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Tag: Babajide Sanwo-Olu

  • Ondo 2024: We’ll secure 80 per cent votes, says Sanwo-Olu

    Ondo 2024: We’ll secure 80 per cent votes, says Sanwo-Olu

    Chairman of the Ondo State National Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress and Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said that his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), would do everything to win the Ondo State governorship election landslide.

    The governor, who spoke in Akure to party loyalists, shortly after the National Chairman of the party, Umar Ganduje, inaugurated the national campaign council, assured the party’s campaign will be issues’ based. 

    According to him, their campaign will be easy as the party’s candidate, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has undertaken laudable projects that will make him a good sell to voters.

    He said the APC would emerge victorious by over 80 percent of votes cast.

    According to him, “We assure our party and leaders that we will do everything within our means to ensure we campaign about issues. It will not be a campaign on sentiments, abuse but on issues because Aiyedatiwa has made life lots easier.

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    “He has a compendium of projects he has embarked on. He can put his legacy forward and he is a man that we will go out to campaign for him. The projects will speak for him and earn him victory.”

    “We will not disappoint the party and the people of Ondo State. We are committed to securing 80 percent votes given the quality work Aiyedatiwa has done.

    Ganduje said Aiyedatiwa has provided progressive leadership adding that the people have a Governor who is a lucky man.

    State Chairman of the party, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, said all former Chairmen of the PDP in the state have defected to the APC.

    He said all gladiators in the PDP from across the political wards have joined the APC

    “We are coordinating ourselves and making the party proud. We are conscious politically. We assure you that we are going to make you proud. We will return Aiyedatiwa as Governor.  PDP cannot parade the leadership we parade today.”

    Governor Aiyedatiwa said the Ondo APC has love, unity, respect, courage, vision and unwavering commitment to succeed.

    He said his administration remained resolute and committed to uplifting the people.

  • BOS on the bus

    BOS on the bus

    Lagos is known for many things. It is me, it is you and it is us. It is our universal psyche.

    Every Nigerian can find their place and rhythm in its variegated soul. For the artist and the cultural, Lagos bubbles with stars of the song and stage.

     For the entrepreneurial, money seeps from every street.

    For the political, to be elected is to be human.

    For the young, every hub is a hubbub. It is a city of lights but like the words of the poet Lucy Larcom, “no ray is shining for itself alone.” As it is for the hush in the GRAs, so it is for the rush in Oshodi, as it is for the Omo’onile in Ipaja, so it is for the patrician in Ikoyi.

    The city domes out a big, amoebic tent, a sweet whore for every comer. It is also a city without stop, always heading for the next stop.

    There was no better metaphor of Lagos on the move last week. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the BOS of Lagos, was on the bus at Oyingbo, where the new rail line known as Red Line hooted off. Decked out at once like a proprietor and a staff with a cap, a badged blue  shirt, a red tie and dark trousers, he appeared among some of the big wigs of his government at the iconic station in Lagos.

    At first, he played proprietor, as he summoned all around, regular pedestrians and reporters, to see his new wonder. It is the second of the colour-coded buses, dreamed of since the days of President Bola Tinubu when he was the steward of the state. Before this was the blue line, whose work began with the then governor of example, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN). Today, the blue line is taken for granted by those who commute daily, sometimes forgetting that just about a year ago, it was a source of controversial hot air as to whether it was ever going to start. The Red Line provoked the same cynics to banter.

    Read Also: Gowon celebrated as ‘Father of national infrastructure, unity’, at banquet

    The BOS had said its mechanical integrity ought to be ascertained before unleashing it to the people. We don’t want any error, because a little squeak of a spoke here or oil leak there could me a family in mourning clothes. He walked in as guest hedged in front, behind and on his sides by men and women. On his face was the pride and swagger of success as he looked around, his steps slow and dignified. He took his seat as a governor, but also as a special guest but also as a passenger. Others were on the train, including Information Commissioner Gbenga Omotoso and of course Oluwaseun Osiyemi, the Transport Commissioner, also dressed in the casual style of the governor.

