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Tag: Babatunde Fashola

  • Why we must plant trees, by Fashola

    Why we must plant trees, by Fashola

    LAGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has advised residents to intensify efforts towards rehabilitating the environment through tree planting.

    Fashola spoke while flagging off this year’s tree planting campaign at the secretariat of Oriade Local Council Development Area.

    The governor, who was represented by the council’s Vice-Chairman, Gbolahan Dauda, noted that trees play significant role in the fight against environmental problems, which include global warming.

    The theme of this year’s tree planting exercise is “Life is better with Trees.”

    He said: “The environment is everything and everything is the environment. That is why the regeneration of the environment is a critical component of our calling as a government. We have come together once again for the tree planting exercise because it has been proven that the quality of our health largely depends on the number of trees around us.”

    He emphasised that cutting of trees and clearing of forests make the earth poorer. This is so, he said, because trees give life, improve life and sustain life, even as he lamented that global environment has been ravaged by eco-degradation, which, he said, resulted in climate change caused by man’s unwholesome activities that impinge negatively on the environment.

    “When we kill trees, we kill life, reduce biological diversity and cheat our children out of a healthy environment,” Fashola said.

    On the benefit of the tree planting initiative of government,  the governor said the exercise has generated over 75,168 jobs for horticulturists, pruners, gardeners, welders, tanker drivers and security personnel, all of who help to keep the trees alive.

    He was optimistic that the efforts invested in the environment would not be compromised, adding that “with Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK), these initiatives will be sustained.”

  • Fashola lambasts PDP over rally at Gani Fawehinmi Park

    Fashola lambasts PDP over rally at Gani Fawehinmi Park

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday flayed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for deeming it fit to hold its rally at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, one of the greening initiatives of the state government which they had continuously described as “cosmetic and elitist”.

    The PDP had last week Friday staged a rally at the Park as part of Governor-elect of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose’s “Thank You” tour of Southwest states.

    Fashola, however, at the 2014 Tree Planting Campaign, held in Eti-Osa East Local Council Development Area (LDCA), said the PDP, by their act, did not only vindicate his government’s greening policy, but have also displayed their inconsistency.

    The governor, while expressing satisfaction at the success story of the greening initiative and tree planting exercise, which has provided job opportunities for thousands of youth, recalled that at inception, the PDP criticized the programme and labeled it a waste of tax payers’ money.

    He said the tree planting exercise and greening programme since inception in 2008, has generated over 75,168 employment opportunities for horticulturists, pruners, gardeners, welders, tanker drivers, security personnel and other artisans.

    “But our uninformed and unable, and I say so emphatically, our unable opponents they criticised this initiative, they called it cosmetic, they called it elitist. They clearly demonstrated their ignorance because the environment is also the new economy, they are ignorant people, what they call cosmetic and elitist, has developed our economy, it has created jobs and it has put food on the tables of many people who would otherwise be unemployed”, Fashola added.

    He also recalled that the PDP-led Federal Government had attempted to stop the fuel subsidy removal protest by Nigerians in 2012 at the Park with fully armed soldiers.

    “Our opponents have no shame. In their unthinking inconsistency, it was at the same Ojota Park, the same Gani Fawehinmi Park that they now chose to hold their Party Rally last week. They lie, they forget what they say, what they complain about, don’t believe them, have they forgotten that the Park was cosmetic, have they now forgotten that the Park is elitist, or indeed are they the true elites?

    “For me, they have shown themselves up for who they are, a party that is unworthy of trust and lacking in consistency.

    “I feel vindicated because this initiative is consistent with Goal number 7 of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) and our party’s commitment to sustainable environmental development. I feel vindicated because we have turned environmental challenge into massive economic opportunity, I feel vindicated because our opponents in their flip flop and in their lies and in their shameful inconsistency have also vindicated me”, Fashola stressed.

