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Tag: Akinwunmi Ambode

  • Ambode’s aide cautions on border closure against rice importation

    Mr Sanni Okanlawon, the Special Adviser on Food Security to Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, on Friday advised the Federal Government to apply caution as it  planned  to close the nation’s borders against rice importation.

    Okalawon said that this was to avoid consumption deficit.

    Okanlawon told our reporters in Lagos that though the closure would boost the productivity of local farmers, he added that the ripples effects on certain aspects of the rice value-chain should also be considered.

    He said that the milling capacity of the country was at the lowest level and might not be able to meet the production and consumption deficit of the commodity.

    “The proposed border closure by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is a laudable one that will boost local production of rice, which is the cascade effect.

    “However, let me caution here that before such a step is taken, there must be improved milling capacities across the country.

    “Although, the smuggling of rice is not helping matters, our rice-milling capacity as a nation is inadequate. I understand the country produces 500 million metric tons of rice paddy.

    “How much of that production do we have the capacity to mill; how many mills do we have in Nigeria, these are questions we should consider,” Okanlawon said.

    Read Also: We won’t allow drug destroy our youths – Ambode

    The aide said that the Lagos State Government was in the process of establishing a rice mill in Imota, near Epe that would be able to produce 32,000 metric tons per hour when it started operations.

    According to him, after such high-milling sites have been established across the country, then will the border closure stop the rice smuggling.

    Okanlawon said that when the milling capacity of the country was improved, then we would be able to meet our consumption deficit.

    “Lagos State has taken several steps to upscale and improve milling capacity; and if other states can do same, then, we will have enough, beat our chest and we can boldly close our borders.

    “I want to believe that the minister meant the closure of all the illegal borders,” he said.

    The special adviser expressed fears over the various illegal routes in some states of the country that had limited security personnel.

    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, had on June 19, ordered the closure of the land borders to guide against smuggling of rice.

    NAN

     

  • Erosion may wipe off Lekki Conservation Centre -DG

    The Director-General of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Dr Muhtari Aminu-Kano, raised the alarm on Saturday that erosion may soon wipe off the Lekki Conservation Centre in Lagos.

    Aminu-Kano told our reporters that sand filling, dredging and land reclamation activities in various communities in the area had directly threatened the existence of the park.

    According to him, the development has endangered various animal and plant species in the reserve, requiring urgent intervention of the Lagos and Federal Government to save the reserve.

    “Our problem is that with recent developments, we have become an island.

    “This is one of the only few places where you have dense population of trees and animals and what that means is that all the buildings around us have raised the land above us so, we are now in a depression.

    “When the rains come, all the water drains into this reserve. So we have a lot of flooding and areas that are not normally flooded are now flooded.

    “We have, however, done a study and we are trying to improve the drainage without disturbing the natural ecosystem.

    “But another problem we have is that of shoreline erosion.’’

    He noted that with the ongoing protection of the Bar Beach shoreline and land reclamation activities around Maroko and Lekki, water was finding its level back on the conservation area.

    Read Also: Yves Rocher opens new store at Palms Mall Lekki

    “It means this reserve is under threat. The erosion is now eating up the area. What used to be Bar Beach erosion before is now coming to our part of Lagos.

    “That is why we are asking the authorities, both Lagos State and the Federal Government, especially the Ecological Funds Office to do something urgently.

    “Our appeal is not just for us alone but all the communities around us living or deriving their livelihoods from this area.’’

    He said that the NCF was also speaking to researchers and other interests on ways to explore the bio-diversity of the reserve.

    Aminu-Kano, however, lauded Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode for providing some facilities and constructing a major perimeter road to facilitate access to the park.

    He appealed for more support to boost tourism at the park, lamenting that forests and game reserves in the country were facing deforestation, due to human activities.

    There are reports that some portions of the reserve, having low fence have collapsed while some other facilities have dilapidated.