     The BOS became a sort of inspector, moving from coach to coach like a ticketer trying to be sure all had paid. In fact, the governor made a joke in that colour as he exchanged pleasantries.

     This was not your dour, querulous conductor who is either uncouth in his jokes or calm as an omen. He was debonair, an example too high for the qualifiers for the job. The train covers a big swath of the city, from Oyingbo to Yaba, to Mushin, to Oshodi to Ikeja, where the governor disembarked.

     The journey took less than 40 minutes all the way to Ikeja, the normal commute in the giddy Lagos roads took hours.

    It is miracle of a shortcut, the marvel of technology. But the train also chugged away towards Agege, Iju and ultimately to Agbado that abuts on neighbouring Ogun State.

     The cost is N1,500 all the way from Oyingbo to Agbado, a subsidized fare, although some have caviled that it is not fair. The governor has said transport is always subsidized. If passengers were to pay for it, it would be much higher. Even then, the governor has not shut the door on the possibility of bringing down the fare.

     Recently, the BOS visited China along with the president and signed a deal for another colour-coded train: Green. One might have wondered why the first one – the Blue line, that is – was not called green, as the first shoot.

     But on a second thought, it might be because the Lekki corridor is the newest subdivision of the city, and so the greenest with new buildings, businesses, institutions and ideas, including the Dangote Refinery, suburbs, infrastructure, seaport and an airport, a hint of the new Lagos. So, green is right. It is also to benefit the Fourth Mainland bridge, a project the governor says is held by finance.

     The fall of the naira has imperiled the ability to crunch the numbers for that project for now. We hope our currency can get back to life and enable us enjoy that all-important bridge. The image of Lagos on the move is not just for commuters but in other aspects of the state. For instance, just as the Red Train roars through the city, the governor announced a spike in minimum wage to N85,000 naira. This is a tough act to most other  states.

     Many will have to come up with some numbers as it is inevitable that they cannot fall below N70,000  in lieu of labour’s agreement with the Federal Government. The government hopes, given its financial robustness, to raise it to N100,000. We must understand this in the context of financial engineering in the state. Its IGR that began its revolution in Tinubu’s time has grown from governor to governor, and BOS is no exception. He has tripled his own budget size since he climbed the saddle in 2019. It is now N2.3 trillion, and it tops 90 percent performance.

    While hoping to close the year’s budge at N2.5 trillion. It is, like the train, hooting towards a N3 trillion mark next year. We have seen what he is doing with food and its Ounje Eko project, its various housing projects. As the food master of the west, he is coordinating efforts of the region to make food available through investments in agriculture. He says the Imota farms will soon start mass production of rice.

     For all its many ins and outs, the road network of the state is undergoing facelifts. As he himself said, work is going on in every local government area. A big-ticket chief executive, he is building a logistics hub in the city that will become where heavy-duty goods can be stored and move around the country. More to come.

  • Sanwo-Olu  salutes ‘true  Lagosian’ Oshodi  over ATTF election

    Sanwo-Olu  salutes ‘true  Lagosian’ Oshodi  over ATTF election

    African  table tennis body seeks private investment

     Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has praised the election of Wahid Enitan Oshodi as the 6th  President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) on Tuesday (October 15) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

    Oshodi, a former Lagos  Commissioner for Youth, Sports, and Social Development, was unanimously elected at the Elective Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the continental body held at the African Union (AU) headquarters.

    “We are indeed proud of a true Lagosian who has continued to put Nigeria and Lagos on the world map through his sheer ingenuity in sports. His rising profile within and outside the continent has not come as a surprise, as he has shown to be a reliable hand when it comes to sports development.

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    “His keen interest in youth development has helped to unearth several stars like Quadri Aruna and Olajide Omotayo. He is loved by the athletes and genuinely takes a special interest in their welfare. Since he left office as Commissioner, he has kept faith in sports, and this has been confirmed by his unanimous election in Addis Ababa,” said Governor Sanwo-Olu.

