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Tag: Ambode

  • Ambode did not ban FRSC in Lagos — Sector Commander

    Ambode did not ban FRSC in Lagos — Sector Commander

    LAGOS State Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Hyginus Omeje has warned Lagosians against misinterpreting the statement of Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode advising corps to restrict its operation to the fringes and highways, rather than the main streets of Lagos. He debunked the rumour flying the state and some news headlines that the governor had banned FRSC in Lagos.

    He said Governor Ambode didn’t ban FRSC, adding that he only advised the Corps to stick to the fringes and highways, instead of the main streets of Lagos. He said FRSC Establishment Act is an Act of the National Assembly that goes beyond states and the Act empowers the corps to operate on all public roads. Omeje said the Governor gave the address to further ease the traffic challenges in the state.

    According to him, the Governor Ambode’s statement was one of the recommendations after series of meetings and economic summit with the stakeholders and traffic management agencies, which he (Omeje) said was one of the groups of the summit to prevail solutions to the traffic snarls causing economic downturn in the state.

  • Soul of the City

    Soul of the City

    Two things happened in Lagos recently that teach us the value of place. Alpha Governor Akinwunmi Ambode reiterated the need for the federal government to return its properties to the iconic city. In another development, a little controversy was put to death over uprooted monuments to Moshood Abiola and Gani Fawehinmi at the famous Ojota Park.

    What Governor Ambode sought was not merely the monetary value of the properties but the soul of the city. What makes the soul of a city is as much the people, the heroes, the workers in the routine glories of their days, when they work and play. So, when he fought to get the National Stadium the other day, it was not the stadium but the memory. Lagos was taking back its own, when Yakubu Mambo scored the first goal, when Haruna Ilerika made fancy work of the mid field, Segun Odegbami turned mathematical, when we won gold medal as a nation.

    If Lagos gets those properties back, the money only makes sense in the context of its culture. The city is nothing but its past and dreams. New York is the economic capital of the world, but it is nothing without how it grew from a lowly port settlement with its geniuses and workers. Like Lagos, London is nothing without Queen Elizabeth’s exploits, and the tower, Buckingham Palace, the German bombardment, Churchill and its heroics.

    So, Lagos swaggers with such names as Tinubu Square with its independence roots. Now the governor has restored its fountain pride. This brings memory to my childhood days. So also is the memory of Chief MKO Abiola, who roiled for democracy. Abiola risked money for public good to immortalise him. Gani Fawehinmi duelled with the law. He dared the gun, groaned in Gashua prison, defended the weak and poor. Eventually, he died. Writer George Crabbe said even monuments need memorials. Hence Governor Ambode wants to memorialise the monuments by making them bigger and grander. A few already are materialising in public like the headless ardour of Abami Eda, Fela Kuti.

    “Monuments, like men, submit to fate,” wrote poet Alexander Pope. Governor Ambode giving new fate to the monuments. In the same way, he is building new ones, like the flyovers in Abule Egba and Lekki. Monuments are messengers of the might within the land, to quote Joseph Conrad. So, if it is a high rise, a residential quarter, a bald piece of land, they are as important as a bust in Idumota. That is Ambode’s point.

  • ‘Ambode committed to making Lagos capital of the black race’

    ‘Ambode committed to making Lagos capital of the black race’

    Mike Dada, an integrated marketing communication expert and Managing Director of PRM Africa was one of those who worked on the campaign designed to celebrate the just concluded Lagos @ 50. In this interview with Afolabi Idowu he speaks on Governor Akinwunmi  Ambode’s plan to make Lagos state the capital of the black race. Excerpts:

    What’s the level of your agency’s involvement in the just concluded Lagos @ 50 Campaign?

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode gave us opportunity to express ideas and work on the Lagos @50 campaign. And don’t forget, the governor is a creative person himself. It’s a privilege to work on that event.

    Did the governor actually give you that concept?

