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Tag: Akinwunmi Ambode

  • Landlords protest in Lagos

    PROPERTY owners and residents from Igbogbo/Bayeku in Ikorodu, Lagos State whose buildings were demolished in December 2017 by the administration of former governor Akinwunmi Ambode, on Monday protested at Alausa, Ikeja seat of government, demanding for compensation.

    Pa Jacob Arogundade and Taiwo Folarin led the protesters.

    Arogundade said of the 700 properties destroyed, including churches and mosques, only 96 people were paid compensation in 2018 by the Ambode administration while other property owners were yet to be compensated.

    He said, “The last administration only paid compensation for about 10 per cent of the houses and shops demolished and left the remaining 90 per cent suffering for about two years now.

    “We are appealing to our listening governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to look into the issue of payment to us the poor and forgotten people of Igbogbo community whose properties were demolished by the last administration in the state in a haste”.

    He said homes and families have been separated, education of children adversely affected and many now living in churches, mosques, schools and uncompleted buildings for almost two years now.

    “The most pathetic of all are the aged ones, we mean people that are 80 years and above who rely on rents from those demolished shops and rooms for their living, a source which has been taken away from them without notice,” Arogundade said.

    Read Also: ‘Lagos Assembly will not fail Lagosians’

    According to a letter addressed to the governor, the group said they had been promised compensation immediately the new administration came on board and they fulfilled their own side by voting massively for the new governor, but that it is surprising that more than 100 days after assuming office nothing has been done.

    “Your Excellency, we have all seen the list of compensation with our names publicly displayed in room 22 of the Ministry of Lands and also in the accounts office room 35 ready for payment but waiting for your approval”.

    They appealed to the governor “in the name of Almighty God to have mercy on us and approve payment so that we the people of Igbogbo and other Lagosians will continue to pray for you and your government…”, they stated.

    Responding on behalf of the speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Tobun Abiodun commended them for the peaceful protest but appealed to them to be calm and patient as the matter would be looked into at plenary by the House.

  • Protesters demand Ambode’s probe

    SCORES of protesters under the aegis of Lagos Youth Vanguard (LYV) on Tuesday protested at the Lagos State House of Assembly complex demanding the probe of former governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    The protesters, who chanted solidarity songs, were led by the Patron of LYV, Mr. Rasak Olokooba, and the President of the Group, Mr. Ibrahim Ekundina.

    Some of the placards carried by the protesters read: “Ambode, submit yourself for probe,” “Ambode must be probed,” “EFCC, do your job.”

    The LYV stated in its leaflets distributed to journalists that Ambode “deliberately laid landmine through the obvious improper, inappropriate and insufficient content in his handover note that should serve as a guide to the incoming administration in the tradition of every civilised public officer.”

    The group accused Ambode of flouting official procedures, saying that he refused to abide by the procurement laws.

    He was accused of wrong priority in policies and programmes as well as abandoning the track that could bring about development in the state.

    Read Also: Alleged misdeeds: EFCC searches Ambode’s home

    The LYV said: “We call for his probe and investigation with a view to apportioning appropriate penalties.

    “We want to assure the good people of Lagos State, and all the people that care about Lagos that we will continue to pursue every legitimate means until justice is done.”

    The group’s Patron Olokooba said it was good to be fair to every administration.

    Olokooba added that they had watched events for 90 days and that there were clear indications that the former governor had been making attempts to sabotage the current administration.

    He said: “For every government that is going out, you leave a template for the coming government to succeed. Ambode handed over a very rickety handing over note that cannot assist the current administration.

    “If you go round the state today, you will see that there is no governor that would inherit such state and the people of the state would be happy with him, but thank God the goodwill enjoyed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is still intact, if not, by now the people of Lagos State would have been complaining bitterly.”

     

     

  • Lagos Assembly raise panel to probe Ambode’s 820 buses

    THE Lagos State House Assembly on Tuesday raised a nine-man ad-hoc committee to investigate the purchase of 820 buses valued at N45 billion by the administration of the immediate past Governor of the State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

    Chaired by Fatai Mojeed, the committee has Gbolahan Yishawu; Bisi Yusuff; Afinni Olanrewaju; Rasheed Makinde; Yinka Ogundimu; Mojisola Meranda; Temitope Adewale and Kehinde Joseph as members.

    The House of Assembly said it has become imperative to investigate the acquisition of 820 buses out of the 5,000 buses proposed by the former governor for mass transit in the state.

    According the legislature, the governor went ahead to buy the buses despite objection by the Assembly.