    Sanwo-Olu also pledged the state’s support to Oshodi and called on other Nigerians to support their compatriot, who has continued to make the country proud with his international acceptance.

    Meanwhile, Oshodi in his post-election speech, has  called  for more private sector support for table tennis.

     “I think the support I have received has been overwhelming, and the team we have built has been very supportive. We must also commend the outgoing President for his excellent work, and we hope to continue from where he left off. It is time to bring table tennis to the forefront in Africa, alongside sports like athletics, football, and basketball. We have many young talents in Africa, and now is the time to help them reach the top of world table tennis,” Oshodi said.

    “We cannot continue to rely solely on government and ITTF funding for our tournaments and activities. It is time to involve private and corporate bodies to help grow the sport’s fortunes and hopefully raise the standard to produce more superstars in Africa,” Oshodi added.

    He also emphasized the importance of unity among member associations in Africa, stating that unity would help achieve more for the continent.

    In a related development, re-elected Executive Vice President of Finance, Hajera Kajee of South Africa described Oshodi’s election as a testament to his achievements in the sport. She expressed optimism in his ability to transform table tennis in Africa.

    Newly elected ITTF Council member, Olabanji Oladapo, echoed this sentiment, highlighting Oshodi’s commitment and passion for the sport and calling for more support for the new board to surpass the achievements of previous ATTF administrations.

  • BREAKING: Lagos pegs minimum wage at N85,000 for workers

    BREAKING: Lagos pegs minimum wage at N85,000 for workers

    Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has disclosed that the State plans to pay workers a minimum wage of N85,000, which is N15,000 higher than the N70,000 approved by the Federal Government in July.

    Sanwo-Olu announced this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday.

    The Governor said the State is not paying N85,000 to compete with others but because it has the capacity to do so.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu to make Lagos 21st-century economy

    “I am glad to let you know that the minimum wage for Lagos which we conversed and discussed with our union is N85,000 today,” Sanwo-Olu said on the programme.

    “It is not a competition, so I am not going to say we are paying more than some other people, it is a function of affordability and it is a function of capacity, but we know too well that when people live in Lagos, Lagos has a premium in terms of even the cost of living, we are fully aware.”

    President Bola Tinubu signed the new N70,000 minimum wage bill into law in July, ending months of deliberations between government representatives, labour unions and the private sector.

    Details shortly…

  • Sanwo-Olu to make Lagos 21st-century economy

    Sanwo-Olu to make Lagos 21st-century economy

    The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said the maiden edition of the Lagos Physical Planning Summit 2024 is a pivotal event aimed at reshaping the future of our megacity. 

    The theme of the summit: “Rethinking Lagos: A New Vision for a Regional and Integrated Megacity”.

    He said it’s both timely and necessary towards building a resilient, sustainable, and inclusive Lagos.

    He commended the former Governor, Babatunde Fashola for spearheading transformational projects that reshaped the state’s infrastructure, including the expansion of the Lekki-Epe Expressway, the development of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, and the initiation of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, which significantly enhanced safety and security across the state.

    Fashola however warned that payment for building approvals must be reasonable and processed within a good time. “Everything about building from conception to finishing must not be about the money that is coming to government coffers,” he said.

    He said: “His commitment to urban renewal, sustainable development, and good governance continues to inspire us all, and we are honored to have him share his invaluable insights with us today. This event marked a milestone in our collective efforts to realize the comprehensive physical development plans for Lagos State.

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    “To accelerate the realization of our vision of making Lagos a 21st- century economy, alongside other pillars of our state’s blueprint, we have embarked on the reorganization of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to enhance its efficiency in serving the people”.

    “We have taken a carefully planned approach to delivering impactful projects across Lagos. Notable successes include the Agege-Pen Cinema flyover, which was part of the Agege/Ifako-Ijaiye Model City Plan, and the Ajah and Abule-Egba flyovers, proposed in the Ajah-Lekki Infrastructure Master Plan and the Alimosho Model City Plan, respectively. Soon, we will commence the Ikotun flyover, the Opebi/Odo-Iyalaro bypass, and road expansions in Ikorodu.”

