigation into allegations of bribery and corruption within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

Also read: Bobrisky denies bribery allegations amid EFCC investigation

This directive follows a viral voice note shared by social media influencer Martins Otse, a.k.a. VeryDarkMan, where Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, claimed that after his sentencing for abuse of the naira notes in April, his godfather, with the help of the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, arranged for him to serve his sentence in a private apartment rather than in a prison.

In the voice note, Bobrisky alleged that a bribe of N10 million was paid to facilitate this arrangement, claiming he spent his six-month sentence in a private apartment near the prison.

Additionally, Bobrisky allegedly stated that he paid N15 million to officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to drop money laundering charges against him.

The allegations have sparked significant controversy, prompting the minister to order an immediate and comprehensive investigation.

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Tunji-Ojo emphasized that his administration would not tolerate any form of corruption or unprofessionalism within the paramilitary services under his ministry.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, has been appointed to lead the special investigative team.

Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has denied any involvement in the matter and has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to VeryDarkMan to retract statements linking him to Bobrisky.

Falana’s legal team, in a pre-action letter, demanded an apology and retraction, threatening legal action if their demands are not met.

The letter condemned the social media post as defamatory, describing it as a baseless attempt to tarnish Falana’s reputation.

Celebrities

Portable gets 10-year Canada work permit

Published

1 month ago

September 2, 2024

Seun Okerayi

Portable gets 10-year Canada work permit

Controversial Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has secured a 10-year Canada work visa.

Portable made this known in a viral video on his Instagram page on Friday.

Also read: Why I can’t fight Davido – says Portable

Showing off the visa, Portable revealed that he can now perform his shows abroad

Expressing excitement at leaving Nigeria for Canada, the singer said “Alhamdulilahi CEO DR ZEHNATION Going to Canada. Going and coming 10 years working permit.”

Theheute recalls that Portable had during an interview on Echo Room in 2022, revealed that he was denied a US visa five times because of how he presented himself.