This is said to foster communal relationship which is the anchor to the development within the society, noting that such virtues would engender social cohesion and national development.

The deputy governor said this today while speaking during the annual Ramadan lectures of Nawair-Ud-Deen (Lagos) and Anwar-Ul-Islam Movement of Nigeria, in Mushin Idi-Oro and Agege, respectively.

Hamzat added that Nigerians, irrespective of their religions, should demonstrate genuine patriotism by loving the country and consistently speaking positively about it, urging them to promote unity and uphold the values that are germane toward building a peaceful, progressive, and prosperous society.

His words: “A positive national mindset and collective responsibility are essential for fostering stability, strengthening public confidence, and advancing sustainable development.

“The need to strengthen family values and parental responsibility, rebuilding strong value-driven homes, is essential for raising responsible citizens and fostering long-term social and economic stability.

“The family remains the first institution of learning and character formation. When the family system fails, the society and the economy inevitably bear the consequences,” said the deputy governor.

Hamzat noted that the nation’s greatest challenge is the breakdown of the family unit, with its consequences having far-reaching negative impacts on the country’s social and economic stability and growth.

He therefore stressed that restoring moral values, parental responsibility, and social cohesion at the family level is critical to addressing social challenges and building a sustainable economic future for the nation.

He further urged Muslim faithful to ensure that they teach their children the right way to live as Muslims, be lawful, and ensure they live peacefully with their neighbours.

In his lecture titled “Unified Ummah, Stronger Nation: The Role of Islam in National Growth,” the Zonal Chief Imam and Chairman, Zonal Mission Board of Nawair-Ud-Deen (Lagos), Alhaji As-Sheikh Abdul Majeed Sheu Ayinla, called on the Islamic community to promote peace and harmonious coexistence with all people, regardless of religious differences, in the interest of national unity and development.

According to him, “It is expected of every Muslim to love and respect himself, his country of birth and country of residence.”

He therefore urged the people to take pride in their countries, saying a nation could not progress beyond the moral level of its citizens.

In a similar event, organized by the Anwar-UI-Islamic Movement of Nigeria, in a lecture titled “Faith, Unity and Nation-Building: The Role of Muslims in a Diverse and Changing Nigeria”, the National Chief Imam and Missioner of the group, Imam Muslihu Adebola Afisis,  emphasized the centrality of justice, good governance, and civic responsibility in fostering a prosperous society, highlighting that justice and ethical leadership are essential foundations for national development.

He underscored the importance of youth development, collective efforts in education, social and economic initiatives, and vigilance against corruption and mediocrity as guiding principles, adding that citizens and leaders alike were called to share responsibility in ensuring peace, fairness, and social cohesion.

“Our role as Muslims is to promote unity and harmony within Nigeria’s diverse society. I want to say that the true faith of a Muslim, who is expected to be of good character, to be honest, to uphold justice and equity, and to lead by example in our politics.

“For true unity, we are expected to promote peace and mutual respect; to strengthen the ties of brotherhood among ourselves, and to foster harmony with non-Muslims. For true leadership, we should support education and knowledge, promote economic productivity, fight corruption, pay for community service, uphold justice, and be actively involved in peace and national unity,” said the Imam.

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The fully equipped state-of-the-art factory, developed and delivered by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration, will generate 10,000 direct jobs for clusters of artisans operating across the leather production value chain.

The facility was formally commissioned on Saturday by the Nigeria First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, during her three-day official visit to Lagos.

To honour Senator Tinubu’s legacy initiatives in social investment and economic empowerment at the grassroots, Sanwo-Olu named the facility after the First Lady, reserving 70 per cent of employment slots in the manufacturing hub for women and youths.

The factory is equipped with modern technology to optimise capacity in the ecosystem, thereby providing solutions for Nano, Medium, Small and Medium Enterprises, NMSMEs, that struggle to meet bulk orders due to limited equipment and capacity.

The industrial leatherwork machinery installed in the factory is capable of mass production of shoes, bags, belts, packaging bags and other leather products.

Inaugurating the factory, Senator Tinubu noted that the project further reinforced Lagos State’s reputation as a trailblazer, the heartbeat of innovation and enterprise of the country.

The First Lady said the development demonstrated the Sanwo-Olu administration’s commitment to job creation, productivity and sustainable economic development.

