Lawmaker Calls For Strict Regulatory Measures Against Siting Of Gas Plants
AS the number of victims of the gas explosion that rocked Ajegunle, Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Council of Lagos State, lawmaker representing the area in the House of Representatives, Mr. Kolawole Taiwo, has harped on the need for government to enforce strict regulatory measures, and monitor the setting up of gas plants in the country.
At least two persons were reported dead, with over 20 others seriously injured in the explosion, which occurred last Wednesday.
Taiwo, a former deputy speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly said it has become imperative for government at all levels to discourage the establishment of gas plants in residential areas following nasty experiences of gas explosions that have occurred in various parts of the country in recent times.
While addressing the media in Lagos, yesterday, after a condolence visit to the victims and families of the bereaved, the lawmaker said government should compel those wanting to establish gas plants to do so in designated areas, with strict safety measures due to the highly flammable nature of gas.
“I am already preparing to move a motion in the House, which I intend to discuss with the Speaker, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, to be treated as urgent as possible on how to regulate and monitor the setting up of gas plants,” he said. Taiwo said if not for the fact that the issue of gas was on the exclusive list, state assemblies would have been in a better position to regulate it, except the issue of distribution and sales.
He, however, advised property owners not to entertain the idea of subletting their property in highly populated areas to investors to set up gas plants, saying state government and local councils could also work on this in terms of granting permits.
The lawmaker commended the state emergency agencies and the compassion expressed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu, among others in rendering quick assistance to the victims.
Tand Executive Director of Live Abundantly, Dr. Onyerinma Ama has called for the domestication of the Child Right Law across the country beyond the present 24 states, where it is operational.
Ama disclosed this at a panel of discussion on Equality, Peace and Migration, during the Children’s Awareness Initiative programme, held at Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos.
Organised by Live Abundantly, in partnership with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the Nigerian Police Force (NPF)
NIGERIA’S Financial Technology (Fintech) community has received a boost of $40m seed fund .
Palmpay, the latest fintech startup to receive seed funding has already said it is working on partnerships in the areas of payment systems integrations, e-commerce, lending and communications. Africa’s Fintech space has witnessed an influx of startups looking to offer scalable soluand the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the initiative was aimed at enhancing the lives of children, by way of encouraging social awareness, advocacy and education.
Ama, who said with the discovery that the average age of trafficked children in Nigeria is 15, the seriousness of the scourge should not the discountenanced, the reason the organisation is focused on attaining its set goals, which includes gender equality, good health and wellbeing, quality education, reduced inequalities and ensuring peace, justice and strong institutions. tions for the continent’s financial needs.
According to statistics provided by Weetracker, Fintech now receives the bulk of Venture Capital and deal-flow to African startups.
Visa is paying $200m for 20 per cent stake in Interswitch, Nigeria’s largest electronic payments company. Hence, Interswitch would not be the first Africa-focused tech company to achieve the billiondollar so-called unicorn status.