    Reminding residents that it was his last tree planting exercise as Governor of the state, Fashola said the exercise has been institutionalized with the setting up of the Lagos State Parks and gardens Agency (LASPARK) to maintain and sustain the parks, gardens and trees.

    “Our government and our party, the All Progressive Congress (APC), remains committed to continuing this initiative, but you know now what our opponents think about this programme, they have told you, so if you value this job, if you value the economic benefit, you must vote to keep this programme going, you must defend your livelihood and your jobs with your votes, may God help you all as you do so when the time is right”.

    Earlier, Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello said over five million three hundred and thirteen trees have been planted while over 297 sites have been landscaped.

    He called on residents to recognise the need to conquer environmental challenges by planting trees, reminding that it is also an offence to fell tree in the state without the permission of LASPARK

  • Lagos HOMS for all segments-Fashola

    Lagos HOMS for all segments-Fashola

    LAGOS State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has disclosed that the State Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS) was designed to accommodate all segments of the society.

    The governor who spoke in an interactive session with varied members of the society at the event to mark his 2600 days in office, added that the programme was for everybody irrespective of whether the person was self employed or in paid employment.

    “It is for everybody. Whether you are self employed, in your own business or you are in paid employment, in government or in a private company, once you are a resident of Lagos and you hold our LASRRA (Lagos State Residents Registration Agency) card, you are entitled. Whether you are a mechanic, a car dealer, whether you are a market woman, whether you are working in abattoir, you are entitled to Lagos HOMS, if your income can match the house that you have applied for,” he said.

    He explained that what the administration discovered was that people in paid employment had applied more for the scheme, adding that government suspected that those in the informal sector thought that they could not benefit.

    This development, he said, necessitated his calling a meeting with people in the informal sector in order to explain to them that they can also apply for the homes.

    Fashola also explained that against the backdrop of the deficit of housing, the number of beneficiaries would increase over time.

    “In addition, we expect everybody ultimately to benefit, but not everybody can benefit in the beginning. The reason is that we have a deficit of housing, so we will catch it slowly and if you were here at my meeting, I used one example of our mobile telephone. When it started, not everybody bought it. The housing scheme is just five months old, but some people are benefitting already, let us continue the journey,” he stressed.

    Responding to a question on why the youth should be more engaged with the environment, the governor said there is the need to manage all the parks and gardens being constructed by the state government.

    In this regard, the governor disclosed that he has directed the Lagos State Parks and Gardens to engage the youth on how they could be useful at the gardens.

    Some of the youths who asked questions were immediately connected with the relevant agencies to further address their requests for job opportunities.

    Speaking on the network of roads in Ikorodu, the governor said at the last count, over 17 roads are still ongoing in Ikorodu.

    He added that construction work is ongoing on Awolowo Road, Ikorodu which is being expanded, as well as the Mile 12-Ikorodu Road which is a major construction work that is expected to be completed later this year or early next year.

     

  • Fashola introduces ‘Rent-to-own’ home ownership scheme

    Fashola introduces ‘Rent-to-own’ home ownership scheme

    LAGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has introduced ‘Rent to own’ scheme under the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (LagosHOMS).

    Fashola, who announced the development at an interactive session yesterday with tradesmen and artisans at the Blue Roof,  LTV 8, Agidingbi, Ikeja, said the development was geared to accommodate artisans in the scheme.

    He  explained that under the new scheme, intended home owners do not need to pay the 30 per cent down payment before they can move into their apartment.

    According to him, “we have initiated a rent-to-own scheme. The scheme will allow artisans and traders to access Lagos Homes. The artisans do not have to pay 30 per cent down payment before they move to their apartments. The moment they are qualified for the scheme, they will be allow to move in under the rent-to-own scheme.”

    He explained that the beneficiary will be paying rents, which will eventually lead to mortgage.