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Senator Tinubu said the industrial leather hub would not only scale up production of leather goods in the ecosystem, she stressed that the factory would also empower artisans, while strengthening NMSMEs and promoting consumption of local products.

She said: “This trailblazing project is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to accelerate diversification through industrialisation, digitisation, creative arts, manufacturing and innovation in order to create a dynamic and diverse economic landscape.

“Leather work is a traditional craft that has stood the test of time. The hub will serve as a centre for leather processing, footwear production, and specialised training, enabling artisans to add greater value to their craft and compete confidently in both local and international markets.”

The First Lady said the project stood as a symbol representing how the government and citizens could work together to turn challenges into opportunities and create a prosperity pathway for citizens.

She urged those who would utilise the facility, including artisans, entrepreneurs, and woman traders, to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the hub.

“Those who will work directly in this space must dedicate themselves to excellence, hard work, and embrace continuous learning and position their products to compete in the global market,” Senator Tinubu said.

Sanwo-Olu said more than 150,000 artisans would benefit from cutting-edge training and start-up support offered by the hub to ensure talent optimisation.

The governor disclosed that the export earnings from the hub was expected to be higher than $250 million annually when the hub becomes fully operational.

Sanwo-Olu said: “The leather hub will undoubtedly boost the local economy by creating jobs, fostering innovation and providing a platform for small and medium-sized enterprises to grow. It will enhance market competitiveness, attract investments, and ultimately improve the standard of living for many Lagosians.

“Building on the momentum of the non-oil export boom, the facility being commissioned today further strengthens our resolve to diversify Nigeria’s economy beyond oil. The leather hub will be a vital anchor in transforming ideas into tangible products that can compete globally. This is a promise that an enterprising artisan from a modest background can now dream bigger, knowing that the tools, the mentorship, and the market are within his reach.”

The governor pledged that his administration would protect and expand the leather production asset through transparent regulation and continuous infrastructure upgrades.

Sanwo-Olu said his government would deepen the leather ecosystem by linking the hub to fashion districts, e-commerce platforms, and rail services to ensure seamless movement of goods and people.

He said: “From today, hides and skins that once left our shores unprocessed will be transformed here in Lagos into world-class footwear, garments, and accessories proudly stamped ‘Made in Lagos, Made in Nigeria’.

We will measure our success not by headlines, but by the number of households lifted above poverty through this initiative. True dividends of democracy are best felt when they reach the cobbler in Mushin, the tanner in Oko-Oba, and the young fashion designer in Yaba.”

Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Hon. Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, said given the modern leather-processing machinery and footwear-making technology installed in the facility, local artisans could now produce higher-quality leather goods at lower costs to meet local and international standards.

By cohabiting in the shared production spaces and fully functional training rooms, Ajigbotafe said artisans’ knowledge would be upgraded, their skills refined and their dreams would be nurtured into sustainable enterprises.

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The programme allows people to receive eye and cardiovascular screenings, surgeries, and general health education.

On the first day, more than 40 eye surgeries were conducted, with over 700 hundred people from Mushin and other parts of Lagos receiving different forms of health care.

The five-day outreach, organised in collaboration with Kolmarg Eyesight Foundation, was formally declared open today (July 8) at a ceremony attended by officials from NNPC, SNEPCo, Lagos State government, Mushin local council and leaders of communities.

“This year’s outreach is particularly special, as it is supported by the Bonga North Project as part of its social investment commitments,” SNEPCo Managing Director, Ronald Adams, said in a speech read by Head, Corporate Relations, Abubakar Ahmed.

He stated that “Following the Final Investment Decision on Bonga North earlier this year, we are beginning to see the benefits materialize — starting with initiatives like this — that deliver direct and lasting value to communities.”

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The Chief Upstream Investment Officer of the National Upstream Investment Management Services, NUIMS, Oluwaseyi Omotowa, represented by Head, Business Services, Nkechi Anaedobe, said: “This initiative embodies our commitment to improving the health and well-being of communities where we operate. The Vision First programme is a testament to our partnership’s dedication to providing accessible and comprehensive healthcare services to our people.”

The Director, Kolmarg Eyesight Foundation, Dr Olukorede Adenuga, and Chairman, Mushin Local Council Development Area, Emmanuel Bamigboye, said they were happy to collaborate with NNPC/Shell and co-venture partners, Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited, TotalEnergies Nigeria and Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Deepwater) Ltd, in efforts to bring comprehensive healthcare to the doorsteps of the people.

