Tag: Akinwunmi Ambode
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Ambode inaugurates committee on oil producing area relations
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Thursday inaugurated a 45-member committee on Oil Producing Areas Community Relations in Badagry area of the state.
Ambode said the inauguration of the committee was aimed at preventing face-off between investors and host communities of oil producing areas often experienced in the country.
The inauguration comes after the state has officially joined the League of oil producing states in the country.
This followed the discovery of crude oil by an indigenous oil firm, Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum Company Limited.
Exploration and developmental activities in this field commenced since June 1991 and it officially became operational in 2016.
Ambode said: “Lagos, being the home of Nigeria’s most critical commercial activities and now an oil producing state, cannot afford to have any community unrests or disruption of the peace.
“It is imperative that our oil producing companies and their host communities enjoy a very warm and mutually beneficial relationship.”
He said that oil was the major source of revenue in Nigeria today and despite the huge benefits from its discovery, its exploration had brought some negative effects in the oil producing communities, subsequently affecting the whole nation.
“The exploration activities have been found to create serious environmental challenges affecting health, social and economic activities, sustainable development and ecological balance due to land degradation and air pollution among others.
“These activities among others have led to agitations from communities and youth groups, leading to disruption of exploration activities, pipeline vandalisation and in extreme cases kidnapping and violence,” he said.
Ambode noted that this had made it difficult to conduct the business of oil production smoothly and ensure that the relationship between the oil companies and their host communities remained cordial at all times.
This, he said, had also affected negotiations for compensation for land acquisition, damages and spills.
Ambode said that the committee was expected to interface between the host communities and the oil companies in Badagry.“They are to coordinate a seamless implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility ( CSR ) interventions planned for the Badagry oil producing areas by oil producing companies,” he said.
According to him, they will also coordinate community and development issues between the host communities, government and oil producing companies operating in Badagry.
Ambode said the government was committed to creating a conducive environment for all to thrive, especially in the budding oil industry.
“On our part, we will take proactive measures to prevent oil spillage, and where it happens, quickly move to clean it up according to globally accepted standards.
“We will also ensure the safety and security of our communities and operators at all times,” he said.
Ambode charged the committee to bring to bear their wealth of knowledge and experience to ensure cooperation and collaboration between the communities and the oil companies operating in Badagry.
NAN
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Ambode inaugurates access road to LASUTH
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Wednesday inaugurated a road connecting the premises of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital ( LASUTH ) and Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way in Ikeja.
Ambode, who also inspected work on the LASUTH Maternity Hospital popularly known as Ayinke House, ordered contractors handing the project to complete it the next six months.
Ambode expressed delight at the timely completion of the road project, noting that the road was designed for faster access to health care services to save lives.
The 400 metre-long road was designed with street light and drains.
Ambode expressed satisfaction that another access road to LASUTH was constructed after more than three decades.
“We believe strongly that the major cornerstone for the growth of the economy of Lagos actually lies in the hands of all of you here because if we do not have a healthy state, we cannot have a productive economy.
“That is why we decided that we will pay greater attention to the health sector,” he said.
Ambode commended the management of the institution and gave the assurance that his administration would continue to implement policies and projects to develop the health sector.
Earlier, the Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Prof. Adewale Oke, commended Ambode for his commitment to the health sector.
Oke said that the Akinwunmi Ambode administration had executed several projects in the institution.
“This is a dream come true. For many years, we had a problem with movement of patients into the hospital.
“Sometimes, they are in the ambulance for 15 or 20 minutes before they can get in, but this road has solved that problem.
“It is going to save our patients; it is going to make access to the hospital very easy even for the workers.
“It is beautiful,” he said.
Prof. Babatunde Sholagbero, Provost of the Lagos State University College of Medicine, expressed satisfaction that the administration fulfilled its promise of completing the road project.
Sholagbero also thanked the governor for facilitating the accreditation of dentistry in the Lagos State University.
“This makes LASUTH the only state university in Nigeria that awards dentistry degree,” he said.
NAN
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Lagos trade fair will enhance economic growth – Ambode
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State says the 2017 Lagos International Trade Fair ( LITF ) will be an avenue for collaboration toward enhancing economic growth.
Ambode, represented by Dr Idiat Adebule, Deputy Governor of Lagos State, made the remark on Friday, at the opening of the fair with the theme: “Promoting Industrialisation for Economic Recovery and Sustainable Growth.”
The fair is an annual event organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( LCCI ).
Ambode noted that the previous edition of the event was held amid economic recession, but now, the economy had not only exited recession, but had received positive global rating.
According to him, the rating has shown an improvement in the country’s Ease of Doing Business ranking of the World Bank.
“This positive development is the cumulative effect of policies and reforms being implemented diligently to ensure a conducive environment for business growth and development,” he said.
