News

Elulade Promises Engaging Stakeholders Conference, Says LASIMRA’s Operations, Processes Will Henceforth Be Automated

Published

4 years ago

January 8, 2020

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

The General Manager, Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA), Engr, Funsho Elulade, has said that henceforth all operations and processes of the agency will be automated, and activities carried out more online than across the counter.

Elulade made the remarks when he addressed the press at the agency’s complex in Ikeja on the agenda of his administration and the direction of the forthcoming stakeholders conference billed to take place on January 14, 2020 at the Muson Centre, Lagos Island.

In his speech, the General Manager, who was flanked by the Deputy General Manager, Engr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, and the Head, Administration and Human Resources, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Oladeji, said his mandate is in line with the vision of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who in his wisdom realised that LASIMRA has the capacity to generate revenue to the tune of what is obtainable with the Lagos Internal Revenue Service to create a Lagos of everyone’s dreams. And as a result, he ‘deemed it fit to put a formidable team together to realise that agenda’.

Appointed in November 2019 to propel LASIMRA to another level of achievement, Elulade, who has performed creditably in his previous assignments, is calling a stakeholders conference to among other things, carry the people along in all his endeavours.

He said: “This is the major reason for holding the stakeholders conference. We found out that changing our processes, increasing or upgrading and decreasing tariffs, we need to carry people along; we need to get the public buying and we need to get our stakeholders’ buying. So the first thing we believe is necessary is to undertake a stakeholders conference and of course that is where we will lay down the new rules and regulations in line with Lagos State government agenda.”

He noted as well that his mission will include correcting all the anomalies in carrying out the activities of the agencies as regards the rules and regulations guiding LASIMRA.

“It will interest you to know that LASIMRA was established in 2004, and its establishment was in line with what existed during that time. So some of the regulations were not really captured. I’ve undertaken all the processes,” he said.

Mr. Elulade itemised some of his visions in the coming days as follows:

“Firstly, we are increasing all the tariffs in line with what is obtainable in all the other states. Lagos is interestingly one of the states in Nigeria that doesn’t undertake site assessment report. We will introduce that, Again, we will automate all our processes as stakeholders can do whatever it takes to obtain permits without coming to the office. Everything will be done online. And they will be able to track the books of their submission. In addition to that, the only way they will have their contract renewed is when they submit their technical report. It is imperative that our in house engineers do site inspections to ensure everything is in order.

“Again, I will sensitise our stakeholders that LASIMRA’s law covers everything in comparison to others. We need to further inform that this new management will undertake full operationalistion of LASIMRA law. Everything will be used to regulate utility infrastructure.”

For those who believe that LASIMRA is just all about regulating telecommunication companies and internet services providers, Elulade informed.

“A lot of people think LASIMRA only regulate telecom companies and internet service providers, no. It involves anything infrastructure; telecommunication, IPS, power, water, gas, roads – anything underground, on ground and in the air, according to the law,” he said.

He further stated that the safety of Lagosians was of paramount importance to the agency, even much more than revenue generation, and so will ensure maximum compliance from operators and owners of Telecom companies using the instrumentality of the law.

“We will use the law to make sure Lagosians are safe. The operators and owners of telecom will no longer be permitted to indiscriminately cause congestion on the roads by digging to mount their equipment. We will come up with comprehensive traffic management that will not further prolong congestion in Lagos. We will scrutinise their designs of towers to prevent collapsing and killing Lagosians.

In his conclusion, Elulade exposed that going forward, the agency will operate three satelite offices in Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry to achieve LASIMRA’s goal and in turn achieve Lagos State’s goal.

News

Kaduna Assembly Sets Committee to Probe Former Gov El-Rufai

Published

1 hour ago

April 16, 2024

Eric

The Kaduna State House of Assembly has set up a fact-finding committee to probe all finances, loans and contract projects awarded under the former Governor Nasiru El-Rufai administration.

Governor Uba Sani, during a town hall meeting on Saturday, lamented the huge debt inherited from his predecessor, El-Rufai, on May 29, 2023.

