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Tag: Ambode

  • Ambode begins commissioning of 114 LG roads

    Ambode begins commissioning of 114 LG roads

    …Commissions Alapere lay-by, 700m slip road

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday flagged of a week-long commissioning of 114 roads newly constructed in the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the State.

    He also pledged that the second phase of yet another 114 roads across the councils would commence soon.Speaking at the flag off of the commissioning ceremony in Ikorodu North LCDA, Ambode said the remarkable feat was not only an eloquent confirmation of a promise kept, but a testimony of the popular saying that nothing can stop a people who have resolved to move forward.

    Represented by his deputy, Dr. Mrs Idiat Oluranti Adebule, Ambode recalled the contract of hope which he signed with the people during the electioneering and his inaugural speech, adding that the completion of the 114 roads was a glorious dawn of community development accelerated through inclusive governance and a historic leap of faith for his administration and the citizens.

    “This means that the road network in our State of Excellence has increased by 56.1 Kilometers. It means that we have added 112 Kilometres of walkways and covered drains. And it means additional 56.1 kilometres of our roads are being lit by independent powered street lights to improve the security of our neighborhoods, the visibility of pedestrians, commuters and motorists as well as creation of a night economy.

    “At a time the national economy is facing financial challenges, our administration is able to inject over N19 billion into the economy of our State, stimulating employment and engaging the business sector.

    “No fewer than 89 local companies executed the road project with thorough supervision by the communities and government. About 5,700 direct jobs were created for professionals, artisans and laborers in the construction industry. A larger number of people, approximately 10,000 suppliers and dependants felt the positive impact of this stimulus package in their lives,” Ambode said.

    Giving an insight as to how the roads were selected, the governor said in line with the principle of civic engagement of his administration, Community Development Associations (CDAs) were encouraged to suggest the roads requiring construction according to their needs, adding that the CDAs were also motivated to participate in the monitoring of the projects with the view to taking ownership on completion.

    He said Jimoh Street in Ikorodu North LCDA which was the first to be commissioned, was one of the community driven projects, adding that the road was picked as the first to be commissioned in appreciation of the diligence of the contractor, DC Engineering for being the first to complete the project within the stipulated six months.

    He said the road would go a long way in improving the State and make it a preferred investment destination worldwide.

    Ambode said the 114 roads would be an annual rite to make Lagos a true megacity, adding that the process for the second round of the 114 road projects had already begun, and urged the residents to be part of it and guard the infrastructures being provided by government jealousy.

    In a related development, governor Ambode also commissioned the Ketu-Alapere Lay-by and 700m concretized Slip Road, saying that it was another mission statement of his administration’s commitment to making life better for residents and investors in the State.

    Speaking through his Deputy, the governor said that the new look of Alapere-Ketu Lay-By, was characterized by the construction of a two-lane access road from Iyana Oworo inwards Alapere-Ketu that would relieve traffic flow towards Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Ojodu-Berger axis.

    He said that provision was also made for pedestrian safety with the integration of a two-metre wide walkway and drainage on one side of the lay-by access inwards Alapere-Ketu, to ensure that vehicular movement is not impeded by pedestrians.

    Ambode also urged transport unions to educate their members on observation of State Traffic Laws and road etiquette for the safety of all, saying that the provision of the lay-by will considerably reduce travel time for all motorists therefore, commercial vehicles have no cause to create gridlocks in order to get to their destinations.

  • LASU hosts Lagos empowerment programme

    LASU hosts Lagos empowerment programme

    Ready-Set-Work, a Lagos State government- sponsored capacity building programme designed to address employment challenges in the country ended during the week at the Lagos State University (LASU) auditorium in Ojo.

    The programme sought to empower young graduates of Lagos State Government -owned institutions with the right skills and knowledge to make them compete favourably in the job market.

    The state Governor, Akinwumni Ambode, who attended the closing ceremony, granted N15.5 million seed funding to graduates with the best business ideas in addition to internship slots in Total, System Specs, Guaranteed Trust Bank (GTB), Access bank, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and Jobberman.

    The event was also attended by the Vice Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Olufela Bank-Olemoh, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, the Senior Country Manager for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC),  Uyi Akpata and the CEO of SystemSpecs, John Obaro.

    The state Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Babatunde Durosimi-Etti, his Mineral Resources counterpart, Olawale Oluwo and the Managing Director of Etisalat, Matthew Wilshere, completed the list of dignitaries at the closing ceremony.

    The LASU vice chancellor in his opening remarks commended those that contributed to the success of the programme.

    The 13- week RSW began on June 18 and ended July 9.

     

  • Ambode okays N740m for Lekki Free Zone host communities

    Ambode okays N740m for Lekki Free Zone host communities

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday approved N740,461,432 as compensation for host communities of Parcel B, comprising Yegunda, Abomiti and International Airport site of the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ).

    Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives Prince Rotimi Ogunleye said this at a news briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja.