The governor said the large turnout of participants, networking events and volume of transactions recorded yearly are testaments of the trade fair’s relevance in boosting national economic growth and recovery plans.
In her comments, Mrs Nike Akande, President of LCCI, said that the theme of the fair was to underscore the critical importance of industrialisation in the nation’s economic recovery and diversification process.
She said that it would also draw attention to the imperative of creating an enabling environment to attract new investments, grow existing ones and the necessity to build a sustainable economy.
“There is perhaps no better time to do this than now. This is the time to focus more on the non-oil sector for diversification.
“The non-oil economy is more inclusive and integrated. It is also more growth-oriented, characterised by high economic linkages, stable, and above all, more sustainable,” she said.
According to her, appreciating the dynamics of the economy will enable government to construct policies that will ensure sustainable economic development.
Akande said that government’s priority should be to fix impediments to productivity and competitiveness in the economy.
She said that tackling the constraints would encourage domestic investment, attract foreign capital and facilitate the realisation of the objectives of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of the government.
Chief Alaba Lawson, President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), urged the government to implement infrastructural development measures, toward improving all sectors of the economy.
She said that doing this would make the country take its rightful position as not only one of the largest economies in Africa, but also the most industrialised one.
The 31st edition of the Lagos International Trade Fair ends on Nov. 12.
NAN
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Ambode hails Ogundipe’s appointment as Unilag VC
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Monday congratulated Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe on his appointment as the new Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos ( Unilag ).
“Being a product of the university himself, I am proud to say that his appointment is thoroughly deserved; Prof. Ogundipe does not need any introduction in the academic world.
“He has distinguished himself in the service of the prestigious University of Lagos over the years and his leadership skills are not in doubt,” Ambode said in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Habib Aruna.
The university’s Governing Council at the end of its meeting on Oct. 27, approved the appointment of Ogundipe as the 12th Vice-Chancellor of the institution.
Ambode, an alumnus of the university, noted that Ogundipe had over the years proved his competence in the academia.
He said it was based on his professionalism and integrity that his administration appointed him as the Chairman of the Lagos State Research and Innovation Council in June this year.
“He has risen through the ranks to the pinnacle of his career,” the governor added.
Ambode, while acknowledging the strides of the outgoing, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rahmon Bello, expressed confidence that Ogundipe would bring his wealth of experience to bear in building on the enviable legacies of the university in the next five years.
“I am totally confident that Unilag is destined for greater heights; I want to, on behalf of the people of Lagos State, congratulate him and wish him the very best throughout his tenure.”
NAN
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Fela: ‘Statue without head an insult to the family’
Lagos state governor Akinwunmi Ambode recently unveiled a statue in honour of Late Afrobeat musician, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
Professor TAIWO OGUNADE, in this interview with MOSES EMORINKEN, expressed his opinion concerning Fela’s statue and the representation (or misrepresentation) of the legend and what he stood for.
Do you think it was expedient to erect a statue in honour of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti?
Yes it is important but not to be represented as a blind man without a head.
I was a choreography teacher for Fela’s dancers when he resided at Agege Motor road.
If you go to any system of justice in Nigeria, you will see the statue of a lady holding the sword in one hand and a weighing scale on the other. This symbolises the justice system in Nigeria. On the flip side, we call Fela a liberation artist, yet he does even have a head or even a “clinched” fist.
His head is not in the statue; therefore, it could be anybody’s head. Majority of today’s generation do not even know Fela, not to talk of associating a face or head with him. Imagine a person born ten years ago or even those yet unborn. Will they be able to relate the statue to Fela? Definitely NOT! This is because of the headless feature of the statue.
Therefore, it is a waste of money and resources by Ambode and his advisers.
How can an artist erect a statue without head and call it Fela? That is an insult to his family.
We hear that his family members seem to be fine with the statue. What is your take on this?
Even if the family don’t complain about it, it was obvious that they were stunned at the sight. Everyone was wondering probably a head would descend from the sky.
Don’t you think the artist would have a valid explanation and philosophy behind the headless statue?
Well, I do not know. The governor said it is a liberation statue of Fela. However, a liberator will always have a clinched fist ready to fight. When he was alive, he always had what is called yabis time.
It was a time for him to talk about a lot of things, and get divergent replies. Can someone without a head “yabis” anybody? It is impossible! The signature of the yabis is missing in the statue due to its heedlessness.
It is obvious that the governor and his team were not well advised, or they do not know; I am sure the governor or his advisers never met Fela in their lifetime.
READ ALSO : Fela’s: Liberation: A deserved honour
What do you think the governor and his team should do to remedy the anomaly?First, the statue needs to be destroyed. It can’t be left as it is.