    In a motion titled: Lagos State House of Assembly Motion Number 2, Yishawu stated that the House noted that at the Executive/Legislative parley held at Golden Tulip in FESTAC in September 2017, Ambode informed the House that 5,000 buses would be bought by the government.

    He added that the executive proposed to spend N17 billion to purchase the buses in the 2017 budget, saying however, the House declined approval as it did not follow stipulated terms.

    The lawmaker said: “In the 2018 and 2019 budgets, the state government proposed N24 billion and N7 billion respectively, but these were not approved.

    Read Also: Why Lagos Assembly dropped three commissioner-nominees

    “The state government still went ahead to import 820 buses at N7 billion, and out of them 520 are still awaiting clearance at the ports.

    “The buses were later bought without approval by the state House of Assembly.”

    Yishawu added that the House was worried that 520 buses were still awaiting clearance from the bonded warehouse at the Port and that they were purchased with taxpayers’ money without approval.

    He submitted that the House should set up an ad hoc pane to investigate all the issues relating to the purchase of the buses.

    Besides, he urged the House to investigate the cost of the purchase to prevent a re-ocurrence.

    Speaker Mudashiru Obasa pointed out that the House needed to prevent waste because the deed had already been done.

    He said: “The vehicles are in the ports and they have been there for almost a year. The state will continue to suffer if we allow the buses to stay in the ports.”

    Obasa noted that contrary to the practice in the state, Ambode’s administration delved into operation, when “we should be the regulators of transporters, the state should not operate buses.

    “How much are we giving the buses out should be addressed. We should get the buses to the roads and safe the state from further wastes”, he said.

    The Speaker directed the committee to invite the Accountant-General of the State, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport and any other official involved in the purchase to give testimonies on the purchase.

    He also told the panel to invite the current Commissioner for Finance, the Managing Director of LAMATA and others.

    Yinka Ogundimu said: “We need to investigate every transaction that has to do with the procurement of the buses. It would become a bad precedent if we don’t do anything about this. A huge amount of money still needed to be paid on the purchase of these buses. Whoever has erred should be brought to book.”

    Saka Solaja said: “In awarding a contract there should be two parties. The contractor should note if the company is viable and if it is provided for in the budget. Yet, the contractors went ahead to take up the contract.

    “We need to investigate the issue and whoever is culpable should refund money to the government. By getting ISPO without budgetary approval should attract punishment.”

    In his view, Rotimi Olowo (Shomolu I) stressed that the provision of the 1999 Constitution in Section 120 has been flouted with the purchase.

    Olowo noted: “They told us that they wanted to start a pilot project, yet they went ahead with the project. Can we still wait for the vehicles to be in the port and attract demurrage.

    “The incumbent governor of the state should ask for waivers from the Federal Government so that we could retrieve the vehicles from the ports.”

  • EFCC secures order to freeze N9.9b in three accounts linked to Ambode’s Perm Sec

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured a court order freezing N9.9billion in three accounts linked to a Permanent Secretary who worked with ex-Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State.

    It said only about N300 million was left in the said accounts.

    It claimed that the accounts were uncovered in First City Monument Bank (FCMB) 5617984012;  Access Bank (0060949275) and Zenith Bank  1011691254, respectively.

    A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Tony Orilade said the freezing followed an ex parte application it filed before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

    It said a suspect, Adewale Adesanya, the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Chief of Staff to the ex-governor was under probe over the strange accounts.

    The statement said: “Justice Chuka Obiozor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, August 6, 2019, ordered the freezing of the sum of three accounts belonging to the Lagos State government over alleged N9.9 billion fraud.

    “Only about N300 million are now left in the three accounts.

    “The funds are domiciled in First City Monument Bank, FCMB, account number 5617984012; Access Bank account number 0060949275 and Zenith Bank account number 1011691254, respectively.

    Read Also: EFCC nabs 15 suspected Yahoo boys

    “Justice Obiozor gave the order, following an ex-parte application filed by the  EFCC.

    “The EFCC had prayed the court to freeze the account pending the conclusion of investigation and possible prosecution of Adewale Adesanya, the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Chief of Staff to former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    “The applicant, EFCC, in an affidavit deposed to by Kungmi Daniel, an operative of the Commission, stated that there was “a huge inflow of N9,927,714,443.29” from the state accounts into an FCMB bank account opened on September 17, 2018 during the administration of the immediate past  governor of the state, Akinwunmi Ambode, and operated by Adesanya.

    “It was further stated that the schedule of the FCMB account showed how Adesanya and other signatories to the account made fraudulent transfer from the accounts of the Lagos State Government and dissipated the funds housed in the said accounts.