    “But in an instance where a beneficiary loses his job and cannot continue with the scheme after some years, such a person will get back all he has paid. Already, another person is waiting to buy the apartment,” he said

    The governor said investigations carried out recently revealed that most people in the informal could also afford the mortgage scheme, going by their monthly income and profit.

    He urged the artisans to take advantage of the development and apply for their choice homes in the scheme.

    “The artisans and traders are always a part of our policies and programmes. Perhaps, I think people might not know what role they have to play when a programme was newly introduced.”

    Earlier, State Commissioner for Housing, Bosun Jeje, said criteria would be worked out on the modality of applying for the scheme.

    Chairman of the Lagos State National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, praised the government’s gesture.

    He confirmed that average commercial drivers make between N70,000 to N45,000 monthly, adding that members will be inform and educated on how best to benefit from the scheme.

     

     

  • Fashola, Danjuma, others to honour Dare at 70

    Fashola, Danjuma, others to honour Dare at 70

    A former Defence Minister, General Theophilus Danjuma; Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), a leading member of the Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; frontline politicians, scholars and media chiefs will, on July 17, honour The Nation columnist and former Chairman of the Editorial Board of The Guardian, Prof Olatunji Dare, on his 70th birthday.

    The event, which will hold at the MUSON Centre, Lagos, will attract leading figures in academics, politics and the media.

    The birthday celebration, which the organisers said will be chaired by Gen. Danjuma, will include a lecture to be delivered by a media scholar, Prof Kwame Karikari of the University of Ghana, Legon, titled: Memories of Censorship: Struggling for Press Freedom in Africa.

    A book edited by Wale Adebanwi, titled: Public Intellectuals, the Public Sphere and the Public Spirit: Essays in Honour of Olatunji Dare, will also be presented at the event.

    Contributors to the book include scholars, media chiefs and activists. They include famous poet, Prof Niyi Osundare; University of Swaziland don, Dr. Adidi Uyo; former Daily Times Editor, Dr. Ndaeyo Uko (now of Monash University, Australia); former Concord Newspapers Managing Director, Dr. Doyin Abiola; former Punch Chairman, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola; famous poet, Mr. Odia Ofeimun; Editor-in-Chief of Premium Times, Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi and Executive Editor of The NEWS, Mr. Kunle Ajibade.

    Others are: Prof Lai Oso, Mr. Segun Ayobolu, Dr. Ogaga Ifowodo, Dr. Ebenezer Obadare, Mr. Olakunle Abimbola, Dr. Akin Adesokan and Dr. Sina Odugbemi.

    Dare, who is a professor of communication at the Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois, United States, is Nigeria’s most celebrated satirist and one

    of the most respected newspaper columnists.

    The Nation columnist has been described as one who “remains a glittering advertisement for patriotic and conscientious journalism.”

    Prof Osundare said: “In Olatunji Dare’s writing, we encounter a productive marriage of the gravitas of content and the felicity of style.”

    Dare studied Mass Communication at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), graduating with first-class honours.

    He subsequently earned a Master’s degree in Journalism from Columbia University in New York, and a doctorate in Communication Research from Indiana University, Bloomington, with specialisations in international communication and public policy analysis.

    He taught at UNILAG from 1984 until 1988, when he was appointed a columnist and editorial page editor of The Guardian, Nigeria’s most influential newspaper then. Two years later, he became the chairman of the Editorial Board.

    As a correspondent for The Guardian, Dare filed stories from over a dozen countries on three continents, including from The White House in Washington, DC. He joined the Bradley Faculty in 1997.

     

     

     

    The frontline columnist has served as an editorial writer for The Seattle Times on a fellowship from the American Society of Newspaper Editors.

    He has also served as a consultant to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department for International Development of the U.K. Foreign Office.

    Dare’s awards include The Robert A. Curry Prize in Editorial Writing from Columbia University; The Nieman Foundation’s Louis M. Lyons Prize for Conscience and Integrity in Journalism, and the Faculty Achievement Award in Teaching Excellence from the Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts at Bradley.