Also, Fela never wore clothes almost 19 hours a day. When you see him playing with his band, he does not wear clothes. Yes, he wears some fanciful dresses sometimes, but he hardly wears clothes. He normally would have only his pants on.
They therefore, must remedy these by putting a head, a clinched first and nakedness at some point. By nakedness, we know he doesn’t go to stage without his pant. They could use a trouser for him; the important thing is that his chest region is made bare.
What do you think about the statue of Obafemi Awolowo in Lagos?
That also is a waste of money. Awolowo was not as fat as the statue portrayed. Also, the statue had him with a running boot. Awo never wore a boot as far as I know.
I know him well enough because my primary school (Igbagbo Aladura School) in Ibadan was about 50 metres away from his house.
What is your take on the statue of Jacob Zuma erected by the Imo state governor?
I think Rochas Okorocha is misdirecting himself. People like Zuma should not be honoured.
You don’t honour Jagundas (thieves). He is facing corruption serious charges in his country…such a one should not be given a space in our land, not to talk of honouring him with a statue.
What would be your advice to young artists?
This is a country that has a healthy pool of the old and young. The old is called “old school” while the young “new school”; therefore, if you want to do anything that belongs to the old, it is important that you seek the advice of the “old school”.
Fela belonged to the old school, therefore, let the Ambode stop wasting state funds and seek the advice of people from the old school for projects that pertains to the old school. There are old artists who can guide the “new school” artist to do the old school things.
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Ambode, Udom, Fayose seek more support for women
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Tuesday called for deliberate and articulate policies to support female entrepreneurs in the country.
Ambode made the call at the 17th National Women’s Conference organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials ( COWLSO ) with theme “She creates, She Transforms: Creativity and Skill Acquisition.”
He spoke as the first female mechanic in Nigeria, Mrs Sandra Aguebor, was presented with the inspirational woman of the year award at the conference.
“With the female population in our country today, it is clear that our women have the capacity to positively affect the Nigerian economy and are already doing so.
“Supporting women businesses should no longer be seen as a social support or empowerment, but as a necessary step to revive and improve the economy,” Ambode said.
He said that so far, N2.1 billion had been disbursed to 6,613 women under the state’s Employment Trust Fund (ETF), which represented 42 per cent of the total loans disbursed.
According to him, the target is to ensure that at least 60 per cent of the loans are given to women.
He restated the commitment of his government to the course of women, encouraging more women to approach the ETF and take advantage of other initiatives to support their businesses.
Also, Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom commended the committee for keeping the vision envisioned for over 17 years.
Emmanuel condemned racial, tribal and gender inequality, saying that the country needed to open more doors for women.
He encouraged women not to look at the limiting lines drawn by history or politics, but rather live their lives creating and transforming.
In a goodwill message, Gov. Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State said that efforts must be made to constantly develop women.
“A life without women will be full of crisis, it will be hopeless,” Fayose said.
He advised men to stop seeing women as second fiddle.
The Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa and Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo were also present at the event.
NAN
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RRS offer emergency service to accident victims
One of the patrol teams of the operatives of Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command on monday put into use one of the First Aid boxes supplied by Lagos State Government to the unit to assist accident victims during emergencies.
The patrol team, which was on the Third Mainland Bridge heading towards the Island noticed a traffic caused by a burning Ford 4Wheel Drive with built – up traffic behind it.
Read also: Ogun Traffic agency decries reckless driving by tanker drivers
The team abandoning its vehicle to join in putting out the fire heard a loud noise from some of the vehicles in traffic.
A Volkswagen LT Lagos colour commercial bus, with the registration number BOG 340 XR had a break failure. It rammed a Sequoia Toyota (MUS 953 BZ) after brushing a Honda Accord (RSH 163 CL).
Over 4 passengers in the Volkswagen bus sustained various forms of injuries which necessitated the deployment of First Aid treatment by the Rapid Response Officers before the arrival of medical personnel.
The State Government had sometime in April, 2017 started training and retaining of RRS officers on application of first aid treatment in emergencies, CPR, Controlling bleeding and fracture management.
About 150 branded First Aid Boxes were handed over to RRS by Lagos State Government in June 2017 for distribution to RRS patrol vehicles.
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Ambode tasks judiciary on speedy dispensation of justice
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Friday urged the state judiciary to step up in the area of speedy delivery of justice, without compromising the fundamental principle of fair hearing and the rule of law.
Ambode made the call at the swearing-in ceremony of Justice Opeyemi Oke as the new Chief Judge of the state at the Lagos House, Ikeja.
Oke came into office following the exit of Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, who attained the statutory retirement age of 65 on Sep.24.