    As an agency, he gave us a brief. I had the opportunity to work on his campaign so I know how his mind works. He works 24 hours. He’s the kind of person that would call you by 3:am and say I have this idea. All you need to do is to develop and improve it for him. The idea was to look for an insight of what Lagos is all about for people. People don’t just come here because they want to represent their ethnic group; they come to Lagos because they want to succeed. When you come to Lagos, the belief is that success is yours. Lagos State provides platform and environment for you to succeed. That was what brought the idea of ‘Success: Lagos is my success story. He wanted a campaign, a big idea that will engage and connect with the people that would be personal to them. We believe that is the idea of the celebration and we look forward to the next 50 years of success, secured environment and a city that is rapidly improving and growing. At the beginning of the campaign, you could see that we used some celebrities because the objective was to get an instant buzz. And for you to get an instant buzz, you have to use people that have certain level of star power. It was a two-way communication; we listened to people. At the end of the day, we discovered that an average Lagosian has an idea of who should be on the board. It became very touchy, emotional and to a level of becoming controversial. We knew that would happen because who does not want to be identified with success? It was very difficult. There were so many angles to it. We had the indigene angle, angles of profession, non-indigenes who have come and succeed. So how do you get that 50? At the end of the day, it was more of a committee set up to decide on the names and those factors were considered. And we realised that we can’t exhaust it. At the end of the day, people designed the campaign. Some did their own frame and put their pictures. For us, it was a success. He wanted the campaign to be owned by the target audience. At the end of the day, we achieved the objective of creating awareness about Lagos State, engage the people and create a buzz about it because we realised some other states in Nigeria were also celebrating their 50th anniversary.

    Is there any plan to sustain the Lagos @ 50 buzz?

    I think there’s an idea. I think the governor has his own plans and ways of doing things. They have plans of promoting Lagos Sate as a destination on the continent, to be the global capital of the black race because this is where you have the highest concentration of the black people; about 20 million black people in this city. And it’s a melting point for different cultures. You find Chinese, people from Europe, America living and working here. He wants people to come from all over the world to see Lagos as where they can work and live, and to sustain that in terms of campaigns, structures and socio-economic provisions.

    IMC players are now beginning to lay emphasis on specialisation. Don’t you think you should be focusing on that given what your agency did on Lagos @50?

    In theory, specialisation is fantastic. But in practice, you have to integrate the entire marketing communications to achieve the objective because you maybe be talking to the same target audience, but you need to connect with them at different levels. If it’s on the road or traffic, you need outdoor. In their cars you need the radio, at home on weekends you need TV, on their phones you need digital. Specialisation has its own strength and weakness. But the truth of the matter is when it comes to practice, IMC is still the core. However, communication marketing challenges comes with their own corresponding solutions. If the problem is different, solution will also be different. So many factors are involved; it’s both art and science. For us, one of our key department in public affairs is political and politics communications. We win elections in Nigeria and outside Nigeria we work. It has to do with deep understanding of what that is all about. Political marketing communications is different and it’s not only in theory but practice.

  • Ambode gives Oke-Odo market traders seven days to leave roadside

    Ambode gives Oke-Odo market traders seven days to leave roadside

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday gave Agbado-Oke Odo Market traders seven days to stop trading on the roadside or have the place shut.

    At a meeting with the market leaders held at the Lagos House in Ikeja, Ambode said the government could no longer condone the traders excesses.

    The traders, he said, were in the habit of displaying their wares on the road, thereby causing traffic gridlock and other environmental nuisance.

    Ambode, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello, said the market leaders had been warned several times to rein in the traders. This, he noted, has not yielded result as some of the traders have become recalcitrant.

    Besides causing traffic, the traders, he said, were also fond of dumping refuse on the road.

    The governor said: “This is just to come and deliberate on the Agbado Oke-Odo Market because of the situation there. The market has become a stumbling block particularly to those using the road. The traders have blocked the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway to the extent that even the contractors working there don’t have place to work because they have taken over the area.

    “They cause a lot of traffic gridlock and people coming from Ota or from Abule Egba don’t have the road to connect other areas. We have warned them consistently but we are yet to get any result. That is why we have summoned today’s (yesterday’s) meeting.

    “The meeting is basically to call them to order and give them the last warning. The idea initially was to shut down the market today but the governor decided that we should give them just one week to put things in order.”

    He said though government was not interested in shutting down markets, it would wield the big stick if traders continue to constitute themselves as menace to other road users.

    “What we are saying is that the government is not interested in shutting down any market because of the economic implication on the people who have to survive and live.  As a government, we are not interested in shutting down business enterprises and all that, but if it is constituting a menace and inconveniencing other people, we will have no choice than to wield the big stick, and that is why we are giving the market leaders the last warning to go and re-order their market.

    “The leaders of the market must sit up and look at how to help government because we cannot say because we are trading, we should inconvenience people who go to work from Abule Egba to Lagos Island for instance and to other places and they have to spend hours on that road just because of the activities of the traders.