Since its inception in 2022, the Vision First programme has reached more than 4,000 individuals, distributed nearly 2,000 eye glasses while nearly 200 people have undergone vision-restoring procedures, from cataract removals to other corrective surgeries.

Provision of healthcare is just one aspect of the social investments of NNPC/SNEPCo and co-venture partners which have improved lives in internally displaced camps in Northeast Nigeria, rebuilt hospital wards and educational institutions in addition to secondary, undergraduate, and postgraduate scholarship awards and donation of cancer treatment equipment.

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The incident, according to the Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Lagos Territorial Office, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, happened at about 3:50 p.m.

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He said the collapsed building was under construction at Ishaga Road, opposite Central Mosque, Idi Araba, Mushin, Lagos.

He said those rescued had been taken to the hospital while search and rescue operation continued.

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The investigation was made known in a statement signed by the Division’s spokesman, Lt.-Col. Olabisi Ayeni, on Saturday.

The explosion occurred at Idi-Araba in Mushin local government area.

The blast reportedly caused one death and left others injured, prompting a joint investigation by security agencies to determine its cause.

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Ayeni confirmed the explosion happened at a metal scrap yard in Mushin, resulting in one fatality and injuries to two individuals.

He said the Division’s Counter Improvised Explosive Device, CIED, Squadron has been tasked to work with the Police to uncover the explosion’s source.

The team will also assess the surrounding area to guarantee ongoing safety and prevent further incidents in the vicinity.

Residents have been urged to stay calm and not panic, as authorities work to secure the environment.

Ayeni expressed the Division’s condolences to the deceased’s family and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

Source: NAN

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Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Saturday, formally inaugurated the infrastructure, bringing a new commuting experience to the axis.

The project, undertaken by Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, has brought traffic relief to motorists and commuters connecting Agege Motor Road from Onipanu, just as it solved congestion and delays associated with railway level crossing at Ogunmokun axis.

The overpass also eliminated pedestrian and vehicular interference on the rail tracks, eradicating the risk of accidents and collisions between trains and vehicles.

A euphoric crowd of residents thronged the short ceremony where the governor, his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and members of the state’s cabinet gathered to inaugurate the project.

Before the Mushin Flyover was completed, the Sanwo-Olu administration had opened four other bridges in Yaba; Oyingbo; Ikeja and Agege to create new connectivities along the Lagos Rail Mass Transit, LRMT, Red Line, which spans 37 kilometres from Agbado to Oyingbo.

The governor said the opening of the Mushin Flyover was another fulfillment of his administration’s promise to the residents, noting that the infrastructure had changed the face of public transportation in the state.

The flyover, Sanwo-Olu said, would bring relief to the issue of congestion hitherto experienced in the area, while also reducing journey time in accessing Mushin from Ilupeju axis.

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He said: “The Mushin overpass is strategically important for ease of movement and connectivity within Mushin and Onipanu communities, opening new routes to Agege Motor Road, Post Office Road and Ogunmokun axis. This infrastructure has brought not only traffic improvement, but also huge economic value to the area.

“With this new infrastructure, we have ensured there is minimal disruption on the Red Line corridor. For us, we have kept our promise to the citizens and made their lives better. The quality of infrastructure we have provided is about making the lives of our citizens better, improving their means of livelihood and quality of life.”

Sanwo-Olu disclosed that members of the host communities benefitted from the project construction, pointing out that the construction also gave engineering students an internship opportunity to get first-hand practical knowledge.

The governor also said the primary school demolished in the right-of-way of the flyover had been rebuilt in a nearby location, commending Mushin and Onipanu residents for supporting the development.

He charged the residents to take ownership of the infrastructure and protect it from deliberate destruction.

LAMATA Managing Director, Mrs. Abimbola Akinajo, said the state government had fully compensated owners of the buildings in the course of the project, which, she said, was handled by a local contractor.

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The Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr. Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement he issued in Abuja on Wednesday.

Babafemi said the 57 years old man, popularly known as Temo, was arrested after many years of aversion and resistance from the drug dealer and his gang of hoodlums.

His words: “After many years of wearing the toga of invincibility, the overall head of the Mushin, Lagos drug cartel, popularly known as Temo, has been arrested by operatives of the NDLEA.

“In the past two years, the NDLEA had intercepted large consignments of illicit drugs worth billions of naira owned by Temo.

“He has remained largely evasive while a few encounters with him and his armed gangs in his Mushin enclave had resulted in gunfight,” he said.