    “In his submission, counsel to the EFCC, Mohammed Abbas, said “The trend in the account is that the account always witnessed huge inflow from Lagos State Government in the above scheduled accounts managed by the respondent (Adesanya)”.

    “Abbas, therefore, prayed the court to grant an order to temporarily attach and take over the accounts to enable it conclude its investigations.

    “There have been concerted efforts and attempts to dissipate the contents of the accounts listed in the schedule to this application.

    “Without freezing the nominated accounts and temporarily forfeiting the money to the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, there is no way the fraud being perpetrated using the scheduled accounts can be stopped,” he further told the court.

    “Consequently, Justice Obiozor granted the prayers of the counsel to the Commission.

    The Judge adjourned further proceedings to September 9, 2019.

  • Environmental sanitation: Sanwo-Olu considers return to restriction of movement

    Saturday’s creation of an online poll on its social media handles, Facebook and Twitter, to sample the opinion of Lagosians on the suspended monthly environmental sanitation, seems to confirm speculation that the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration in Lagos State may revert back to the restriction of movement of vehicles and persons for the purpose of environmental sanitation every last Saturday of the month.

    As at 5:45 p.m. on Saturday, the poll, which was set up around 4:00 p.m, had recorded over 5,500 votes, 226 comments and 152 shares.

    As at that time, participants who voted in favour of reverting to the last Saturday of the month as environmental sanitation day constituted about 79 percent while only 21 per cent voted against it.

    It would be recalled that one of the major criticisms of the government of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was the heaps of waste that suddenly took over the streets of Lagos after the governor gave exclusive rights of waste disposal to a firm, Visionscape.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu, Makinde swing into action

    Reacting to the piling wastes, the House of Assembly passed a resolution demanding that the Lagos State Waste Management Agency be in charge of waste disposal in the state.

    Today, many Lagosians seem to believe that the new government of Sanwo-Olu, which has already declared a state of emergency on waste management, is likely to revert to environmental sanitation day introduced by the Muhammadu Buhari/Tunde Idiagbon junta in the early 1980s. Successive military and democratic governments in Lagos had continued to observe this until former Governor Ambode’s government stopped it following an order by the Lagos State division of the Court of Appeal in 2016 which ruled that it was illegal for the state government to arbitrarily restrict the movement of people without an enabling law in place.

    The suit was brought before the court by a citizen, Faith Okafor (appellant), against the Lagos State Government (respondent).

    The court restrained the Lagos State government and its affiliates from further arresting anyone whatsoever on the basis of a purported environmental sanitation offence or trying anyone in the Special Offences Court without conforming to the dictates of the Constitution.

    The court asked the state government to pass a law restricting the movement of persons before enforcing the restriction.

  • Build Agege Bridge for us, Small Doctor urges Ambode

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    Nigerian music artiste, Adekunle Temitope, popularly known as Small Doctor has urged the governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode to impress it on the incoming administration to take the building of the Agege Bridge as a top priority.

    He made this appeal at the Agege Stadium on Saturday, as African Legends gathered for a testimonial match in honour of the governor, whose term in office finishes on May 29.

    Small Doctor said “Neighboring areas have their own bridges. I want to be taking pictures at Agege Pen-Cinema Bridge, and be sending it worldwide. Please impress it on the next governor to take that project as priority.”

    Meanwhile, the match in honour of the governor had the biggest African and Nigerian footballers to have played the round leather game.

    The Nigerian team, coached by 1996 Olympic gold medal winning coach, Bonfere Jo, had Austin  ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Augustine Eguavoen, Obafemi Martins, Daniel Amokachi, Mutiu Adepoju, Emmanuel Amunike, Taribo West, Samson Siasia, Garba Lawal, Peter Rufai and Ike Shorunmu, Victor Ikpeba.

    Others included Julius Aghahowa, Tijani Babangida, Finidi George and Sam Sodje,

    The deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shuaibu and Ayo Makun, popularly known as AY also had a feel of the game.

    El Hadji Diouf, Titi Kamara, Stephen Appiah, Loumana Tresor Lua Lua,  Christian Karembeu, Didier Zokora,  Seydou Keita and Khalilou Fadiga  represented the African team, and they were coached by former Nigeria U-17 Coach, Fanny Anum.

