Lagos State Government has recorded another first in its environmental protection drive and in setting pace for good governance with the establishment of the first ISO certified government-owned laboratory in Nigeria by the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA.

Speaking during the official commissioning of the ultra-modern Laboratory located within the premises of LASEPA on Friday, the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu said that the upgraded and re-equipped laboratory will further improve the quality of life for Lagosians.

Represented by the Commissioner for The Environment and Water Resources at the event, Mr. Tunji Bello, the Governor added that the event demonstrates his commitment to issues relating to the environment and the general well being of residents of the State.

According to him, the upgrading of LASEPA Laboratory became necessary as a result of the growing population of the state and the need to enhance the capacity of the Agency to effectively deliver on its core mandate of monitoring the environment for safety and sustainability.

The Governor said that he was pleased that the Laboratory earned the accreditation of the International Organization of Standardization for Quality Management System (ISO/IEC 9001) and Laboratory Management System (ISO/IEC 17025) which now makes LASEPA the first Government-owned environmental laboratory in Nigeria.

“This accreditation has given Lagos State a global recognition and acceptance as results generated from this laboratory are consistent and accurate through industry-standard protocols; and in line with best practices obtainable worldwide,” the Governor stated.

Sanwo-Olu urged the Management and Staff of LASEPA, particularly those that would be charged with the responsibility of operating this Laboratory to do so with utmost professional care and high sense of responsibility.

“The Management must also, always keep in mind that to whom much is given, much is expected in return. Our administration will continue to invest in projects that are consistent with our goal of ensuring a healthy, safe and Sustainable environment.

” As we strive to bring about a more resilient and environmentally sustainable State, we look forward to a more purpose driven partnership with local and international bodies, academic institutions, researchers and non-governmental organizations, ” Sanwo-Olu added.

Earlier, the Chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Environment, Hon. Rotimi Abiru said that the rate of human activities in all parts of the State and the huge population of residents of the State with different industries makes it compelling for Government to be deliberate about paying attention to the environment.

While saying that the initiative corroborates LASEPA’s resolve to ensure that all residents of the State have access to quality air to breath, Hon. Abiru appreciated the General Manager of the Agency and other environment-friendly stakeholders for championing the protection of the Lagos Environment.

Giving an overview of the upgraded Laboratory, the General Manager LASEPA, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe explained that the Laboratory formerly known as Laboratory Department, serving the then Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning was upgraded by Governor Sanwo-Olu.

According to her, the initiative of the ISO-certified laboratory, was in line with the present administration’s THEMES agenda which prioritizes Health and Environment, saying that the project resonates with LASEPA’s mandate of safeguarding the environmental quality of the state’s land, air and water resources.

She described the ISO-certified laboratory as a boost for the Agency’s mandate in the area of monitoring the activities of industrial, commercial and government entities in the state to ensure compliance to the environmental management laws of the state while also achieving sustainable development.

Fasawe revealed that she identified the need for an upgrade and standardization of the agency’s laboratory processes following her deployment to the agency as the General Manager and upon realization that the mandate of LASEPA borders around effective laboratory services.

In her words: “The laboratory complex was constructed thirty two years ago as a pollution control laboratory under the Governace of Raji Alagbe Rasaki, a retired brigadier general in the Nigerian Army who was the then military governor of Lagos State.

“However, during the Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu regime, it metamorphosed into a full-fledged Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) laboratory with a strategic footprint, sectioned into seven different laboratory services”.

She noted that the agency would not have been able to achieve the upgrading and re-equipping of the laboratory without Governor Sanwo-Olu, who supported the initiative from incubation to completion, alongside the Commissioner for the Environment, some key members of the State Executive Council as well as some principal government officials.

The laboratory which was upgraded, through a carefully designed-work, now has a State-of-the-art environmental laboratory equipment and engineering processes according to International Standards Organisations (ISO) standards and best practices.

Bola Ajao (Mrs.)
Head, Public Affairs Unit,
LASEPA.
28/10/2022.

Built by a powerful nineteenth Century indigenous entrepreneur, Nana Olomu (1852–1916) who was an Itsekiri chief and merchant from the Niger Delta region of south-south Nigeria.