    Sanwo-Olu said he has embarked on transformative infrastructure projects that enhance mobility, reduce congestion, and improve the quality of life for all Lagosians. The Lagos Rail Mass Transit projects and the continuous development of our road networks are key pillars in our efforts to promote sustainable urbanization.

    Fashola, who was the Special Guest spoke on: “A meeting of Reminders”. He urged the governor to reposition Town Planners who are better placed to envisage how communities and states evolve. He regretted what he called the prevalence of assets without value in the state as former competitive infrastructure has been degraded and a not a few mismanaged.

    He said: “My administration came up with BRT, but today the route has been overtaken by tricycles, bikes and Korope, we cannot be talking about a megacity or smart city when our infrastructures are not working.    For instance payment for building approvals must be reasonable and processed within a good time. Everything about building from conception to finishing must not be about the money that is coming to government coffers.

    “Let developers breathe and the government should be patient to collect revenue from Land Use Charge, VAT and Personal Income Tax after a particular development is completed,” he said, adding that building approval payment for revenue generation can be termed as tunnel vision. Streamlining the number of agencies building approval applicants must go through, a process that takes up to two years to get proper documentation is a disincentive to developers or individual builders.

    Furthermore he advised Sanwo-Olu to reduce the number of Agencies of government related to building approval noting that the costs charged by some of them is unattractive and businesses can look for alternative states where the process is less cumbersome, he added that insisting on getting revenue from planning permits is not sustainable he added.

    Earlier, the Commissioner for Physical Planning & Urban Development Oluyinka  Olumidie  said  the state is mindful of the imperatives of a livable and sustainable built environment and  also committed to ensuring that its growth is guided by sustainable, inclusive, and innovative planning principles.

    He said the theme of the summit provides a unique opportunity to chart a course for the future of physical planning in Lagos by exploring strategies to address pressing issues of implementation, investment, sustainability and physical planning service delivery.

    He noted that Lagos, with a population of over 22 million on an area of 3,577 square kilometres, about 20 percent of which is water, is acclaimed to have the highest rate of urbanization in Africa confronted with urban decay deficit and the threat of impacts of climate change among others.

    Olumide further noted that over the past two decades, successive administrations have addressed these challenges through series of interventions and strategic policy initiatives noting that these Operative Development Plans (ODPs) are the basis for sustainable urban development in Lagos in alignment with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

  • Sanwo-Olu is first passenger as Red Line takes off

    Sanwo-Olu is first passenger as Red Line takes off

    • Lagos gets operational licences from NRC

    Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat will lead other members of the state executive council and top politicians on the historic commercial train ride on the Red Line Mass Transit tomorrow.

    It will be the second time in less than two years that Governor Sanwo-Olu will be performing the historic ride, having done same on September 4 last year on the state’s first metro line, an electric train, from Marina to Mile 2.

    The Red Line was inaugurated on February 29 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

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    A trial run had been conducted on the Red Line from September to October, in accordance with the requirement by the regulator, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), which last Friday presented the operator, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), with the requisite licences to operate the two metro lines.

    The commercial operation for which a commercial schedule was released last Friday, will be launched from Agbado, a densely populated border community in Ogun State, from where it will head for Oyingbo on Lagos Mainland.

    Among other dignitaries expected to join Lagos governor are members of the state executive council, top politicians, among them members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) led by nonagenarian Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi, while the Managing Director of LAMATA, Abimbola Akinajo, an engineer, will lead other top officials of the agency, as well as the contractor, Messrs China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) officials on the historic trip.

    The 27km Oyingbo-Agbado line is the first phase of the 37km lane that is expected to terminate at Marina, going through Iddo, Otto and through the lagoon.

    A statement by LAMATA said the launch would begin from Agbado in reference to feedbacks obtained.

    Managing Director of NRC, Fidet Okhiria, an engineer, who handed the certificates over, said it was the first time since the Nigerian railway came into being in 1912 that another entity outside the Federal Government would operate train services in the country.