    NAN

  • Ambode, Philip, others for NIPR week

    Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, the Former Minister of Information, Chief Alex Akinyele, Founder and Chairman, Phillips Consulting Group, Mr. Foluso Phillips, Chief Executive Officer, Aspire Coronation Trust (ACT) Foundation, Ms Osayi Alile and others have been billed to grace the week long Public Relation week of Lagos chapter of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) scheduled to hold between Friday, 18th and Thursday, 24, May.

    Tagged “Boosting Competitiveness & Inclusive Growth through Communication” the event is poised to bring together public relations and communications professionals, economists, legislators, management experts and business leaders from across different sectors and industries in sub-Sahara Africa, civil servants and other stakeholders including the media.

    This was contained in a statement signed by the Lagos State Chairman, NIPR, Oluesgn McMedal and issued to The Nation yesterday in Lagos, said that the week long event will kick-off with the pre-event Cocktail and Networking Mixer, themed: Relishing Professional Company, at Chain Reactions, 72A, Oduduwa Way G.R.A., Ikeja, Lagos on Friday, May 18, 2018 and its geared towards strengthening mutually beneficial relationships with the most influential stakeholders

    He noted that there will be Chief Alex Akinyele Charity Match which will feature the SUPERSPORTS All-Stars and the Best of the Institute, at the Astroturf pitch, Lagos Country Club, Ikeja, Lagos on Saturday, May 19, 2018. The match tagged: Champions of Love, is intended to create awareness, acceptance, respect and support for people living with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). There will also be a Health Check-up and Aerobics for participants.

    The Lagos Public Relations Week will climax with the Leadership Lecture featuring the Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode as the Chief Host and Founder/Chairman, Phillips Consulting Group, Mr. Foluso Phillips delivering the lecture on the thematic campaign at the Agip Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, Lagos on Thursday, May 24, 2018.

  • Extend love, selfless service beyond Ramadan, Ambode urges Muslims

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has urged Muslims to extend love to others and imbibe the act of selfless service to humanity during and after Ramadan, saying such would go a long way in making the world better.

    Speaking at a Ramadan Tafsir held at Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja, Ambode said those having in excess must show gratitude by helping others and also exhibit total submission to God’s commandments.

    “To all my Muslim brothers and sisters, I just want to use this opportunity to greet all of you that as we commence the Ramadan. Let’s show love to ourselves and also show love to our neighbours.

    “You need to love yourself first before you can even show love to another person. So, when we have in excess, we must show the attitude of gratitude to be able to give to others because somebody else has over provided for us,” the Governor said.

    He said since assuming office, the guiding philosophy of his administration had been about inclusion and to positively touch lives, just as he admonished Muslims to imbibe the spirit of giving selflessly to others at all times.

    “Beyond Ramadan, we must also show the attitude of giving at all times; that is the philosophy of our government; that is the practice we have been doing in the last three years; we must touch the poor and we must touch our people.

    “There are people who are suffering and that is why we do projects that are people-oriented; that is why we go to areas that have never been touched before; that is why we would be in Ayobo, Akute, Badagry, Epe and places that have not been touched and that is the whole essence of why Allah has brought us on earth.”

    Commissioner for Home Affairs Dr. AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef thanked Governor Ambode for implementing unrivalled programmes and policies that have brought unprecedented development to the state, and thereby making Lagos free of religious or ethnic violence since assuming office in 2015.

    Dr AbdulLateef called on Muslims and all Lagosians to collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) and vote for continuity to preserve Ambode’s legacies and sustain good governance that Lagosians “are currently experiencing.”

    The Commissioner enjoined Muslims and clerics especially to step up on their prayers for Ambode and Lagos State, saying spiritual leaders remained important partners for togetherness to help in the acceleration of developmental objectives of the state.

    Lagosians, he said, must increase their good and noble characters, eschew bad habits and promote love, peace and unity to ensure that Lagos remain a safe, secure and healthy place to live.

  • Ambode advocates inclusive governance, true federalism

     Says he would choose UNILAG again

    If he were to choose a school to attend again, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State said he would choose the University of Lagos.