    “Apart from that, we have a lot of filth on the road because the market people just dump their refuse on the road. We don’t want that anymore and that is why we are giving this last warning. We don’t want anybody on the road again and whatever we have to do internally as a government, we will not hesitate to do. We will send task force and the men of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) to the place to ensure sanity.

    “This warning to Agbado Oke-Odo traders also applies to other markets in the state. Any market where traders are blocking the road and constituting menace to others will be shut down till further notice,” the governor warned.

    Responding on behalf of others, Babaloja Araromi Agbado Oke-Odo Alhaji Mukaila Oyinlola said the traders have ignored all warnings to leave’ the road. He said the government’s resolve was welcome.

    Iyaloja Araromi Oke-Odo Market Mrs Dupe Shonola and Babaloja General of Agbado Oke-Odo Market Alhaji Abiodun Kosoko called for the expansion and modernisation of the market.

  • Ambode, Fowler for AAAN’s 44th AGM

    Ambode, Fowler for AAAN’s 44th AGM

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Chairman, Mr. Babatunde Fowler are among prominent figures expected at the 44th annual general meeting (AGM)/congress of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) in Lagos.

    The event will hold from June 6 to 8 at the Golden Tulip Festac Hotel.

    A statement by AAAN’s Publicity Secretary, Steve Babaeko, said Ambode will open the 2016 AGM, while Mr. Fowler will be the occasion’s chairman.

    Also expected are: Secretary to the Lagos State Government (SSG), Mr. Tunji Bello; Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde as well as other senior government officials.

    Other expected at the event are: captains of industry, top business leaders and policy makers within and outside the Marketing Communications industry.

    The theme of the AGM/congress is: Fresh Thinking. AAAN President Kayode Oluwasona said the association aims to use the AGM as a platform to stimulate fresh perspectives and critical thinking that advocate unorthodox solutions to the challenges facing the business and practice of advertising in Nigeria.

    To underscore the importance of the AGM, the association has invited Mr. Bayo Adekanmbi, the Transformation Executive of C-Level Lead for Strategic Initiatives, MTN Nigeria and Mr. David Okeme, President of Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) as speakers.

    Chairman of the AGM/Congress Planning Committee Mr. Jenkins Alumona said fresh thinking and new ideas are critical to today’s business.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Ambode to open surveyors’ workshop

    Ambode to open surveyors’ workshop

    Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode will open a two-day national workshop organised by the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors.

    The theme is: “Finance and Development of Capital Projects – Emerging Solutions.”

    It will hold from July 5 to 6 at the Westown Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

    A statement by the institute’s Secretary, Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Jide Oke, said quantity surveyors, architects, engineers, builders, estate surveyors and valuers, building and engineering contractors, bankers, finance experts, development economists, budgeting, planning and procurement officers in both public and private sectors and senior government officials are expected.

    “With sub-themes such as: ‘Alternative methods of infrastructure delivery: quantity surveyors’ perspective’; ‘Public Private Partnership project financing models’; ‘Feasibility and viability analysis’; ‘Risk management in infrastructure delivery’, and ‘Alternative modes of infrastructure financing’, among others, the workshop will provide a veritable platform for all practitioners in the infrastructure delivery projects by exposing them to the several financing options available,” the statement said.

  • Religious tolerance key to economic growth, says Ambode

    Religious tolerance key to economic growth, says Ambode

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday urged the Muslims to sustain the Godly virtues exhibited during the fasting period.

    Ambode, who spoke at some of the twenty centres designated by the State Government to celebrate the Eid-il-Fitri, urged Muslims to sustain the spirit of love, and brotherhood.

    He said: “As you celebrate this special day, I enjoin you all to sustain the spirit of love, brotherhood, tolerance and care which were dutifully demonstrated during the Ramadan. Let us not forget the lessons that Ramadan was meant to teach us which include the fear of Allah and care for the less-privileged in our society.”

    The governor identified harmonious co-existence among all adherents of various religions in the country as a necessary impetus to bring about peace, progress and prosperity.

    He said every religion preaches peace and harmonious co-existence among all people, and that it was important for the people to continue to live by such principle to foster growth and economic prosperity.

    The governor said he was highly appreciative of the support extended to his administration by religious leaders, as well as the religious tolerance and cooperation existing in the state, pledging never to take it for granted.

    While thanking Islamic scholars and leaders for their prayers and support, Governor Ambode assured that the government would continue to uphold and protect the right of all citizens to freedom of belief and freedom of worship.