    LAMATA said in a statement via its official X (formerly Twitter) account that the NRC granted a three-year operational licence to the Blue Line and a six-month temporary licence to the Red Line.

    The licences were handed over by Okhiria to Akinajo, on behalf of the Lagos State Government.

    The statement said the train would make a three minutes stop at the eight train stations along the route, Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba and Oyingbo.

    The Red Line, which is operated by LAMATA for the Lagos State Government, is a diesel propelled locomotive bought by the state government from Talgo train in Tulsa,  United States of America.

    It shares the national corridor with the NRC.

    According to the schedule, the train runs twice at peak periods- morning and evening, leaving Agbado by 6am, getting to Iju by 6:07am, arriving Agege by 6:1am, Ikeja by 6:29am, Oshodi by 6:40am, Mushin by 6:49am, Yaba by 6:57 am and Oyingbo by 7:07am.

    The second train is expected to leave Agbado by 7:10am and making the final destination at Oyingbo by 8:27am.

    For the evening trip, the train will leave Oyingbo by 6:20pm and get to its final destination by 6:27 pm, while another one departs same Oyingbo by 6:47pm and gets to Agbado by 7:47pm.

    From Agbado end, the evening shuttle, according to the schedule, also leaves Agbado by 6:50pm and gets to Oyingbo by 7:57pm, while the second train leaves Oyingbo by 8:10pm to get to Agbado by 9:17pm.

    The train’s stabling yard, it was gathered, would in the meantime be at Oyingbo, while efforts were being made to complete the Agbado stabling yard soon.

    History was made in the country at the weekend, as NRC granted Lagos State Government operational licences to run its two completed mass transit rail lines, the Blue and Red lines, on the Lagos Mass Rail Transit.

    This happened 72 hours before the official launch of passenger operations on the state’s second colour-coded line, the Red Line, which is a 27km first phase of the Red Line, which will run from Oyingbo to Agbado.

  • SGBV gladiators get kudos

    SGBV gladiators get kudos

    Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has honoured  Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) heroes, stressing that the fight against SGBV is a joint effort. ADEBISI ONANUGA reports.

    Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has assured that  his administration will continue to strengthen the legal frameworks and support systems that would enable sexual and gender -based survivors (SGBV) to continue to break the culture of silence and thereby stem  abuse in the society.

    He said that his administration will continue to support and invest in initiatives that protect the residents, especially the most vulnerable, including women, children, and marginalised groups.

    The governor  commended the success stories and the impact of the DSVA in the society while describing  the agency’s efforts as nothing short of extraordinary.

    Governor Sanwo-Olu stated this at the 2024 Governor’s Commendation and Awards Night, organised by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), with the theme: SGBV, Not On My Watch. The event held at the Marriot Hotel Joel Ogunnaike Street, GRA, Ikeja.

    Igbogbo Family Support Unit (FSU) was the recipient of the Best FSU award which attracted  judges, many traditional rulers and the cream of the society.  Ipaja PHC won the award of the best Health Facility PHC; Badagry won the best Health Facility General Hospital; while Gracie’s Place won the best NGO Service Provider.

    Others who shined at the Governor’s Commendation Night included Centre for Women’s Health Initiative which was crowned with the award of the best NGO (Advocacy Awareness) Recognition; Alimosho worn the award of the best  Family Social Services  while Education District 2 won the Most Responsive Education District.

    Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, emphasised the need for the establishment of more  Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) to support survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).

    He stated  that this has become necessary because the current  three SARCs in the state, can no longer cope with the huge population of the state.

    “We have 20 local governments here, so, it is not enough, because there are a lot of cases to be attended to. We are dealing with 20 million citizens in Lagos State, and we are still counting, “ he said.

    The governor, however, expressed his satisfaction that people are now speaking out and reporting cases.

    He noted: “The blame and shame game is in full swing, and the sex offenders register is being used,” the Governor said.