    Returning 34 years after he graduated from its department of Accountancy as the convocation lecturer on Tuesday, Ambode also urged Nigerians to choose to run an inclusive society devoid of ethnicity and religious bigotry for national progress.

    This was as he called for a reduction of power at the centre to allow states and local governments to fulfil their constitutional roles properly in the lecture titled: “Inclusion: Path to a new Nation”

    Ambode, the first alumnus of the university to become Lagos State governor, said the policy of inclusion had helped Lagos develop and advocated same for other states.

    He said: “Here, I offer Lagos State as an example of what is possible for all Nigeria and Nigerians when we practice the governance of inclusion instead of the old, malign ways of exclusion.

    “What makes you truly Lagosian has little to do with where you were born, the origin of your surname or which Holy Book, if any, you read.

    “If you do not mind if a person of a different group or religion prospers so long as you too have the fair chance to do the same, then you are Lagosian at heart.

    “It is in this spirit that we build Lagos anew.  It is in this spirit that we can build a new Nation.

    “Inclusion is a principle by which we put to constructive use the full industry and skill of the people; rich and poor, old and young, men and women, boys and girls.

    “It is my unyielding belief that the principle of inclusion which has served Lagos so well can be employed in other states with similar effect.  In effect, our dear nation, Nigeria.”

    To practice true federalism, Ambode called for reallocation of power between states and the Federal government “by amending the list of exclusive and concurrent powers and duties of these governments to reflect the current realities in the nation.”

    Earlier in his speech, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Dr Wale Babalakin, appealed to Ambode, as an alumnus, to support the university’s projects, including one to expand its landmass.

    “We require help to sandfill part of our lands.  We also call on you to pick one of our projects and in association with your friends implement for us.  We are not asking you to bring state funds but with the help of friends in the right places, implement for us,” he said.

    The programme also featured the investiture of Prof Toyin Ogundipe as the 12th vice-chancellor of the university.

    Ogundipe, who was appointed last November, said part of his vision to promote UNILAG as a distinguished research-based university, included the establishment of a modular refinery and securement of a mining license to boost the practical training of its students.

    Dignitaries at the event included Prof Anya O. Anya, who chaired the occasion; Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos, Prof Rahamon Bello and Prof Ibidapo Obe, former vice-chancellors of the university; among other vice-chancellors, government functionaries, administrators and others.

  • LAWMA urges Lagos residents to bag wastes for easy evacuation

    The Lagos State Waste Management Authority ( LAWMA ) on Tuesday urged residents to always bag their wastes to ensure effective evacuation.

    LAWMA General Manager, Segun Adeniji, told our reporter  in Lagos that the state government’s Cleaner Lagos Initiative had been distributing garbage bags to residents for easy waste evacuation.

    ”We have noticed that nylon bags did not get to certain areas, but areas where they get to, they are being used.

    ”Areas where they have not got to, people are expected to even buy the nylon; a roll of nylon is N250.

    ”People can buy this to ensure the cleanliness of the environment, you buy to complement what is available,” the general manager said.

    He said that the March 2017 Lagos Environmental Sanitation and Protection Law clearly stated the role of LAWMA as a regulator.

    Adeniji said that before the law, LAWMA was a fully operational organisation directly in charge of refuse collection all over the state, but with the new law, it became a regulator.

    According to him, LAWMA’s role is to make policies, monitor and supervise all those in Lagos that waste management has been concession to.

    ”What we have found out is that the job is going gradually and there is still much to be done. As a regulator we have seen a few gaps here and there and we are adjusting the gaps.

    ”The gaps showed that the equipment is not enough, they are arriving in batches. On a monthly basis, a good number of trucks are arriving.

    ”As soon as the concessionaire, that is Visionscape Sanitation Solution, has full complement of trucks, then you will see the whole places will be very clean,” he said.

    Special Adviser to the Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode on CLI, Adebola Shabi, had said that as at March this year, Visionscape distributed over eight million garbage bags and over 400,000 garbage bins across Lagos.