The palace is located at Koko in Warri North Local Government area. The Palace has been recognized and approved as a National Monument.

Chief Nana’s Palace is a living history museum dedicated to the life and deeds of Chief Nana of Olomu, a powerful nineteenth-century entrepreneur who is notable for his extended contact with the British Empire.

Nana Olomu was born into the Itsekiri community of Jakpa around 1852. He was a merchant who later became the fourth Itsekiri chief to hold the position of Governor of Benin River. Although born as “Eriomala”, he became known by his pet name “Nana”.

As a reflection of the grandeur of his achievements, Nana built this magnificent edifice at the turn of the century. It houses his personal effects and evidence of his contact with the Queen, administrators and traders of the British Empire.

This Palace has now become recognized and approved as one of the national monuments.

National Geographic has released its “Best of the World” list where it shares the must-visit destinations for 2023.

National Geographic is a popular American monthly magazine published by the National Geographic Society. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely read magazines of all time.

This year’s list has kept the diversity of cultures in mind and respect for people and their traditions. It focuses on community-led conservation attempts.

Introducing a new category called “community”, the list has been divided into five main categories. Apart from community, the other four categories are adventure, family, nature, and culture.

Community

The best travel destinations for refreshing a sense of diversity and understanding more about “Indigenous tourism” are:

1. Dodecanese Islands, Greece

2. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

3. Alberta, Canada

4. Laos

5. Ghana

Adventure

Top travel destinations for 2023 for adventurous people are:

1. New Zealand

2. Choquequirao, Peru

3. Utah

4. Austrian Alps

5. Revillagigedo National Park, Mexico

New Zealand has been called the adventure capital for a long. These places offer mountaineering villages and many trails for hiking and other activities.

Family

National Geographic wants to inspire “journeys for all ages”. According to its report, the best family destinations for travelling in 2023 are:

1. Trinidad & Tobago

2. San Francisco Crosstown Trail, California

3. Colombia

4. Manchester, United Kingdom

5. Switzerland

These countries allow families to indulge in multiple activities and bond over chocolates, saving turtles, and skiing.

Nature

Azores, Portugal.— Unsplash

Azores, Portugal.— Unsplash

The best places to closely experience and feel nature, according to the list are:

1. Scottish Highlands

2. Botswana

3. Slovenia

4. Big Bend National Park, Texas

5. Azores

These are the countries that are focused on sustainability and promote sustainable tourism. Nat Geo wants you to marvel at the native flora and fauna of these places.

Culture

According to the media outlet, the best places where “history and heritage rule” are as follows:

1. Appian Way, Italy

2. Busan, South Korea

3. Longmen Grottoes, Henan Province, China

4. Egypt

5. Charleston, South Carolina

Egypt is already famous for its museums. South Carolina will soon have the International African American Museum too.

The InSight lander, perched on the surface of Mars since 2018, will run out of power and stop operations within four to eight weeks, NASA said on Thursday (Oct 27), even as scientists detailed a big meteorite strike it detected that gouged boulder-sized chunks of ice surprisingly close to the planet s equator.

Dust has been accumulating on solar panels that draw power for the US space agency s stationary lander, exacerbated by a dust storm, and has been depleting its batteries, planetary geophysicist Bruce Banerdt of NASA s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, InSight mission s principal investigator, told a briefing.

InSight’s mission, which has helped reveal the internal structure of Mars and its seismic activity, originally was planned for two years but was extended to four. When the power runs out, NASA will lose contact with InSight, Banerdt said.

InSight also established that Mars is seismically active, detecting 1,318 marsquakes.

Two research papers published in the journal Science detailed meteorite strikes on the Martian surface detected by InSight in September and December of last year.

Seismic waves triggered by the impacts revealed fresh details about the structure of the Martian crust, the planet s outer layer.

Rishi Sunak said it was right he “focuses on the… depressing domestic challenges” the UK faces in its economy, rather than go to the COP climate change summit next month.

The prime minister claimed the UK gave an “example for others to follow” in tackling climate change, having shown leadership “unmatched almost along the world”.

And he pledged Britain would “continue to deliver on all those things”.