    The governor recalled that  from the inception of the agency in 2014, government had shown unwavering determination to provide holistic support to victims of domestic and sexual violence, while at the same time holding perpetrators accountable.

    “Sexual and gender-based violence is one of the gravest barriers to achieving gender equality, hence, the government will not allow such to persist in the state”, he said.

     He said the theme for the event was more than a slogan, describing it as a call to action for all to take action against the menace.

     “The fight against SGBV requires the participation of everyone, religious leaders; community heads; families and individuals alike. It is not just the responsibility of the government or the agency, it is a collective endeavour”, he stressed.

     The Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat who noted that more people have found the courage to speak up, assured that the state would continue to provide them with protection and the necessary support to build a new life for themselves.

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    He said this was why the government initiated programmes to empower more women and vulnerable persons through skills acquisition and empowerment programmes.

    The Deputy Governor who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in his office, Mrs Mobolaji Daba, affirmed his support for zero tolerance to any act of violence or intimidation against any person’s group of persons or gender.

    “We have achieved so far in the campaign to end domestic and sexual violence. The war is not over, so we have to keep this conversation going by maintaining the momentum.

    “The governor’s commendation and our award night event is another opportunity for us to encourage and enlighten our people to sign up and join in the campaign against Domestic and sexual violence in any ramification violence is antisocial groups and development.

    “I can assure you that social and domestic violence will not be condoned under our watch. Not in this Lagos.

    “It is on this premise the domestic and sexual violence agency with the support of our first lady, Dr (Mrs)Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, in breaking the chains of silence and stigmatisation from the victims of sexual and domestic violence”, he said.

    He commended all the beneficiaries of the year 2024 award to see it as a challenge for them not to rest on their oars.

    ‘‘You are seen as champions, for the protection of the rights and privileges of the vulnerable, the oppressed and exploited in our society.

    “You are true heroes and the job of heroes are never done”, he stressed.

    He also commended the efforts of the Executive Secretary of the DSVA, Mrs. Vivour-Adeniyi, and her team for standing strong in the campaign for the protection and prevention of victims of domestic and sexual violence and exploitation.

    Answering questions from newsmen, the Executive Secretary, Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency,  Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, said the agency had attended to over twenty-five thousand cases in the last ten years.

     Vivour-Adeniyi said the agency would continue to embark on sustained advocacy, as there had been a direct correlation between heightened awareness and increase in reporting of SGBV cases.

     The Executive Secretary said the agency was gradually breaking the culture of silence, encouraging people to speak up and speak out, in the past ten years.

     She stressed that it has been a very remarkable journey, there is increased faith in the system, adding, “people are reporting more, but of course, we cannot rest on our oars, because we know we have not even scratched the surface.”

     The Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (ROLAC) was represented at the event by the Head of Programmes, Danladi Plang and Mrs Ijimakinwa and DState Coordinator, Mrs Ajibola Ijimakinwa.

    Mr Plang promised ROLAC would  continue to support the state, and its agencies, particularly the two agencies, that they are already working with and the civil society organizations that they have engaged, one way or the other.

    “If you look back in the last 10 years, you agree with me that all the investment in terms of resources, in terms of personnel, in terms of legislation is paying off.

    “If you look at the agency that we are celebrating today, the special courts, the sexual assault and referral centers, the family support units, and a lot more. They’ve been doing well in terms of ensuring that persons who have been violated, you know, receive justice.

    “In this particular area and in many other areas in the

    justice sector.”

    He also thank the state for some of the innovations, they have evolved to support victims, survivors and SGBV.

    He disclosed that what they are planning to do not is to see how they can support the state judiciaries in automating their court process and upgrading them.

    Aside ROLAC the event which had the support of the European Union and implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance  was organized to round off the Domestic and Sexual Violence awareness month of September programmes.