    ”What we want from people living in Lagos is to generate your waste, bag your waste and drop them in front of the houses for effective cleaning and preventive blockage of our drainage and canals.

    ”The garbage bags and bins are meant for the waste generated, so please ensure that the wastes are packaged and kept at the front of the houses,” Shabi said.

    NAN

     

  • Ward Congress: Ambode commends party members

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has commended the peaceful process members of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) conducted its ward congresses across the state.

    The governor, who participated in the exercise at his Ward A6 in Epe Local Government Area, said the party had displayed high level of maturity in the conduct of party activities.

    He added that members of the party who turned out in large number to exercise their civil responsibility had shown that the APC is a cohesive party.

    He said: “All our great party members in Ward A6, you have done well for turning out in this number to be part of the APC ward congresses. I want to use this medium to thank you all for the orderliness and peaceful way you conducted yourself.

    “We are members of the same family and that is why we are doing it in line with our constitution.

    The party agreed that it is either we do election or we vote by way of consensus. And that what we have done peacefully today.

    “I want to use this opportunity to say a big thank you to all our members across the state that performed this electoral process across the 337wards in the state .

    We know that the APC can get stronger if there is always peace and consensus among all our members. Like in Epe division, elections have been conducted peacefully in all other divisions. This is the most beautiful ward in Lagos State presently.

    I commend all our newly elected officials. We are very lucky to have observers from INEC who have just witnessed the process of the ward congress here.

    Chief Lanre Razak speaking on the ward congress, said APC was a disciplined party,where rules are followed.

    “Some people expect that we would have crisis riddled congress but you can see for yourself that the whole process is peaceful.

    ‘The APC has showed that it is the party to emulate. Again there is no party that is devoid of crisis. We have a good crisis management mechanism in place.

    “Our national leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has been given an assignment to reconcile the party, I have every confidence that he will achieve the task given to him by President Muhammadu Buhari.

  • Lagos to amend High Court law – Ambode

    Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Wednesday said a bill seeking to amend the High Court law was underway, to meet up with the rising population of the state.

    Ambode spoke in Alausa, Ikeja, at the swearing-in ceremony of three judges of the High Court of Lagos State.

    He said that the bill, when passed and signed into law, would increase the number of judges in the state to 120 from 59.

    “In order to address the challenges of the growing population and the attendant increase in commercial transactions and disputes, we have sent a bill to the state House of Assembly seeking to amend the high court law to fit the number of judges in this state at 120 from the present 59.

    “We expect this to be invariably considered and passed very soon,’’ Ambode said.

    The governor said that these were some of the new innovations that would further position the state judiciary to meet the challenges of dispensing justice quickly and speedily.

    “By 2050, Lagos State will be the third largest city in the world with a population of 50 million; right now we are just about 24 million.

    “So, obviously if we are the fifth largest economy in Africa right now and we are striving to become the third largest economy, it means to tell you the commercial activities and disputes that will be taking place.

    “We need to build a framework immediately to have a justified reason for us to increase the pool of our judges and also improve on the institutional framework surrounding the judiciary,’’ he said.

    The governor admonished the newly appointed judges to be fearless in the discharge of their duties and to always allow professional ethics to govern their acts and utterances within and outside the court.

    “You must determine and discharge justice with independence and impartiality through the oath you have just taken, which is neither an empty ritual nor a matter of mere formal proceeding.

    “It is an open demonstration of commitment in the form of making a solemn and formal promise in which the oath taker will be held accountable not only to the judiciary, the state and the country but also to your creator.

    “The oath is a commitment of loyalty and service to the people of the state which has its roots in the constitution of Nigeria,’’ the governor said.

    Earlier, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Opeyemi Oke charged the new judges to be firm, truthful and unwavering in the discharge of their duties.

    The new judges are Justices Sururat Oladunni, Olukayode Ogunjobi and Yetunde Pinheiro.

    In a vote of thanks, Oladunni, who spoke on behalf of the new judges, appreciated the governor for finding them worthy.

