News From Nigeria
LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNOR
PRESS RELEASE
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has extended his heartfelt condolences to the Fasasi family and the Nigerian entertainment industry on the passage of a renowned rapper, singer and songwriter, Olanrewaju Fasasi, popularly known as Sound Sultan, who died on Sunday at age 44 and was buried in the United States of America in accordance with Islamic injunctions.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, expressed shock over the death of the singer, saying Fasasi’s demise was painful and a great loss to the deceased family, Nigerian music industry and the country as a whole.
The Governor urged the deceased family, friends, associates, fans and the entertainment practitioners to take the death of Sound Sultan as an act of God.
He said: “Sound Sultan’s death is painful. He was a bundle of talents, who used his God-given gift to advance the course of mankind. His music, artistry and interest in sports were all donated at every point for the development of humanity.”
Sanwo-Olu added that: “No doubt the death of a loved one is usually painful because it is irreparable but we must always take solace in God especially if the deceased had lived a good and fulfilled life, just like the late Olanrewaju Fasasi, who was a celebrated singer, comedian, rapper, songwriter and actor during his lifetime.
“Sound Sultan will be sorely missed by his family, friends, fans and the Nigerian entertainment industry as one of the pacesetters of modern hip hop music in Nigeria.
“Sound Sultan who was notable for using his music to speak against poverty, corruption, bad governance and societal ills in Nigeria, has left a vacuum that would take some time to be filled”.
“I sympathise with Sound Sultan’s widow, children, siblings, family, fans and colleagues. I pray that God will grant the late Olanrewaju Fasasi eternal rest and grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
JULY 12, 2021
Press Statement
The Sole Administrator, Rivers State Waste Management Agency, RIWAMA, Bro Felix Obuah says if those who have mismanaged the nation’s resources in recent times for lack of ideas and leadership qualities had consulted the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, Nigerians would have been a lot better, healthier and happier.
Bro Obuah who made the remarks while fielding questions from newsmen immediately after the presentation of Governor Wike’s scorecard in the last six years to Rivers people and stakeholders at the famous Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt, Monday, July 12, 2021, said the ingenuity and landmarks of His Excellency have confounded his political detractors and silenced the opposition in the State.
The RIWAMA boss said Governor Wike has not only written his name on the marbles for referencing but also proved beyond doubt that the mandate given to him by the Rivers people was not misplaced.
Sharing in the joy of Wike’s epochal breakthroughs in infrastructural and human capital developments, the RIWAMA boss who superintended the affairs of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and under whose stratagem the governor won the governorship election back to back in 2015 and 2019 respectively, said he would remain ever grateful to God for the choice of the courageous Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.
He advised the All Progressives Congress-led federal government to swallow their pride and feel free to consult the Ikwerre-born politician for advice on how to pull the country out of the abysmal pit it has dragged her into.
Bro Obuah said it looks like magic that within so short a period, all the nooks and crannies of the State have been caught up in Wike’s revolution, changing the entire face of the state capital that even ‘we’ who live here are missing our way while driving because of not only the rehabilitated and newly constructed roads and flyovers, but also the installation of landmarks with hypnotizing aesthetic appeals.
The RIWAMA boss said, with the standard set by Governor Wike, it’s no longer going to be business as usual for any kind of person to long for the administration of any component the new Rivers State.
“I can’t but thank my leader, good brother, friend and state chief executive, His Excellency, Chief Barr Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, GSSRS, PoS (Africa) for not disappointing the Rivers people and our dear party. He has practically touched all sectors of the state economy – education, health, environment, transport, sports, judiciary, name it. Let me once again, enjoin the good people of Rivers State to continue to pray for and give His Excellency their support and for sure, everybody will be happier for it. May the good Lord continue to grant him the good health and more grace to execute all he has for our state”, Bro Obuah prayed.
Jerry Needam
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to
Bro. Felix Obuah, Sole Administrator,
Rivers State Waste Management Agency, RIWAMA.
Monday, July 12, 2021.
…Taskforce Strike Force Impounds 105 Motorcycles
The war against criminality in Lagos State has gone a notch higher as the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, personally arrested a gang of suspected criminals, which specialises in harassing motorists and road users in traffic.
The gang of suspected criminals met their waterloo Monday morning while attempting to unleash terror on a motorist around Ojota in-bound Alausa. Help however came for the motorist as Governor Sanwo-Olu’s convoy approached the scene to rescue him from the three machete-wielding criminals who were at the time, trying to forcefully drag him out of his vehicle.
The security personnel attached to the Governor swooped on the suspects, retrieved the dangerous weapons from them and arrested the three of them.
It would be recalled that Governor Sanwo-Olu while handing over security equipment purchased by the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, for the use of Lagos Police Command, on Thursday June 10, said there would be no hiding place for criminals in the State.
“We are determined to stabilize the security situation in Lagos State, as our own contribution towards lasting national security. Let me also use this opportunity to sound a note of warning to all criminals who are operating in Lagos State or planning to operate here; all armed robbers, kidnappers, cultists, bandits, and other criminals, we will leave no stone unturned in making this State inhospitable to you. We will find you, wherever you may be lurking and we will bring the full weight of the law on you,” Governor Sanwo-Olu declared.
The brand new crime-fighting equipment donated to the Lagos State Police Command were; 150 Double Cabin Vehicles, 30 Saloon Patrol Vehicles, 1,000 Ballistic Vests; 1,000 Ballistic Helmets, 1,000 Handheld Police Radios/Walkie-Talkies, 100 Security Patrol Bikes; two Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), four High Capacity Troop Carriers and two Anti-Riot Water Cannon Vehicles.