    Traditional rulers present at the event included  The Adegboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali; The Olu of Agboyi 1,  Oba Monsuru Abimbola Oladega, the Oba of Agboyi, Alaiyeluwa Oba Taiwo Adesegun Lamina,

    The Olu of Iwaya-  Alaiyeluwa Oba Suleiman Oloko; the Awesome of Onigbongbo, Oba Segun Ajasa; the Ikate of Surulere,  Oba Lateef Atanda Adams; the Oba of Ketu Kosofeland, Alaiyeluwa Oba Balogun Oyero; the Aholu  of Ajara Agamathen- Alaiyeluwa Oba Agono Toniyon 1; the Aholu Tosavi of Akarakumo Alaiyeluwa Oba Travil Awogbemi Nunayon among others

    The Oba Onigando of igando land lagos, Oba Lazeeze gbadebo gbadamosi Orootan 3rd

    The Oloto of oto awori land, Oba Josaia Aina Ilemobade Ikuyamiku 1st of Oto awori kingdom.

    Also present at the event were Honourable Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries

    The AIG Adegoke Fayoade, the Commissioner of Police – CP Ishola Olanrewaju Olawale,

    Heads of Agencies and captains of Industry.

  • Lagos to link Sangotedo with Ito-Omu creek

    Lagos to link Sangotedo with Ito-Omu creek

    Lagos state government has embarked on  a road and bridge project which will link Sangotedo in Eti Osa with Ito-Omu creek in Ibeju Lekki and Epe.

    The special adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Infrastructure, Olufemi Daramola, gave the assurance on Saturday, during an inspection of some projects across the state.

    ”Today, we are at the Omu Creek Road which is one of the strategic projects that is ongoing.

    “It is a road of about five kilometres and about 600 metres bridge.

    ”It is about 1.1 kilometres from the Lekki-Epe Express Road. What we have witnessed today is really a big progress, there has been a lot of soil reclamation, a lot of soil replacement has gone on.

    ”We will be able to get to the point where the bridge work will start, a lot of soil investigation is going on, the progress is very commendable,” he said.

    The special adviser also inspected the Ketu Alapere Pedestrian Bridge reconstruction.

    Daramola said that the project would be completed in few months.

    It was reported that the bridge, which was constructed 11 years ago, was damaged  by impact of a container-laden truck which attempted  to manoeuvre under the bridge.

    “Reconstruction of the damaged Alapere Pedestrian Bridge is ongoing.

    “There was a lot of work on the alignment.  The federal government was working on the Third Mainland Bridge, and we had to synchronise the work.

    ”There is good progress, the foundation is done, the cast elements are all being set, the headroom will be improved, and in another couple of months – two, three months  – I am sure that the project will be completed,” he said.

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    Daramola also said that the state government had  embarked on rehabilitation of some link roads in the Ikoyi axis.

    “The state government is also working on a network of roads in Ikoyi, Abayomi, MacPherson, Ilabere. Site visit shows that there is improvement.

    “Contractors are on site, and we are having good milage.

    ”Some sets of roads were done in Ikoyi previously, and this set will add more connectivity.  The progress of work  is very commendable,” he said.

    The special adviser said that the Ilabere Link Road, Ikoyi, project was 70 per cent completed.

    ”None of the roads has been completed because it is a network.

    ”In Lagos as a whole, there is quite a number of projects going on, we visit these sites from time to time.

    ”I can assure you in Alimosho we have ongoing projects such as Babafemi Daada, Abaranje Road.  In Badagry, we have Hospital Road, Samuel Ekundayo Road. In Kosofe, we have St. Finbars Road, and all the contractors are on site.

    ”The governor has given us support maximally, you will see more progress.”

  • Sanwo-Olu and unruly soldiers

    Sanwo-Olu and unruly soldiers

    • By Samuel Omojoye

    Sir: Can there also be any enlightenment as to why soldiers should be very quick at calling their fellow citizens banza, bastards, bloody civilians, and other vulgar names? Or why for a little infraction, it is okay for soldiers to order fellow citizens to start rolling inside a dirty gutter?

    Could the young people of our beloved country be advised on how a governor of a state should have responded to the man in a mufti driving a motorcycle against traffic by merely saying, “I am a soldier, Oga sir”?