    “Let me again use this opportunity to pledge our commitment to uphold and protect the right of all citizens to freedom of belief and freedom of worship. Every religion preaches peace and harmonious co-existence among all people.

    “We must continue to live by this principle so that our state and nation will continue to grow in peace, progress and prosperity,” he said.

    Besides, the Governor reiterated the commitment of his administration towards upholding and enhancing security of lives and property of residents, just as he urged the people to continue to support and cooperate with all security agencies including the recently inaugurated Neighbourhood Safety Corps as they strive to keep the State safe.

    In his sermon at Evans Square, Ebute-Metta, Leader of Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO), Imam Abdulahi Shuaib thanked God for the governors He has blessed the state with, and the wisdom given to former Governor of the State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to identify the leadership qualities in Governor Ambode.

    He said in just two years, the state has witnessed massive transformation in all sectors and sections, saying that it was obvious that Governor Ambode was governing with the fear of God.

    He said: “Look at the 114 roads that were constructed in all the Local Government areas and Local Council Development Areas; the traffic nightmare in Abule Egba has been solved with the construction of flyover and inner roads; over 365 streets have been light up courtesy of the Light Up Lagos Initiative; security has been enhanced with purchase of three helicopters, gun boats, patrol vehicles and Armoured Personnel Carriers, among others; the healthcare system too has received massive boost with the purchase of Mobile Intensive Care Ambulances and upgrade of our health centres.

    “Governor Ambode has done a lot but like Oliver twist, there is room to do more but all I will say is to ask the people to continue to support him with prayers,” Shuaib said.

    Also, Chief Imam of Lagos Mainland, Sheik Sabiti Akani Owowunmi praised the governor for his giant strides so far, and prayed for a successful tenure of office.

    The Governor was represented at some of the twenty centres by his wife, Mrs Bolanle Ambode and other State functionaries, while the celebration featured recitation of Quran, quiz and dance competitions, among others.

  • Nigeria is indivisible-Ambode

    Nigeria is indivisible-Ambode

    While many states are going under and struggling to pay workers’ salaries in the country, Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, who is a chartered accountant, said prudence and increasing Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) have kept his state afloat. The governor spoke with selected journalists in Abuja. Augustine Ehikioya was there. Ambode also spoke on ethnic agitations in the country, rising spate of kidnapping and other issues affecting Lagos State. Excerpts

    WHAT message are you taking back to Lagosians from the consultative meeting convened by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, which you attended with other state governors?

    Firstly, we will like to commend the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, for being proactive and for also taking the gauntlet to douse the tension about some of these misgivings, ethnic or tribal tension that is taking place in the last three months. We must also commend all the state governors for yielding the call to support whatever action the Acting President is taking to douse this tension. Like I said yesterday, agitation will never end in a country where you have different groups, and mostly agitation actually thrive when the economy is not doing well and in a period of recession there is likely going to be agitation from different tribes but what we must do as leaders is to make sure that leadership rises up to stabilise the society. Like you said, in a constitution, we are driven by the rule and order and also we as leaders are supposed to protect the citizens. So, wherever you find yourself across the length and breadth of Nigeria, you should be able to practice it. It is your belief and the fundamental right of every Nigerian citizen is guaranteed across the nation. For me, Lagos being the most cosmopolitan state in the country, this is something that we have been preaching; this is what we practice. In the last few years, it has been very stable. There is a lot of religious tolerance in Lagos State and we have made sure also that everybody can go about their businesses and the most important is to continue to practice that government of inclusion where nobody is left behind. Again, what we came out with in that meeting was to say that all state governors would support the unity of this country and ensure that in our own individual states, we douse this tension of tribal remarks that seems to be taking place and I think forging ahead, we will succeed.

    Is restructuring the country not the solution to all these agitations coming up now?

    Like I said, agitation will never end; it is a dynamic process. Even those that are agitating for restructuring; are they really understood.  The process itself will call for blown up agitation because in getting the end product, the process is also very difficult. But for me, it is more about economic restructuring. I think the political economy of the country itself is paramount. We have said that this is an indivisible country. The total number of Yorubas up North, the total number of Igbos up North, actually contribute to the political economy of northern states and likewise the same thing in the South. I believe that if there is a better spread of administrative independent, more activities or resources given to the states, then you can stabilise and start talking about growth or development and before you start saying which region is this; it is not an end product. So, political restructuring, yes we can talk about it but there are more fundamental things that bind us together.to actually grow the bonding and it is through economic framework that you get to the political template that people are really talking about. Am I for political restructuring, am I for economic restructuring; the bottom line is that I am for a united Nigeria that actually brings all of us together and we grow and become more prosperous as Nigerians. That is a deeper vision than just trying to go through the angle of being divisive.