  • Fashola: we’re working to reform red meat value chain

    Fashola: we’re working to reform red meat value chain

    An furtherance of the reforms of the red meat value chain in  Lagos State, Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday undertook an inspection of the different sections of the Lagos State Abattoir and Lairage in Oko Oba, Agege, saying government is keen on improving the capacity of the facility to keep the existing jobs and create more.

    The governor, who spoke with State House correspondents who accompanied him after an extensive inspection of the various sections of the abattoir to see the gradual reforms being carried out with the involvement of various stakeholders, explained that with proper organisation, the place would keep the jobs and employ more people.

    He added that the initiative at the abattoir is not an off the cuff one, but a well thought out initiative from the focus of the administration on Power, Agriculture, Transportation and Housing which made up P.A.T.H.

    “When you look at the number of people here, nobody here is here on a frolic. All these people earn their living here. This abattoir  employs many people on a daily basis and it may seem a little bit difficult to understand how it works.

    “There are trailers that represent the transport section of the business, there is feeding that represents the feed lot section of the business, there is animal sales that represent the distributive line of the business and of course there is the abattoir itself where the killing is done and then there is sales and you would see a lot of women in the inner section where they sort out the inner, the tripe, the intestine, there is a value chain here”, the Governor said.

    He explained that it was observed that over the years a lot of equipment at the abattoir were not being put to use and the government thought there must be a reason for that. This led to the administration sponsoring about 39 of the abattoir stakeholders especially the leadership to go to Kenya and Botswana to see what is happening and the visit turned out very revealing.

    Fashola stated that the operators came back from the trip asking for change and reforms and that what the State Government has done is to allow them to lead the reforms they themselves want, which explains some of the developments he observed during the inspection.

     

     

     

    “You would see in one of the sections that I entered that they built their own separation cubicles, they now put their white rain boots there, they put their lockers there, so you change into white garment so that at least the process of cleaning, killing and processing the meat is improved and the hygienic condition of what ultimately gets to your table and my table become better”.

     

    “You saw the mechanized section also where now the machines that have been there before during Governor Otedola’s regime  being put to use gradually and that is servicing what we call corporate butchers section where the UAC and all those who deal in bulk trade of beef and its accessories are being serviced”, he explained.

     

    The Governor who also spoke about the new trucks for transporting cattle, informed that when the operators were given the exposure to international best practices in Kenya and Botswana, one of the things they realized was that by making their cattle walk so many kilometres before it is slaughtered, they are the ones actually losing because the animal is stressed and the beef is equally reduced in quality and quantity.

     

    He added that they discovered that if they transport the animal, they are likely to get much more value in terms of beef returns, stressing that the new trucks are the trucks people should expect to begin to see on Lagos roads for transporting cattle.

     

    “Overtime they themselves say that they would stop pushing the animals at night on foot because they want to keep the value of their lifelong investment. So it is reforms that they themselves are driving and that if you transport the animal you are likely to get much more return value in terms of beef returns”, he said.

     

    He reiterated that the State Government will sort out the trailer park, clean it up, make it more modern for the dealers, adding that the administration also intends to build a camp like a hostel so that those who come to work there can find a place to sleep, to wash, to eat and support their business and to ultimately help them to clean up the animal market.

     

    “As I have said, this is the reforms that they themselves have taken on as the Seriki has said. So we are just here coasting with what they are doing and giving help. One of the things we would do very quickly is to help them fence up this place now because that is one of his requests”, he said.

     

    The Governor was conducted round the various sections of the Abattoir by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Yakub Bashorun and top management of Harmony Abattoirs Management Services Limited.

     

     

  • Ekiti: Fashola raises posers on how to help the poor

    Ekiti: Fashola raises posers on how to help the poor

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola deepened yesterday the emerging debate on the clear ideological differences between the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s utilisation of infrastructure for human development and the politics of “handouts”.