    Read Also: PHOTOS: African football legends honour Ambode

    In the presence of the crowd that thronged the Agege Stadium, Nwankwo Kanu scored the first goal of the match before Titi Kamara equalized for the African legends level within a space of two minutes. Khaliou Fadiga got a second goal for the African Legends, and a foul in the penalty box by Taribo West on El Hadji Diouf led to a penalty that was converted by Titi Kamara which put the African Legends 3-1 ahead at half time.

    In the second half, Garba Lawal fired in a free kick from the edge of the 18-yard to half the deficit for the Nigerian legends. But a cheeky penalty from El Hadji Diouf put the African Legends 4-2 up.

    With the game going to its end, Obafemi Martins charged through the defence of the African Legends and scored a rebound with a header, while a stoppage time goal by comedian, Ayo Makun ensured both team shared the spoils, with the game finishing in a thrilling 4-4 draw.

    Before the match began, Governor  Ambode was given a guard of honour by both teams as he walked through with fireworks display, before he was given the honour of performing  the official kick off for the match.

    Speaking at the end of the match, Nwankwo Kanu said that this match “is just to tell people that football is one. We are united Africans. We must learn to do things together, and appreciate whoever is doing something great amongst us.”

  • Weah, Drogba, Eto’o, others for Ambode testimonial match

    African football legends both in Nigeria and abroad will on Saturday, May 18, storm the Agege Stadium in Lagos to feature in the testimonial match organised to honour the outgoing Governor of the Lagos State, His Excellency, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

    Among the stars that have confirmed their participation for the one day event include The President of Liberian and former World Footballer award winner, George Weah, Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o, Ivorian Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure also from Cote d’Ivoire, Diomansy Kamara, Peterside Idah, Geremi Njitap, Michael Essien, Lomana Lua-Lua, Samuel Eto, Didier Zokora, Kader Keita, Richard Kingston, Christian Karembu, El- Hadji Diouf.

    Others include Peter Rufai, Finidi George, Mutiu Adepoju, Samson Siasia, Augustine Eguavoen, Joseph Yobo, Ike Shorunmu, Kanu Nwankwo, Austin Jay- Jay Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, Emmanuel Amunike, Phillip Shuaibu (Deputy Governor, Edo State), Taribo West, Victor Ezeji, Tijani Babangida, Emma Okocha, Ifeanyi Udeze, Uche Okechukwu and Garba Lawal.

    Read Also: Ambode commissions Bariga jetty, ferries, Ilaje road

    In a statement on Thursday signed by the Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr. Kweku Tandoh, the event tagged ‘Match for Ambode’, is being organised to honour Governor Ambode for his laudable contribution to sports development in Lagos since he assumed office in 2015.

    He said the organisers, a group of ex-internationals led by Waidi Akanni have promised to put up a memorable event, adding that all the African football legends who come for the match will have a taste of good hospitality of the government and people of Lagos State.

    Tandoh added that the testimonial match would be spiced up with music from a-list artistes including Wizkid, Small Doctor amongst many others.

    He also assured that adequate security before, during and after the event which starts by 10am on Saturday have been firmed up.

     

  • Lagos tackles gridlock with layby, slip road

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has unveiled the newly-constructed layby at Allen roundabout and Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja.

    He pledged to explore ways of easing movements on the roads.

    The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Transportation ‘Ladi Lawanson, said yesterday that the layby and slip road with bus shelter were constructed to decongest traffic occasioned by the loading and offloading of passengers, especially during peak hours.

    He said: “Its completion will no doubt impact directly on travel time, leading to reduction of traffic congestion by diverting the picking and dropping of passengers away from the main road to the slip road and layby.

    “This layby project is not the first; the multiple layby at Oworosoki, Ketu inward Ikorodu, the car wash layby, the slip road at Olopomeji Road, the layby located at Alapere bus stop and others in the state are all maximally in use. They are all constructed for the same purpose of decongesting traffic.”

    Ambode said achieving success in decongesting the road required the people to continue to use the infrastructures responsibly and partner the government to ease traffic.

    “This requires that we work together as a team to obey traffic rules and regulations, if we must encourage investors from far and near to feel safe at all times.”

    Read Also: I’m politically wiser now, says Ambode

    The governor, who said the projects were made possible by tax payers’ money, urged Lagosians to take over ownership of the projects across the state and protect them.

    “As you take ownership and prevent them from vandalisation while paying your tax, you will encourage the government to do more,” he said.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Taiwo Olufemi Salaam, said layby was an iconic project that represented the emerging picture of the new Lagos, as witnessed in the general infrastructural development in the state.

    He urged road transport unions, their members and the public to make good use of the facility.

  • I’m politically wiser now, says Ambode

    LAGOS State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode seems to have learnt a lot from his failed attempt to pick the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for a second tenure.