Governor Sanwo-Olu stated after his security personnel arrested the three machete-wielding criminals that the exercise was a warning signal to other criminal elements and prospective traffic robbers in Lagos that there is no hiding place for criminality in Lagos State.
Also on Monday, the Strike Squad of the Lagos State Taskforce carried out a massive raid on motorcycle (okada) riders at Second rainbow and Toyota Bus Stop along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.
During the raid, which lasted for some hours, a total of 105 motorcycles were impounded. Prior to Monday’s raid, a total of 201 motorcycles were impounded last week.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
JULY 12, 2021
PRESIDENT BUHARI CONDOLES WITH THE FASASI FAMILY ON LOSS OF SOUND SULTAN
President Muhammadu Buhari joins the government and people of Kaduna State to mourn the passing of Architect Barnabas Yusuf Bala (Bantex), a former Deputy Governor of the State during the first tenure of Governor Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai.
President Buhari believes that Architect Bantex, a true gentleman and consummate professional, will be fondly remembered for his many years of distinguished service in his home State, his patriotism to the nation as well as forthrightness in politics.
The President also affirms that the former Deputy Governor, who served as chairman of Kaura Local Government Council and member representing Kaura Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, was a potent voice on peace, stability and progress at the State and National level.
The President extends his deepest condolences to the family of Bala, his friends, associates and many followers, who benefited immensely from his responsible stewardship as a public servant and political office holder.
President Buhari prays God almighty to grant the departed eternal rest and comfort those who mourn the irreparable loss.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
July 11, 2021
…Isolation Centres Filling Up Again, Says Governor
…In-Bound Travellers Defaulting Isolation Protocols Risk Prosecution, Imprisonment
Lagos State Government has raised the alarm of a possible third wave of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, following a sharp increase in the number of positive cases recorded in the last few weeks.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday, imposed restrictions and sanctions after disclosing that the State’s daily cases of COVID-19 confirmation had shot up to 6.6 per cent over a period of one week.
The development may not be unconnected to the careless attitude of air passengers from countries in the “high risk” zones and the complacency by the residents to follow the protective protocols issued by the Government after the end of the second wave.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed that 18 percent of 50,322 air passengers of interest, who arrived in Lagos via the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), could not be reached for COVID-19 status monitoring by EKOTELEMED because they supplied wrong contact details.
Going forward, the Governor ordered sanctioning of in-bound air passengers that failed to provide verifiable contact details, including accessible phone numbers they can be reached for monitoring.
Sanwo-Olu said air passengers would face prosecution, including fines and imprisonment in line with the Lagos State Coronavirus Law of 2021.
The Governor said: “In spite of our hard work and dedicated efforts towards sustaining the return to normalcy, over the last three months, after the flattened the curve of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic, we are now finding ourselves at what appears to be the start of a potential third wave of the pandemic in Lagos State. From the beginning of July, we started to experience a steep increase in the number of daily confirmed cases.
“The rapid increase within a week gives great cause for concern. Also, within the last two weeks, the occupancy rate at our isolation centres increased to an average of six per cent. This is the disturbing reality that now confronts us. As directed by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC), passengers from red-listed countries (India, South Africa, Brazil and Turkey) are required to observe mandatory isolation.
“We have successfully isolated 2,386 passengers in Lagos. Of this number, 15 per cent have absconded. Sanctions are being recommended and have already been meted out to defaulters. Revocation of Permanent Residency and deportation are being meted out to foreign nationals defaulting the protocols. For Nigerians, there will be prosecution to the full extent of the Lagos State COVID-19 Law of 2021.”
The situation at hand, Sanwo-Olu said, required reactivation of full compliance with all protective protocols already outlined by the State Government.
The Governor said there should be compulsory use of masks in all public places, while also directing social distancing, compulsory temperature checks, provisions for hand-washing and sanitizers, and maximum of 50 per cent occupancy in enclosed spaces.
Sanwo-Olu urged worship centres to be particularly vigilant, advising them not to be carried away by the illusion that all activities were back to normal.
He said: “It is understandable that many are tired and want their old, pre-pandemic lives to return. Unfortunately, we do not have a choice in this regard, and fatigue is not an option. We cannot afford to be tired, frustrated or distracted. Without the cooperation of the public at large, we stand the risks of losing both lives and livelihood, on a devastating scale.
“The enemy (COVID-19) is formidable and opportunistic. The pandemic will only go as far as we allow it. Having triumphed over the first and second waves, we must now find within ourselves new reserves of energy to quell this emerging third wave before it snowballs out of control.”
The Governor decried the low vaccination rate in the State, pointing out that only a fraction of the populace received the recommended doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine being rolled out to achieve herd immunity.
This, he said, is not adequate, adding that the State Government was exploring all avenues possible to ramp up access to vaccine to reach the immunity target of 60 per cent coverage.
Sanwo-Olu said Lagos would continue to work with all partners across the Government and private institutions to ensure permanent isolation of the virus.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
JULY 11, 2021
Popular singer, Lanre Fasasi, is dead.
Known as Sound Sultan, the 44 years old music star passed on as a result of cancer of the throat.
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our multitalented veteran singer, rapper, songwriter Olanrewaju Fasasi aka Sound Sultan. He passed away at the age of 44 following a hard-fought battle with Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma. He is survived by his wife, three children and his siblings. We, his family, will appreciate the utmost privacy as we come to grips with this tragic loss’’ a statement by Dr. Kayode Fasasi, on behalf of the Fasasi family, said.
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Born in Mid-Western Region, Ebireri started his journalism career in 1992.
From 2013 until 2015, Ebireri served as media consultant to governorship aspirant and a presidential candidate in Nigeria.
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