Some of the recent seizures of the drug barons shipments included a 14, 524.8 kilograms of Ghana Loud, a strong strain of cannabis sativa, smuggled into Lagos from Ghana in two trucks and a J5 bus, the NDLEA spokesman said.

He added that the drugs were intercepted at Ojuelegba area of Lagos in the early hours of January 28.

According to him, two truck-loads of the same substance weighing 8,852kg were also intercepted at Eleko beach, Lekki Lagos on May 4, 2023 and 252kg of Loud seized from his enclave in Mushin on July 26, 2023.

He pointed out too that on two different occasion his men engaged NDLEA operatives in gun duel.

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Babafemi explained: “The drug kingpin was very notorious for always being on the move to evade arrest but with persistence and determination of the agency aided by modern tools and intelligence.

“The concerted effort to get him paid off at 10 a.m. on Monday, July 22 when NDLEA’s surveillance teams on his trail tracked and pinned him down at Igbarere Street, Mushin.

“A reinforcement of about 50 operatives was immediately mobilised to the area while he was attempting to escape in a Mercedes Benz SUV GLE 350 marked 01G-300G.

“His attempt to escape by mobilising hoodlums to engage and distract the operatives however failed after which he was overpowered and whisked away from the chaotic scene while his men surrendered,” he said.

NDLEA chairman, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa who spoke on the arrest commended the officers and men of the Lagos State Command Special Monitoring Task Force and other formations for professionalism.

He urged the officers not to relent but to intensify efforts on arresting drug cartels nationwide and curbing the use of illicit drugs in the country.

“I urge officers to intensify the heat on all drug cartels wherever they are located.

“I’m particularly delighted because the arrest was eventually effected in his enclave without any casualty despite the attack on our men.

“This is therefore a clear message to others still involved in this criminal trade of illicit drugs that if they don’t opt out now, we’ll get them because we’re just steps away from their doorsteps,” he said.

Source: NAN

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The group’s major demand is that the government of Lagos State should rebuild the mosque within six months without reducing its original size and without compromising its standard.

The demand was made in view of the position that the excavator which caused the calamity was working on the road expansion project embarked upon on that street by Lagos State government.

The demand was made on Tuesday during a visit of the Islamic group to the site of the collapsed mosque.

In a statement by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC’s other demands included that the government should pay adequate compensation to families of the deceased; pay the hospital bills of the injured and refund burial expenses of the eleven year-old girl who died.

The group also demanded that the government should arrange for the welfare of the Imam of the mosque and his family until the mosque was rebuilt, handed over to the community and become functional.

MURIC said it would continue to be in constant consultation with the mosque’s Imam to ensure that the demands were met.

The statement by MURIC reads further: “The right to life is an Allah-given fundamental human right which has been vicariously denied this little girl, late Anifat Yusuf, by an agent of LASG.

“Anifat’s father died five years ago and her mother, a widow of five years, has now lost the daughter whom she was hoping would one day be her bread winner, her succour and her companion. She is now alone facing not only the excruciating pains of a mother who lost a mature daughter but also the harsh realities of Nigeria’s galloping inflation.

“This widow’s home at 25, Bello Street, Papa Ajao, which used to be filled with laughter, is now the abode of sorrow, tears, desolation and misery. LASG must take responsibility. Anifat must not die in vain.

“Besides, a whole Muslim community whose only Central Mosque has been pulled down by an erratic excavator driver is now rendered mosque-less. They have become spiritual Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) or, more correctly, Internally Displaced Worshippers (IDWs).

“Only Allah knows how they have been managing to observe the daily prayers since the tragedy three days ago but, more importantly, they must start looking around from today to find the nearest mosque where they will observe the next Jumuah prayer.

“LASG must therefore move quickly to rebuild the mosque. Our mosque is of great significance to us. It is not just where we worship Allah and listen to sermons, it is the house of Allah. It is our brotherhood shelter, our common room, information dissemination centre, counselling centre, education centre, consolation point, our strong room, our engine room and even more.

“The mosque is the Muslim centre of gravity. We cannot afford to have it missing for long. Internal agitation may soon grow into external anxieties and there is a limit to the influence which the mosque management and local Muslim leaders can exert on the restless Muslim youths in the area who have started asking questions.