    Fashola spoke at two events – the opening and rebranding of the Digital Reality Print Limited in Yaba and at the Nigeria Infrastructure Building Conference 2014 at the Four Points by Sheraton, Victoria Island.

    He said the APC had emphasised that the quickest way to re-energise the economy was to renew its infrastructure and by so doing, creating economic opportunities to address the needs of the poor.

    Laying the foundation for the debates at the opening of the new Digital Reality Complex built by renowned female entrepreneur, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, the governor said:  “We agree that the poor needs to be helped, no debate about that. The real debate is about what works. Should we build roads? Should we build schools or simply just give them money? Either way, you help the poor, but that is the debate that is on now”.

    He added: “It is a debate that has just come up, and if you have not latched on it, you are missing something that is so defining in our society because clearly for those who think there are no ideological and political differences, it has emerged”.

    According to him, people like Mrs. Alakija, the Chairman of Digital Reality Print limited, might have voted with their feet on what side of the divide she wanted to stand “because, despite the fact that she does a lot of charity as she once donated a school, she could have as well set up the printing press as a camp just to feed the poor people.

    “She didn’t need to invite all of us to come and see that and she would not need a bank to fund her to do that, so Ecobank Plc might not be doing business in a couple of months because there would be no borrower. The other type of infrastructure does not require all of those congregated layers, so I kept thinking as she acknowledged her quantity surveying firm and as she acknowledged her construction firm, where would these firms have been, if the infrastructure we chose was just to feed people and give them rice” he added.

    Commending Mrs. Alakija for deepening the vision of his administration by bringing the ultra-modern printing factory to Commercial Avenue among the areas regenerated by government, Fashola recalled that when the administration started the infrastructure renewal of Yaba roads a few years ago, its intention was to bring about the revival of businesses in the area such as the Domino Stores, adding that the new digital printing press would not have been attracted to the area without the renewed infrastructure and that  one of the reasons he honoured the invitation was to come and lend the support of his office “to those who venture to dare and perhaps more remarkably for a female entrepreneur”.

    Using Lagos as an example of infrastructure development as the path to creation of economic opportunities at the Nigeria Infrastructure building conference 2014, the governor said the State Government, after assessing the problems of the state at the onset, which, according to him, was economic in nature, decided that the way to begin was to address the massive infrastructure deficit in the state, adding that this has been the underpinning message of all his budget speeches as governor in the last seven years.

    “What we decided to do in Lagos was to ask ourselves, ‘what is the problem here; an economic problem, life was challenging. And thinking through it was clear, at least at the time, that there was a massive infrastructural deficit’, the governor said pointing out that in spite of the large number of vehicles imported into the country between 1980 and 1990, there was no corresponding road infrastructure development.”

    In a goodwill message, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Segun Aganga, said anyone establishing companies in Nigeria is assisting the central government to provide the needed platform to create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.

    Mrs Alakija said the company stood to change the format of printing industry.

    Digital Reality, which started in the last seven and half years, has made significant contribution in the country.

  • Residents in pains over ‘abandoned’ road

    Residents in pains over ‘abandoned’ road

    Residents in the Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State have urged Governor Babatunde Fashola to prevail on the contractor handling the rehabilitation of Igi-Olugbin/Pedro Road to end their pains.

    The “abandoned” road, which has become a nightmare to both motorists and commuters, starts from the popular Johnson bus stop through Ladi-lak to Bariga. It is the major link for residents to Palmgrove, Onipanu and Bariga.

    A driver on the route, Taiwo Olaniyi,lamented: “We are suffering on this road because of big pot holes, especially from Johnson to Mosalashi bus stops. I don’t know why we are being punished by the government. It is not fair because we pay our taxes. Why did they repair the road from Palmgrove and stop at Johnson last year; to punish us?

    “We spend between N5, 000 and N7, 000 on our vehicles at least, twice every week. It has been worsened by the rains. The worst affected parts of our vehicles include the break systems, tires, shock absorbers and springs.”

