Lagos Assembly Tasks Executive On Fake Advertisers

Worried by the rampant rate of fake advertisements displayed on Lagos Streets, the State House of Assembly has asked the Sate Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode to direct the Commissioner of Police, Mr Edgar Imohimi to curb the menace.

The House which also berated the performance of the State Neighborhood Safety Corps in terms of intelligence gathering, directed that the agency should provide security within the neighborhood to curb fake advertisers who defraud job seekers.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa who presided over the plenary said “it is not out place to seek for jobs but the situation has turned upside down. I strongly believe that the neighborhood safety corps is not doing enough in this aspect.

Obasa therefore called on the corps unit to verify claims on adverts placed on walls and liaise with the police in providing intelligence gathering to address the trend.

Earlier, Hon. Abiodun Tobun who is the prime mover of the motion, had called on the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode to direct the commissioner of police, Department of State Security (DSS) and the State Neighborhood Safety Corps to curb the activities of scammers who defraud job seekers.

Hon. Tobun noted that “the motion is borne out of conviction. If you go around Lagos, you will be amazed seeing the number of adverts that are non-existent with a view to luring unsuspected youth into their dens. The victims are kidnapped, raped or even killed.

“Rituals killers also use that as a strategy. It is time to track down this and ensure that it is nipped in the bud,” Tobun said.

Rotimi Olowo on his part explained that, “When population is moving geometrically and job is growing arithmetically, there is going to be vacuum. They come up with strategy to recruit and maim and kill.

“I’m worried as a politician because 2019 is around the corner, people will believe the politicians are the ones who need human parts,” saying Lagos State Signage and Advertisements Agency (LASAA) must ensure scammers are detected.

While making his own contribution, Hon. Segun Olulade pointed out that the newly established Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps has more to do in this respect in terms of intelligence gathering.

According to the lawmaker, “we have seen a lot of advertisements on walls along the streets claiming what they are not,” adding that the youth could also come up with security gadgets to verify job vacancies especially on the internet.

Hon. Oluyinka Ogundimu explained that emphasis should be laid on publicity and enlightenment, saying “when people do not have anything to eat their reasoning is affected

Ogundimu advised that the Employment Trust Fund of the state, which is aimed at providing loans for small scale businesses should be sustained.

While making his contribution, Hon. Rasheed Makinde who said he had once been a victim of such sharp practises, said as “Lagos is working assiduously to provide jobs, over states and the federal government should also do the same to curb influx of unemployed youth into the state.”