Sani had said the state was left with a few amounts, not enough to pay salary, adding that his administration inherited a total of $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities from the ex-governor.

“Despite the huge debt burden of 587 million dollars, 85 billion naira, and N115 billion in contractual liabilities sadly inherited from the previous administration, we remain resolute in steering Kaduna State towards progress and sustainable development.

“We have conducted a thorough assessment of our situation and are sharpening our focus accordingly,” the governor had said.

However, on Tuesday, the state’s Assembly set up a fact-finding committee during plenary, among others, to also investigate the former governor’s top associate and Senior Counsellor on Investment, Jimi Lawal.

Besides, the panel would probe financial dealings, loans and grants and other project implementation from 2015-2023.

The State Assembly also mandated the committee to invite notable personalities including the former speakers of the 8th and 9th Assembly, commissioners of finance, former Managing Directors of Kaduna Markets, and Commissioners of Budget and Planning, among others.

The Punch

News

National Grid Collapses Again, Nigeria in Total Blackout

Published

1 day ago

April 15, 2024

Eric

The electricity national grid has collapsed again throwing the entire country into total blackout.

Some electricity distribution companies (DisCos), on Monday, confirmed the fresh collapse of the national grid, resulting in loss of power supply to their customers.

The grid experienced a fresh shutdown, and generation fell to 64.70 megawatts at 2:42 am on Monday, which was confirmed by officials of some of the DisCos.

According to an earlier report, the latest data from the Independent System Operator showed that the grid was generating 266.50mw of electricity from Okpai, Geregu and Ibom power.

Confirming the collapse in a statement, Jos DisCo said: “The current outage being experienced within our franchise States is a result of loss of power supply from the national grid. The loss of power supply from the national grid occurred in the early hours at about 0242 hours today, Monday, 15th April 2024, hence the loss of power supply on all our feeders.”

The company’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Dr Friday Adakole Elijah, expressed hope that the grid will be restored for normal power supply to its esteemed customers.

The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), also confirmed the collapse in a statement titled “NOTICE OF TOTAL SYSTEM COLLAPSE”.

“The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) wishes to inform her esteemed customers of a total system collapse which occurred at 2:41 am today, 15th April 2024.

“This resulted in the loss of supply to all our interface TCN stations. Consequently, we were unable to provide service to our customers in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States.

“However, the situation is gradually being resolved as we received the supply at Awada TCN station, Onitsha, at 7:30 am.

“We are in constant communication with the relevant authorities awaiting the full restoration of supply by the National Control Centre, NCC, Oshogbo. Thank you for your usual understanding and cooperation,”

A statement by Head, of Corporate Communications, EEDC, Emeka Ezeh said.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is yet to confirm the collapse as of press time.

News

Gunmen Abduct Channels TV Reporter in Rivers, Demand N30m

Published

4 days ago

April 12, 2024

Eric

Gunmen have kidnapped a journalist and reporter with Channels Television, Mr Joshua Rogers, at his residence in Rumuosi in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State on Thursday night.

Rogers, who covers the Rivers State Government House for his organisation, was reportedly trailed after he closed from work to his residence.

The miscreants accosted him before he alighted from his car, pointed a gun at him and whisked him along with his vehicle off to an unknown destination at about 9 pm.

A source who said he doesn’t want his name mentioned said the reporter had earlier covered an event in Ndoni in the Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of the state where Governor Siminalayi Fubara, inaugurated a Primary Healthcare Centre.

The facility was built and donated to the state by the PAMO Educational Foundation, founded by former Rivers governor, Dr Peter Odili, on Thursday.

The source said, “Yes, he was kidnapped last night at his residence in Rumuosi and taken away in his car by some unknown gunmen.

“We are appealing to the kidnappers to release him immediately and unhurt. He is just a journalist doing his job and not a moneybags. So I don’t know the purpose of his kidnap.”

It was also gathered that the hoodlums had contacted his wife and demanded N30m as ransom before releasing him.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, for confirmation, were unsuccessful as she did not pick up several calls put across to her by The Punch.

Iringe-Koko has also yet to reply to a text message sent to her as of publication on Friday morning.

The Punch