    He said the development was in line the commitment of the Ambode administration to engender a sustainable cordial relationship between the host communities and investors in the LFTZ.

    Ogunleye addressed the briefing with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Commerce, Benjamin Olabinjo; Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs Muslim Folami; Managing Director of Lekki Worldwide Investments Limited Dr. Tunde Sodade, among others.

    He added that the governor since assuming office had addressed the salient need to compensate the host communities, adding that remarkable progress had been recorded to that effect.

     

  • Two students get N5m grant from Ambode

    Two students of Lagos State College of Health Technology on Thursday got N5 million grant from state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, for their innovative skills which led to the design of a new technology for generating biogas through the treatment of animal waste.

    The students – Sarumi Oluwafemi and Dada Samuel – were among the 422 successful graduates of the Ready, Set, Work (RSW) programme of the state government targeted to equip graduates of tertiary institutions in the state with necessary entrepreneurial skills.

    Their innovation, which is biogas production, involves the treatment of animal waste to generate biogas which can be used for domestic cooking, generation of electricity and other purposes.

    The technology is targeted at providing a potential substitute for liquefied petroleum gas.

    Oluwafemi and Samuel, who came first in the programme pitch competition, were also given N1 million seed funding and placed on N100,000 monthly working capital for six months, all geared towards encouraging their business idea to grow.

    Ambode, who attended the graduation ceremony, said his administration is strongly committed to capacity building, entrepreneurship empowerment and sustainable youth development.

    He added that the RSW was one of the initiatives targeted at youth empowerment.

     

     

  • Ambode: Fed Govt, Lagos working to end Apapa gridlock

    Ambode: Fed Govt, Lagos working to end Apapa gridlock

    The Federal Government and Lagos State are working to tackle the gridlock in Apapa to enhance maritime activities, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said yesterday.

     Ambode spoke when the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman, and her management team visited him.

    The governor said his administration was committed to transforming the aesthetics and beauty of Apapa.

    Ambode said he was delighted that the agency was being led at this time of economic turbulence by a thoroughbred professional, grounded in the political terrain.

    According to him, Lagos, being the commercial nerve centre and a city surrounded by water, deserves more than one port.

    The governor said his administration would partner with the NPA to succeed.

    “We have had issues about movement of cargoes and every other vehicular movement that relates to traffic congestion in the Apapa axis and I think with the new management in charge of NPA, a whole lot of things will be resolved so quickly. I am very glad that this is the way we have decided to go and we will support everything to make Apapa a place that we will all be delighted to speak about,” he said.

    He hailed the NPA for investing in the Lekki Deep Sea Port project, saying there was no doubt about the fact that such partnership would drive more investment into Lagos.

    Usman said she and her team’s visit was to expand the relationship between the NPA and the government for the benefit of the people.

    She said the major areas of partnership centred on tackling Apapa gridlock and the success of the Lekki Deep Sea Port project, among others.

    She said the implementation of the strategy to be adopted in decongesting the axis would begin in few weeks.

  • Ambode okays retreat for common HR standards in Lagos

    Ambode okays retreat for common HR standards in Lagos

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has approved a three-day retreat, which is expected to facilitate the evolution of common standards on human resource policies in public service.

    Head of Service Mrs. Olabowale Ademola said this in her office in Alausa yesterday.

    She explained that the retreat is expected to establish uniform templates for the implementation of common policies on human resource management in commissions and boards.

    According to the Head of Service, participants for the three-day retreat would include chairmen, members and principal officers of commissions, boards and other human resource (HR) management agencies.

    She added that the retreat is also expected to promote interaction and synergy among members of the various commissions and boards in the public service.

    Mrs. Ademola said: “The primary objective of the retreat is to facilitate the evolution of common standards on HR policies; interaction among members of the various commissions and boards; facilitation of synergy among the various commissions and boards; and establishment of  uniform templates for the implementation of common policies on HRM in Service Commissions and Boards.”

    The Head of Service added that the retreat would hold at the Golden Tulip Hotel, between tomorrow and Saturday from 9.00a.m. to 6.00p.m. daily.

  • Ambode to intensify sports development

    Ambode to intensify sports development

    Lagosians have been assured of heightened sports development in the next three years in line with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s vision and campaign promises as captured in his road map for the development of the sector.

    The assurance was given during the weekend by the newly appointed Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission,  Gbolahan Adewunmi Ogunsanya, during a courtesy visit by the executives of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter (Lagos SWAN).

    Calling for the support of the citizenry and partnership of the organised private sector towards achieving a more robust sport environment in Lagos,  Ogunsanya expressed optimism that , in pursuit of the agenda, the massive performance being recorded by the state in various other sectors like roads, lighting, transportation, tourism and business infrastructure will also be brought to bear in sports.