    Can we possibly rule out politics of 2019 in these agitations?

    I am not interested in whether it is politics or 2019. I am saying that there will always be agitations. If you are a very good student of history, or political history of Nigeria, the bottom line of trying to get political power is also coming from agitation and it is clouded under different factors. Some people come from ethnic angle, religious angle and you start coming from population angle and claiming we are being marginalised, we don’t have political position. Of course, underneath those agitations, there are some groups or some individuals that are trying to use it as a tool to achieve their interest. So, is it going to end after 2019? No. so, it is continuous. Obviously I can tell you that agitations are clouded under some undertones. It is only when they start to play up may be through media or social group that you start seeing the political colouration and start interpreting and a lot of people doing agitation, the people fueling it are a lot more smarter than us in the sense that they have their own goals, pursuing it. But we as leaders must see that sense of stability at all times.

    How are you addressing the spate of kidnapping in your state?

    You know security for me is a major issue that I have pursued in the last two years. If there is anything that I have pursued right from day one, it is about keeping a safe state. And believe me modestly, we have succeeded; comparing the state of security in Lagos in 2015 and now in 2017, there seems to be some kind of progress. But you know security is highly fluid and a continuous thing. Today, Lagos is safe, tomorrow, you need to start to put things to make it safer. In the area of police support, it has been tremendous; in the area of government support in terms of providing equipment and even the welfare of security agencies, we have done very well but it is never enough because the city must continually be safe for investment, it must continually be safe for its citizens and if you are driving in an economy and you are thinking about creating a 21st century economy, security is a 24/7 challenge that we must continue to tackle. Kidnapping, yes, the streets are safe but we have not been successful enough on our water ways. But again, it is beyond the efforts of Lagos State because most of these kidnappers actually come all the way from Delta, Ondo, Ogun and enter into Lagos.

    We have brought this issue to the attention of the Acting President, all the Service Chiefs are aware but I believe I need to put more efforts in investing in technology to be able to get rid of the menace of kidnappings. It will soon come to an end. Trust me, I am working on it.

    As far as we are aware you have done a lot for the police by providing equipment to make their job a lot easier in Lagos State. Some analysts are saying the police are not using most of the equipment you bought for them and that is why we have these kidnappings. What is your message to them?

    If there is anything that makes me feel terribly inadequate it is my inability to actually quickly get those children back. I feel, if it were my child, will I just be going about everything. So, obviously, I feel as a father and parent; I imagine what is going on with the parents. But I just want to assure everybody that we are on top of it. All the efforts that we are making, we cannot be putting them on the social media. It will jeopardize our efforts to recover these children. These are the children that are just 14, 15 years. I cannot compromise their security just because I want to look good in the eye of the public but believe me, I am working 24 hours to make sure that they come back safely. I want to assure Lagosians, Lagos is safe and we are doing our best. The equipment we bought for the police, they are using them.

    At a time you said you are committed to get these kidnapped kids back, I am sure you are aware that kidnappers have written another school yesterday that they will kidnap students. How safe are Lagos schools?

    Our schools are safe, that is the truth. When we get the kids back, we will come out with what is going on. So, it might jeopardize other things. Some of these things sometimes are from within. That is the second time that is happening in that school. Obviously, some sense must be put into it. I just want to assure you that all our schools are safe. Our security agencies are at alert. We will make sure that these things do not repeat themselves anymore and again, keep the city running. But trust me, we are ready.

    Many states are finding it difficult to survive this recession, what is the secret of your state?

    True, Lagos generates revenue up to tune of 66 percent of its total revenue internally and that is good enough to cover the fiscal and parts of this fiscal are salaries. But again, it is not just because the revenue is there; the other part of this is ability to manage the resources prudently and to be able to use the resources as required by the citizens for their benefits. It is not only about the salaries. You are practicing good governance and allocating resources to different sectors in a true and fair manner that every other parts of the state will benefit from it. That is what we have been doing for the past few years. Yes, we do pay our salaries from it, but the remaining part of it, even in a recession, we have been using it to develop the state and accelerate development in a manner that we could be more self-sufficient in the next few

  • Prevent looming violence, Agege residents tell Ambode

    Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Orile Agege Local Council Development Authority (LCDA), have called on the Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, to prevent what they described  looming crisis by wading into the ongoing crisis within the party over the choice of the party’s chairmanship candidate for forthcoming council polls.

