News

Lagos Govt to partner Poland on economic development

Published

9 months ago

August 8, 2023

LASG to partner Poland on economic development

(Photo: L-R: Head, Foreign Trade Office, Polish Investment and Trade Agency, Lagos, Ms. Justyna Sitarska; Polish Ambassador to Nigeria, Joanna Tarnawaska; Lagos State Deputy Gov. Dr Obafemi Hamzat; Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin and the Chief of Staff to Lagos State Gov. Mr Tayo Ayinde)

The Lagos State Government has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the Polish Government to enhance the economic activities of the state and country as a whole.

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu stated this during a courtesy visit by the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Nigeria, Ms. Joanna Tarnawaska at Alausa, Ikeja.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, said the state was ready to partner with the Polish Government through its Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperative.

According to him, “we are ready to work with various companies in Poland for the overall development of both Lagos state and Nigeria as a whole.”

Sanwo-Olu assured that the partnership between the two tiers of government and the Polish government would be very good.

“We have a government at the federal level that is ready to listen and work on moving every sector of the economy forward both economically and financially.

“Therefore, we will make sure that we elevate our economic activities and of course Nigeria, through your collaboration with the state’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, ” he said.

The governor stated that Lagos, being the centre of all actions in the country, the partnership would help uplift the country because virtualy all ethnic groups were in Lagos.

Earlier, the Polish ambassador said the Republic of Poland had enjoyed good diplomatic relationship with the state government and hoped to enhance the relationship to trade.

Tarnawaska noted the essence of the visit was for cooperation between Poland and Lagos State.

“Former President Mohammed Buhari last year signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Polish Government.

The ambassador added, “With the Head of the Foreign Trade, Ms. Justyna Sitarska, together we will look for new opportunities for cooperation between Poland and the Lagos State Government,” she said.

Headline

Prince Harry visits sick Nigerian soldiers in Kaduna

Published

6 days ago

May 11, 2024

Alero Danjuma

Prince Harry and his team visited the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna to interact with wounded soldiers who are receiving treatment.

The Duke of Sussex is in Nigeria with his wife to champion the Invictus Games, which Harry founded to aid the rehabilitation of wounded and sick servicemembers and veterans.

Nigeria joined the Invictus Community of Nations in 2022 becoming the first African country to join.

Prince Harry’s visit to Kaduna came 68 years after his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II visited the state during the time of the late Premier of Northern Region Sir Ahmadu Bello.

News

Senate approves death penalty for drug traffickers

Published

1 week ago

May 9, 2024

Alero Danjuma

Senate on Thursday, May 9, approved the death penalty for those convicted on the charge of drug trafficking in the country.

The punishment prescribed in the extant NDLEA Act is a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The resolution of the Senate followed its consideration of a report of the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters and Drugs and Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

The Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters presented the report during plenary, Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno North).

The bill, which passed its third reading, aims to update the list of dangerous drugs, strengthen the operations of the NDLEA, review penalties, and empower the establishment of laboratories.

Section 11 of the current act prescribes that “any person who, without lawful authority; imports, manufactures, produces, processes, plants or grows the drugs popularly known as cocaine, LSD, heroin or any other similar drugs shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for life” was amended to reflect a stiffer penalty of death.

Although the report did not recommend a death penalty for the offence, during consideration, Senator Ali Ndume moved that the life sentence should be upgraded to the death penalty.

During a clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, put the amendment on the death penalty to a voice vote and ruled that the “ayes” had it.

But Senator Adams Oshiomhole objected to the ruling, saying that the “nays” had it.

He argued that matters of life and death should not be treated hurriedly, but Barau said it was too late, as he failed to call for division immediately after his ruling.

The bill was subsequently read for the third time and passed by the Senate.