    The order by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the arrest of a man who identified himself as a soldier for driving against the traffic and the kind of words some purported soldiers use in a viral video to respond to the governor in video clips has raised so many questions. 

    The governor was on his way to the Ojo campus of the Lagos State University (LASU), for the inauguration of the Femi Gbajabiamila Conference Centre, when the incident occurred. While passing through the Lagos-Badagry expressway in a convoy, Sanwo-Olu encountered the motorcyclists, from which one of the arrested identified himself as a soldier, and immediately ordered their arrest. 

    The video showed many of the riders and passengers abandoning their motorcycles and fleeing as the governor’s security operatives gave them a chase. A few escaped while a handful were apprehended. While being arrested and taken away by security operatives, one of the offenders said, “I am a soldier Oga sir”.

    Everywhere, the military is a bastion of discipline and leadership training. In developed countries, having a military background is an advantage when contesting a political office. Here in Nigeria, we equally have several military men, serving and retired, that we are proud of.

    But it is an error of judgment for many of our soldiers to believe that they are superior to the law and constituted authority in the state they reside.

    Reacting to the arrest, another soldier, who believed that his colleague had done nothing to deserve an arrest, said the governor had no right to arrest a soldier, especially in front of his barracks. He claimed that soldiers are not under the control of any governor, but their senior officers.

    Indeed, the logic of the soldier in the viral video and his fans is not only weird, it explains the extent of reorientation needed to restore or reset thinking of a lot in the country.

    It is not really a surprise that some commentators on social media are calling attention to how in the United States of America and Britain, uniform men and women are more respected. Some are also questioning if the governor and his cabinet members are not also breaking traffic laws. This is how illogical we have become as a people, and we all complain that the country is not moving forward.

    Read Also: Emefiele: EFCC to appeal against N100m fine

    The question is how many times has anyone seen the governor (Sanwo-Olu) flout traffic regulations? Must we always justify the wrongdoings of citizens just because we think our leaders are bad?

    These are the same citizens that want Nigeria to become US, UK, UAE, etc overnight, even when they are not ready and willing to play their part as responsible citizens. Why can’t individuals have personal resolutions to contribute meaningfully to the progress of the nation by standing out and being outstanding in all they do?  

    The point being made here is that, while acknowledging the important roles and sacrifices of our military men and women, it will be out of place to grant them immunity from obeying the law.

    A former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, in July 2012, once arrested an army colonel and a staff sergeant for committing traffic offense. Not only were they publicly shamed, but they were also handed over to the authorities for sanctions.

    No serious society will tolerate the nuisance being displayed by many of our officers on the grounds of recognizing only their superiors in the military.

    Globally, the military thrives on discipline. Ours must not be an exception. Hence, those who fall short of expectations should be shown the way out. There should not be any attempt to protect those that bring their image into disrepute as this will send wrong signals among the ranks and file.

     In a democratic society, no one is above the law. The sight of so-called soldiers raining abuses on the governor of a state is, to say the least, appalling. It should be strongly condemned by every well-meaning citizen.

    •Samuel Omojoye,

     Palmgroove, Lagos.

  • BOS of landmarks

    BOS of landmarks

    I call him the BOS of Lagos, but Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is turning into a governor of landmarks. He ended the last year with two important bridges, one in Oyingbo and another in Ikeja. As if to stress the value, he was validated by his governor colleagues. For Oyingbo, the calm governor of Ekiti, Biodun Oyebanji. For Ikeja, Kwara State governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq spiced the launch with his presence. He also is known to have completed the first big train that now whistled through the arteries and corridors of the city. Very soon, both blue and red lines will colour our commutes in Africa’s buzz of a city. On the Lekki corridor, he is plotting a new airport. In the shadow of all these big-ticket dreams is the Fourth Mainland bridge, whose funding seems to be in gear. In the United States, presidents are known for specific things. Same applies to governors. George H. Bush called himself the education president. Roosevelt inked his name on the Great Depression. Governor Sanwo-Olu is marking himself out as a man of big things.