    Taiwo, who said more than 100 buses ply the route daily, noted that apart from the expenses incurred weekly to keep the buses running, they spend money on drugs daily to take care of body pains.

    A tricycle operator at Ladi-Lak bus stop, who plies the Ladi-Lak , Palm Grove to Onipanu route, Sulaiman Orelope, said the bad portions of the road affects him and other operators negatively as the machines are not strong to withstand such hassles.

    The residents said more than 70 per cent of the roads in the whole area are in very bad shape requiring urgent attention.

    Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, who spoke with The Nation through his Public Relations Officer (PRO), Biola Fagunwa, said the state has a commitment to provide roads as a socio-economic infrastructure necessary as a catalyst for economic activities and improvement of social condition of the people. But he said the state cannot rehabilitate every road within the state at once because of limited resources.

    Hamzat added: “We are currently working on Igi Olugbin Road. The first phase of the project which comprises of Bakare Avenue, Salami Shuaibu Street, Adaranijo and Onisemo streets, is almost completed. Under the phase 2, Messrs HFP Engineering Ltd, the same contractor that handled Phase 1, will work on Igi Olugbin-Okuta Road and Deji Aladejobi Street.”

    He debunked insinuations that the government deliberately delayed the project for later use as a campaign strategy, saying that the state is bent on providing the dividends of democracy to all residents.

  • … Accepts Disu’s resignation, appoints Coker as new SA

    … Accepts Disu’s resignation, appoints Coker as new SA

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has accepted the resignation of his Special Adviser on Central Business District (CBD), Mrs. Aderinola Disu.

    The governor also approved her replacement with the Managing Director of the Lagos State Number Plate Production Agency, Mr. Folorunsho Folarin-Coker.

    According to a press release signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, Disu’s resignation followed months of consultations during which she explained the need for her to devote more time to family commitments.

    While wishing Disu the very best in her future endeavours, Fashola thanked Disu for her immense contributions and distinguished service as the Special Adviser on the Lagos State Central Business District from 2011 to date.

     

  • Fashola tasks NASS on time limit for electoral offences

    Fashola tasks NASS on time limit for electoral offences

    • names Gbagada Housing Estate after Omojola

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has called on the National Assembly to review the electoral law limiting to 180 days the time for seeking redress over electoral complaints.

    Positing that it would be  tantamount to an injustice to the complainant if the avenue to seek justice was constricted by time, Fashola, who spoke at the handing over of Gbagada Housing Estate which he renamed Ajibola Adewale Omojola Housing Estate in honour of the late human rights activist and former chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), said those who suffered any electoral fraud should be given enough time to seek redress, adding that doing otherwise would deny such people justice.

    He noted that access to complaints about electoral malpractices was as important as respect for the rights to cast a vote, adding that part of the process of securing and protecting the votes was where the vote was interfered with the right of the complainant to seek redress.

    “By doing so, we seem to encourage those who are intent on subverting the process to say ‘I will subvert the process and I will frustrate you in court,’ the governor posited, adding that “the National Assembly must act fast to make the amendment in order to protect the nation’s democracy.”

    Acknowledging that the reason for the 180-day time limit could be in order to ensure that the cases are concluded on time, Fashola argued that where there are clear dangers of sacrificing substance for time and therefore occasioning injustice, the law should err on the side of justice.

    The governor paid glowing tribute to Omojola, whom he said was among the men and women of honour who stood up to defend and uphold the spirit of democracy as depicted by the election of June 12, 1993, saying that one of the reasons for dedicating the Housing Estate in his honour was to leave a legacy to remind coming generations of Lagosians about the sacrifice he made to sustain democracy.

    Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Bosun Jeje, explained that the Gbagada Housing Estate was started during the administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, adding that the fact that the current administration dedicated itself to the completion of the project was a clear demonstration of continuity of governance.