The new Chief Judge joined the State Judiciary as a Senior Magistrate on May 1, 1986 and was appointed a Judge of the High Court on July 17, 1996. She becomes the 6th female and 16th Chief Judge of Lagos State.
Ambode Governor congratulated Oke on her confirmation by the state lawmakers, describing it as a positive affirmation of her competence, experience and character to preside over the sacred temple of justice in Lagos State.
“I have absolute confidence in your intellectual capacity to steer the ship of the state judiciary on a smooth sail.
“One area of our judicial system which I consider as work in progress is the speed of justice delivery in the State.
“We have made significant progress in this regard with the various reforms that have been initiated and implemented, however, I believe strongly that we can do more by stepping up our efforts.
“I do understand that our judges are currently facing enormous work load due to the fact that the Lagos judiciary is the busiest in the country and this will naturally affect the turnover of cases in our courts.
“It is for this reason that I once again recommit our administration’s determination to seek a significant increase in the number of judges that we have on the Lagos bench,” he said.
Ambode said his administration planned to establish a designated Commercial Courthouse with the objective of ensuring speedy consideration of commercial matters.
“There is no gainsaying that Lagos is the commercial nerve centre of the country and it deserves a modern state-of-the-art first class Commercial Courthouse to speedily address commercial disputes in the State.
“It is hoped that this courthouse will accommodate all commercial-related organs of the judiciary in order to drive commerce and improve the ease of doing business.
“Our administration will continue to cooperate with the judiciary in developing and implementing appropriate strategies to ensure justice is done speedily.
“I want to assure you of our commitment to do whatever is required of us to ensure that the on-going reform in the judicial sector achieves the desired effect,” Ambode said.
In his remarks, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, said the event marked the beginning of a new dawn for the state judiciary.
According to him, it provides the direction for renewed vigour in the discharge of the highest standard of responsibility and the dispensation of justice in accordance with the rule of law and good conscience.
Oke, in her remark, pledged to make speedy dispensation of justice and zero tolerance for corruption the hallmark of the judiciary in the state.
She said that she would ensure an efficient, effective and transparent judiciary where there would be total confidence of the public in their ability to provide quick dispensation of justice.
The Chief Judge lamented the high number of old cases, saying that the total number of cases from five years upwards in the Lagos Judicial division could be estimated to be in the region of 4, 000.
According to her, when cases drag for over five years and above, they constitute an embarrassment to the image of the judiciary.
“We need an urgent and immediate plan to clear the backlog of old cases. We, therefore, suggest a Backlog Elimination Programme to tackle the issue of backlogs and congestion.
“The task requires extra work, more efforts and resources, new hands, including judicial officers,’’ she said.
Oke said that information technology would be deployed to achieve an efficient and effective judiciary.
“I’m calling on all and sundry to support and put our shoulders together and get the Lagos State judiciary moving at the fastest pace possible, without compromising on the virtues of love, equity and justice,” Oke said.
NAN
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We will use tourism, festivals, carnivals to boost revenue – LASG
The Lagos State Government ( LASG ) on Friday said that it would use tourism – related activities such as festivals, carnivals, exhibitions and conferences to boost the revenue base of the state.
Mrs Adebimpe Akinsola, Acting Commissioner of Tourism, Arts and Culture, said that tourism is a veritable platform that can be used to drive revenue earnings of a state.
According to her, the policy thrust of the government is to partner with the private sector in boosting the revenues of the state.
“The government door is open for public and private partnership to increase its Internally Generated Revenue ( IGR ) through tourism and other related activities.
“Lagos State Government is ready to partner any individual and corporate body with laudable initiative that will move the tourism industry forward, and indeed other sector of economy, ”she said.
Akinsola said that festivals draw attention of international participants, tourists and investors closer to feel and see what a state or country could offer in terms of its tourism, arts and culture potential/assets.
“It will also help to boost foreign exchange earnings, create jobs for indigenes, boost commercial activities, increase hotels and other related tourism outfit patronage, ”she said.
She said that local and foreign visitors would visit tourist sites, patronise local cuisines, buy locally-made goods/souvenirs and also do business.
“When hotels and other tourism outfits are selling, they pay their tax, and by extension, revenue is coming to the state,” Akinsola said.
The acting commissioner assured local and international tourists/visitors of maximum security in all the tourist sites across the state.
“The government is working closely with security agencies to ensure adequate security in the state.
“As far as security is concerned, all hands are on deck to combat any unforeseen challenges; the emergency and safety in Lagos State is intact, ”she said.
She said the Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration was working assiduously in placing the state as premium destination for tourism.
“The state government has partnered many organisations on tourism programs such as beer festival, tourism summit, art exhibitions, cultural day and several others.
“Government is still ready to collaborate with more organisations and provide opportunities for new investors in the sector,”she said.
NAN