    Akinleye Abiodun, the chairman of a body tagged Orile Agege Central Working Committee, called on the Governor to call some prominent politicians in the area to order in the interest of the party and his administration. He lamented that the said APC chieftains are working agains the interest of the majority of party members.

    “Our governor has laid good examples for us and this should form the template for running the affairs of our beloved party. But I am sorry to say that the sweat of our leaders are presently being sabotaged and the party in Orile Agege might implode right before our faces if something is not done urgently, “ he said.

    Akinyele explained that members of the party and the community made their choice of chairmanship candidate in the person of Hon. Itogbe Dare Olabode. He described Olabode as a grassroots party leader who has been spending his time and money in the interest of the party and ensuring maximum turn out of people towards the party.

  • Ambode, Akiolu back Osinbajo’s reconciliatory moves to quell ethnic agitations

    Ambode, Akiolu back Osinbajo’s reconciliatory moves to quell ethnic agitations

    Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday threw his weight behind the moves taken so far by the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to douse tension generated by agitations from some ethnic nationalities seeking to break away from Nigeria, saying that the unity of the country should be of paramount importance to all.   Ambode, who spoke at Lagos House in Ikeja when he received on courtesy visit members of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs led by the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, said as a state, Lagos would continue to lend support to efforts to keep the unity of the country, especially by maintaining peace and accommodating all.

    Speaking against the backdrop of earlier comments by Akiolu to the effect that the Council of Obas and Chiefs in the state was solidly in support of the peaceful co-existence of people in the country, the governor said the oneness of the country was paramount, hence “it beehoves on all segments of the country to promote the unity of the nation.”     Ambode said: “I also want to join the Chairman of the Council of Obas and Chiefs in Lagos State to reiterate our support for the Federal Government to keep the unity of Nigeria and uphold the tenets of the constitution. We are very happy that all our traditional rulers in Lagos believe in oneness of Nigeria.

    “We are happy also that we are very accommodating. We are also happy that we allow people from other tribes to live with us and we are ready to do everything to support the Acting President and the Federal Government in general that every effort they make, we will ensure that Lagos remains peaceful and then Nigeria remains peaceful.”

    While reiterating the commitment of his administration to address security issues in the state, Governor Ambode thanked the traditional rulers for supporting his efforts to ensure safety of lives and property in the state.

    “I want to thank you for your support in terms of security. You are part of the security architecture of Lagos State because without you, we will not get the information we are using to reach out to the police and I also want to thank you for supporting our Neighborhood Safety Corps initiative.

    “Like I said, it is about neighborhood safety and we have seen the hands of all our monarchs in the operation of the corps. We believe strongly that we need to put more efforts in the Neighborhood Safety Corps to make sure that this issue of kidnapping and other criminal activities become a thing of the past within the shortest possible time,” the governor said.

    Addressing the issue of the children who were kidnapped at Lagos State Model College, Igbonla-Epe, Ambode said at the moment, he would not want to divulge details of efforts being made by the government to end kidnapping and other crimes in the state, but expressed optimism that the efforts would yield positive results.

    “Like I said somewhere yesterday, I don’t like running government on the pages of newspapers because sometimes when we do it, it will jeopardize what we are doing on security which is why we have been very tactical about doing media trial in things like this.

    “But just to let our monarchs know what we are doing, I feel very bad each time I hear about this but again life and safety first thereafter we will deal with other things. But to let you know truly that sometimes, some of these kidnapping issues are actually from enemies within, but I just pray that when the children come  back, we will be able to talk about those things and so I just ask people to give us some time as we gather intelligence,” he said.

    Earlier, Akiolu commended Governor Ambode for his efforts so far, and prayed for him to have a successful tenure of office, saying that the giant strides of the present government were appreciated.

    He said that monarchs in the state were very much in support of the peaceful co-existence of the country, adding that every tribe is welcome in Lagos.

    “The peaceful co-existence of everybody is what we are after in Lagos and I have to say that Lagos is home to all,” Akiolu said.

    He also reiterated the call for Lagos to be granted special status, saying that doing so would be to the overall benefit of the country.