“We can expect prolonged patience in any other area or areas of Lagos, but not in Mushin. This is the hotbed of activism in Lagos State. LASG must therefore ensure that this mosque is ready in six months. November 2024 is the deal. Let’s hear the response of LASG loud and clear: Deal?”

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Babatunde, who was currently admitted at Mukaz Convalescent Health Centre, Mushin, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Monday that he was shocked when the building was partially collapsing.

The incident occurred during the time for afternoon prayers at Mosjid Mutimain Mosque situated at 64 Shotinoye Street, Papa Ajao area in Mushin.

According to him, he had to ensure everyone ran for safety because he was the second in command after the Imam.

“As you can see, I got injured in the head and leg.  I just got stitched.

“I thank God for life. Though, I am so sad about the loss of the 10-year-old girl,” Babatunde, popularly known as Baba Jeje, said.

The chairman of the mosque, Qasim Keshinro, while speaking with newsmen, said that he was also in the building when it collapsed.

He said the incident happened around 1.10 p.m. and almost claimed his life.

“I saw that the construction workers clearing the gutter had touched part of the mosque building.

“I said let me go to pray and attend to the situation. When I got back inside the mosque, I discovered that the tiles of the building were already falling apart.

“By the time we wanted to take the other exit, the building partially collapsed right in front of our eyes.

“I was hit at the back and right now I am not feeling fine. The building partially collapsed and we only had a small place to escape,” he said.

Keshinro added that a 10-year-old  girl died in the process and the second person that was pulled out of the building lost his leg.

“We had a case of one dead, two seriously injured alongside so many people,” he said.

He said that they immediately called the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency’s numbers but  did not arrive on time.

“Immediately, we saw Mushin Local Government Chairman who sympathised with us and calmed us down,” he said.

Keshinro added that the area only had that central mosque to pray, appealing to the government to build a new mosque for the community.

“This is the only central mosque and we don’t have anywhere to pray again.

“As it is now, we don’t have anywhere to pray and we are appealing for them to escalate the rubbles and look at the direction of giving us another place to pray,” he said.

The Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Sulaimon Oluwatoyin, who came to commiserate with his fellow muslims, advised that safety was paramount and needed to be followed.

“What we call safety cannot  be compromised. We need to follow safety rules and regulations as a people and as muslims.

“What we are seeing is lack of carelessness and negligence, so I am appealing to people that we need to take that responsibility because it is the development of the people and community.

“This is a sad incident and we also appeal to our people to be prayerful. We need to be law abiding and nobody is above the law.

“We pray that Almighty Allah be with the bereaved,” he said.

Source: NAN

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The collapsed mosque claimed the lives of three worshippers with several injured on Sunday during Zuhr prayer.

In a condolence message released on Monday, the chairman of MURIC in Lagos State, Dr. Busari Jamiu Muhammad, sympathised with the bereaved families and the injured faithful.

He also called for an investigation.

The statement reads: “It was with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we received the news of the collapsed mosque and the resultant death of three Muslims in Papa Ajao. We sincerely condole the families of the victims and the Lagos Muslim community.

“According to several reports and eyewitness accounts, the mosque, which is located on Yusuf Street collapsed as a result of excavation by the Lagos State Government in a bid to expand the road.

“We therefore call on the Lagos State government to investigate the incident. The lives and properties of citizens are paramount and the government must always put in place necessary protection for the populace whenever a construction is embarked upon especially in a crowded area. There must be careful assessment of the road to be constructed and the likely risk faced by buildings which have domiciled in the area for decades. Life is sacred and it has no duplicate, therefore, adequate studies prior to the construction work is inevitable.

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“Should the report above be true and the road expansion is found to have been ordered by the Lagos State Government (LASG), we demand adequate compensation for families left behind by the bread winners killed in the accident. LASG must also pay the hospital bills of the injured as well as burial expenses of those who died.

“MURIC is in possession of a video clip that has gone viral showing the excavator machine at the scene of the accident minutes after it occurred. We charge LASG to take responsibility without much fuss. In addition, LASG has a moral and legal duty to reconstruct the mosque within a reasonable period.

“Lastly, we pray for the repose of the souls of our brethren who lost their lives to this ugly incident. They are Allah’s visitors and Muslim heroes who dedicated their lives to worshipping their Creator. May Allah be pleased with them all. We pray that Allah will accept their returns as faithful servants and admit them into blissful paradise as martyrs.

“We equally pray for the injured ones, May Almighty Allah grant them quick recovery.”

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