    She pledged that they would remain committed, focused and be incorruptible.

    NAN

     

  • PVC: Lagos emphasises need for collection

    The Lagos State Government on Friday emphasised the need for residents to take advantage of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration ( CVR ) to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards ( PVC ).

    The Special Adviser on Civic Engagement, Mr Benjamin Olabinjo, at the ongoing Ministerial briefing on Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s third year in office in Alausa, also decried the number of uncollected PVCs in the state.

    The newsmen reports that Lagos State has the highest number of uncollected PVCs, with no fewer than 1.4 million yet to be collected by residents.
    “Let me emphasise here that to remain apathetic to this exercise is a self-denial of the inalienable right to vote for candidates of your choice when it is time to do so.

    “I want to seize this opportunity to enjoin those who have yet to register to take advantage of the ongoing exercise to do so now.
    “It is important for all adults of voting age to participate in the political process that will produce those that will be at the helm of affairs in the polity,” Olabinjo said.

    He said that the office would continue to intensify efforts at enlightening residents to seize the opportunity of the ongoing CVR to obtain their PVCs.
    According to him, the enlightenment would particularly be for those who have attained voting age and others who have relocated from their previous abode.
    He also said that in the course of the year, the office wouldensureenlightenment of residents on the need for peaceful electioneering in the state.

    Olabinjo said that in the last three years, the office had engendered cordial working relationship between the legislative and the executive arms of government. The special adviser said that 27 bills passed by the House Assembly were assented to by Gov. Ambode during the period under review.

    Read Also: 2019: Lagos lawmakers rally support for Gbajabiamila

    He said the office simplified and translated eight laws into Pidgin, Yoruba and Egun languages, to facilitate easy understanding and voluntary compliance.
    Olabinjo, who said the office was in the process of embarking on sensitising residents on more laws of the state, promised that other bills would also be looked into for translation and simplification.

    “Let me use this opportunity to enjoin all to always respect public laws so as to maintain peace and order in the state,” he said.
    Olabinjo said the office attended to 119 issues arising from petitions and complaints from individuals, groups and communities.
    In support of the needy, Olabinjo said that N254.750 million was disbursed to 2,046 beneficiaries by the office in the last three years.
    He said that 108 communities were engaged while their requests include provision of facilities such as roads,street lights, drainage, health centres and schools.

    NAN

  • Lagos receives $43 billion investment proposals in 3years

    The Lagos State Government on Thursday said the state received over $43 billion worth of investment proposals in the last three years.

    Prof. Ademola Abass, the Special Adviser, Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment, disclosed this at Alausa, during the agency’s Ministerial briefing to mark the third year in office of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode.

    Abass listed areas investors had shown interest to include transportation, health, food security, power, housing, manufacturing and tourism, among others.

    “Investors have shown considerable interest in tapping into the investment opportunities in Lagos because of the government’s vigorous pursuit of measures geared toward enhancing the ease of doing business.

    “Lagos State as an emerging market is becoming the financial hub and a preferred investment destination in Africa,” Abass said.

    He said that the agency had assisted some businesses to establish partnerships with the State Government.

    According to him, the agency also helped existing investors by providing aftercare services and ensuring the provision of necessary business support services.

    He said it also resolved issues relating to taxes, such as tax reduction, multiple taxation, environmental issues, local government and land ownership rights, infrastructure and partnerships.

    Read Also: FEC okays N64.108b for Lagos-Ibadan road project

    The Special Adviser said the agency organised various international engagements for the state.

    It also performed general duties which focused mainly on facilitating visa procurement for visiting foreign dignitaries as well as state officials travelling abroad for official duties.

    Abass said the agency would soon unveil the “Lagos to the World” campaign in furtherance of its desire to continue to strategically position the state as a leader in investment promotion in Nigeria.

    He said that the campaign was a multifaceted initiative aimed at using various cutting edge strategic tools in projecting and effectively communicating the investment opportunities in the state to the world.

    NAN