    “The governor is very much aware of the importance of sports in society and is very serious about sports development. He has a clear vision with a documented road map to direct the process. The plan is a product of a detailed study of the state sports environment. As part of the plan, the government would, by next year construct standard stadiums in five districts of the state including the Maracana Stadium in Ajegunle and others at Igbogbo, Epe and Badagry.

    “The plan also includes providing sports parks and recreational facilities in various neighbourhoods to revive grassroots, community and schools sports. This includes the construction of mini sports centres, indoor gyms or sports triangles, where space permits, in about 300 secondary schools across the state as legacy projects. This is expected to energise schools and after-schools sports as well as serve the communities.”

  • Lagos butchers commend Ambode

    Lagos butchers commend Ambode

    Association of Butchers in Lagos state have commended the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode for showing concern to the welfare of their members and by extension, the public who consumed meat and allied products produced by the butchers. The commendation was made through the association’s chairman, Alhaji Bamidele Kazeem during a visit to the Abattoir Market, Agege, Lagos by the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Hon. Isiaka Oluwatoyin Suara, during the weekly market environmental programme.

    The butchers’ chairman noted with happiness that Suara’s visit gladdens the hearts of his members because it was an assurance that the government has the interest of his members and that of the public at large at heart.

    He assured the state government that his members now produced ponmo in a new place in an hygienic way as against the former practice of using disused tyres to process the popular Nigeria delicacy; which is hazardous to health of consumers.

    Alhaji Kazeem appealed to the Lagos state government to assist his members to procure loans that would facilitate the processing of meat products in a modern method and in a way that will not jeopardise the health of the public. He promised that the association will ensure that beneficiaries refund the loans as at when due and they will utilise it judiciously for the purpose it was meant for.

    Responding, Suara charged the butchers to always be conscious of a healthy environment in relation to the discharge of their business to the public just as he urged them to always make use of the meat vans provided for them by government and desist from all forms of unhealthy practices.

  • Ambode leads walk against sexual, domestic violence

    Ambode leads walk against sexual, domestic violence

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Thursday led an all -male walk against sexual and gender based violence in the state, urging security agencies to come up with evidences against at least 11 prominent individuals in the state to be used as scapegoats.

    Ambode had earlier received those that participated in the walk at the Lagos House, Ikeja, before leading men brandishing placards such as “LASGIDI Men say no to abuse, violence against women,” “Women are not object, respect and treat them right,” and “Stop rape and abuse,” among others on another procession within the State House.

    He said using highly placed individuals perpetrating the act as scapegoats will act as deterrence to others.

    Ambode said, “I will like you to join hands with me to say no to rapists, say no to women beaters and wherever they are. We know that the Task Force that we have set up will swing into action once it receives any petition from any member of the society. We are looking for the first 11 scapegoats whether highly or lowly placed in the society. We say no to domestic violence and sexual abuse.

    “It is time we take the bull by the horn in tackling this menace of sexual and gender based Violence in our society. Research and countless reports have indicated clearly that women are significantly more prone to being victims of these crimes. There is also an evident trend of suppressing the voice of these victims due to the fact that these acts are perpetrated largely by men.

    “We should not take for granted the potential exponential effect of having emotionally and psychologically damaged women in a society as the effect could transcend to their children who grow up in an environment, thinking this is the norm.”

     

  • Ambode seeks officers’ redeployment

    Ambode seeks officers’ redeployment

    lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday urged the Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni to redeploy some police officers attached to the Lagos State Task Force on the Environmental and Special Offences Unit.

    The request came in the wake of last Friday’s raids in different parts of Lagos by officers of the task force, leading to maltreatment and arrests of innocent citizens.

    In a statement by Information and Strategy Commissioner Steve Ayorinde, the governor sought for an immediate redeployment of several officers attached to task force from the unit and possibly from the state over what the governor called “unacceptable conduct.”

    Ayorinde said the request became necessary to checkmate the re-occurrence of last weekend’s unauthorised raid and indiscriminate arrest of citizens who were out to have fun at the weekend.

    According to him, the preliminary investigation showed that the unauthorised raid was carried out with the knowledge of the second-in-command to the task force Chairman, Taiwo Adeoluwa, a Superintendent of Police (SP) without the approval of the Chairman, Saheed Olayinka Egbeyemi, a (SP)

    The statement reads: “The conduct of the affected officers is not in tandem with the vision of government and is therefore condemnable. Their conduct is also unbecoming of officers who are expected to protect the citizenry and ensure citizens and visitors find every part of the state safe and conducive enough not only on Friday nights but every day.”

    The commissioner added that governor Ambode’s massive investments in security and the ‘Light Up Lagos’ Project was meant to create a 24/7 economy that encourages businesses to thrive.

    He said the government would not fold its arms and watch any overzealous officer derail the vision that has earned the government applause.

    While expressing the state government’s heartfelt apology to the affected person, Ayorinde stated that government would not condone any act(s) of high-handedness, extortion and disregard for human rights on the side of any of its law enforcement agencies and officials.