    The governor, who spoke to State House correspondents yesterday after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, said he used to see himself as a technocrat, but the time he spent in office has changed his perception.

    Ambode said: “You see, every politician learns every day. The fact remains that I came in as a technocrat. So, I use to call myself a techno-politician, but I think I am wiser now. I am more of a politician than a technocrat.”

    On his visit to Villa, Ambode said it was just to say thank you to the President for his visit Lagos, where he (Buhari) inaugurated some projects.

    On what he would want to be remembered for after leaving office, he said:  “Well, in another 16 days or so we will be leaving office, but what is important is that I was able to have that opportunity to be elected as Lagos State governor and to touch humanity in a way that I deem it fit.

    “We did our best and most importantly the projects we did were people-friendly and people-centred. I just think a lot more people have enjoyed the benefits and dividends of democracy than we actually met it. And that gives me joy that we were able to touch lives.

    “Wherever you find yourself, just make a positive difference to people and Nigerians. That is the whole essence of service. I’m grateful that I had that opportunity.”

    Read also: We’ll continue to explore ways of easing movement on Lagos roads –Ambode

    Ambode will spend the last days of his administration in inaugurating multiple projects embarked upon and completed by his administration within the last four years, including the new Senate Building of Lagos State University (LASU).

    The inauguration of the projects will begin from today and last till 26th of this month.

    Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Mr. Ade Akinsanya stated this in a statement yesterday.

    According to him, the first set of projects to be commissioned are the Ilaje Road and Bariga Waterfront Jetty, as well as car park designed to enhance intermodal transportation and improve connectivity from the Mainland to the Island and the Ikorodu axis. Seven new world-class ferries would also be unveiled.

    “It is pertinent to note that the Lagos State Government has procured seven ferries, five of which will be commissioned and they are named after monumental events, notable towns and Lagos deities as a reminder of our historical values. The names are – Itesiwaju Eko, Ipakodo, Alausa, Adamu-Orisa, Ejinrin, Eko-Akete and Zangbeto. These are ferries that the citizens will find comfortable, safe as well as affordable.

    “Another project scheduled for commissioning is the new Senate Building of the Lagos State University (LASU) in Ojo, which is yet another confirmation of the commitment of Governor Ambode’s administration towards ensuring meaningful growth in the educational sector.

    “This project will change the landscape of the university and will remain another legacy project of this administration,” Akinsanya said.

    He added that as a follow-up to the Lagos Theatre in Oregun commissioned by President Buhari, two additional theatres would be unveiled at Igando and Epe. That of Badagry would be commissioned at a later date, just as he revealed that a number of road projects would also be inaugurated.

    “The construction of Agric Access Road at Egan in Alimosho Local Government is to ensure connectivity. Specifically, it will provide access to Egan Igando Housing Estate, complement government investment in the project, achieve the economic transformation of the communities and ameliorate the suffering of the people of Egan-Igando.

    “In the Lekki axis, another project slated for commissioning is the upgraded/dualised Bisola Durosinmi-Etti Road/Hakeem Dickson Road and would serve as a bypass to connect the Lekki Ikoyi Link Bridge and also bring about reduction in travel time. This road is expected to further boost trade and commerce, open up this area to more investment opportunities and increase property values,” Akinsanya said.

    Besides, the commissioner said in view of the high premium placed by the state government on storage and archival, a state-of-the-art facility in the Central Business District, Alausa would also be inaugurated by the governor.

    Since 2015 till date, the state government has undertaken rehabilitation of 342 roads and construction projects amounting to 365 kilometres of single carriageway and 5.3 kilometres of bridges.

    No fewer than 125 public buildings, comprising of general hospitals, public centres, skills acquisition centres, high courts/magistrate courts, fire stations, police command, youth centres, multi–level facility/car park and a multipurpose centre across various local government areas were also executed.

  • Ambode urges quality education for women

    LAGOS State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has canvassed for quality education for the girl-child and women to raise their status in the society.

    The governor, who spoke at the International Women Day celebration in Lagos, said with quality education, the gap between women and their male counters would fizzle out.

    Ambode was represented by Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development Agboola Dabiri.

    Read also: Ambode urges quality education for women

    Speaking on the theme: “Balance for better”, the governor urged women to thrive harder to bridge the gap by ensuring that their education is not compromised.

    He called on the relevant authorities to prioritise women education.

    Ambode added that the state government has put women empowerment on the front-burner, stressing that its focal-point was to mitigate poverty prevalent among women.