The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Babatunde Fashola

  • Improve police’s welfare, Fashola urges Nigerians

    Improve police’s welfare, Fashola urges Nigerians

    •LASACO Assurance Plc donates N10m to security 

    LASACO Assurance Plc has donated N10 million to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund.

    Receiving the donation yesterday at the Lagos House, Ikeja, Governor Babatunde Fashola urged Nigerians to show more interest in the welfare of the police.

    He said this would improve security.

    Fashola said there was need for every Nigerian to show more interest in the wellbeing of those who sacrifice their lives to protect others.

    He said although it is their job, they should be appreciated by the public.

    The governor said: “All of us must show more interest in the wellbeing of those we expect to give up their lives to protect ours. We live very close to police stations and formations. There is a lot we can do, not just by giving money, but also by showing empathy and appreciation for what those men and women do so that we can be safe.”

    On community policing, Fashola said: “If we police and secure our community, all of us will be safer than if we police and secure our personalities. The Security Trust Fund is a platform of opportunity for people to have a stake in the security of their lives and properties and how this is being done. When they put their money into it, they would be interested in how it was spent. So, even if you contribute to the fund once, you will ensure that it does not end up as a private asset and is serving public good.”

    Thanking the firm for the donation, Fashola urged it to look at how best the insurance business could help improve the day-to-day life of the ordinary Nigerian.

    He said: “For us, the difficult part of this job is the protection of life and property. That is the hardest part and insurance can do a lot in that area. Yes it is good to have government business. It is good to be big players in oil and gas. But how big is the insurance business in the day-to-day life of the ordinary Nigerian? How many people can look at the insurance business and say ‘I will put my money there’?

    “Let us start with some of the basic ones. Is there a policy in this economy to protect phone loss? It is a very prized asset to a lot of people. I know that in the United Kingdom (U.K.), you can insure your phone. And that, for me, is the real micro-business; the pennies that add up to the big Naira.

    “People lose their limbs, how quick is the payout? What kind of policies are out there in this kind of environment? Some people are in hospitals today as a result of criminal activities. They are helpless and cannot pay their hospital bills. Is the insurance business helpless in this area? What kind of policies can we put out? How much should those policies cost and how quickly should those policies respond?”

    Recalling a recent fire at a famous market in the state, the governor wondered why insurance companied were not selling policies to traders, adding: “How much can those policies cost? That, for me, is the real insurance and as big players in the market, that is where we should be looking.”

    He said even though the government gives disaster victims money to relieve their pain, but insurance companies would have given them better relief if they had secured their businesses before the disaster.

    Fashola said: “People are dying of diseases which ordinarily should not be so if there was an insurance policy they could buy. We are working on legislation in that area. Insurance is of no use to us if it does not improve the value of peoples’ lives.

    “By accident of nature, such as flooding, people lose all they worked for. Should they be helpless? Can we put in systems where you can buy such policies? If business is focused only on what the government can do, then we should begin to rethink and redefine the terms of reference of the company.

    “So perhaps instead of reacting to the industry, you should lead the industry. There is a wide scope of activities here and I hope you will be able to call not only your competitors but also your partners. Insurance business is confidence business and as soon as people begin to see that you will pay a claim, there is so much that is likely to happen here.

    “I advise that you go into the markets, do some leg work and convince people. Those whose businesses are somewhere between N10,000 to hundreds of millions and have no cover for such businesses can do a lot to protect themselves. Sell the common household policy for jewelry. That is the way to improve the business.”

    LASACO Assurance Plc Acting Chairman Ashim Oyekan said the donation was the company’s contribution to tightening security.

    He was accompanied Board members of the firm, including the Group General Manager Ladipo Ajayi; Dr. Toyin Philips; Mr. Biodun Dosunmu and Mrs. Aduke Thorpes.

    At the occasion were members of the State Executive Council, including Secretary to the State Government Mrs. Oluranti Adebule; Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning Ben Akabueze and his Commerce and Industry and Finance counterparts, Mrs. Sola Oworu and Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi.

     

  • Lagos strategises ahead of 2015 elections

    Lagos strategises ahead of 2015 elections

    At a parley in Lagos, members of the Lagos State Executive Council and legislators have resolved to chart a new way forward for the Centre of Excellenece, ahead of the next general elections. Miriam Ekene-Okoro reports.

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola will bow out of office next year. He has promised to sustain the tempo of achievements till the last day. How to guarantee more dividends of democracy to Lagosians was the focus of the recent Executive/Legislative parley in Lagos.

    The theme of the parley was: “Public sector management re-engineering: the continuing Story of Lagos”. It was organisd by the Political and Legislative Power Bureau.

    The forum brought the commissioners, special advisers, House of Assembly members and federal legislators under one roof.

    They converged with one accord on the Golden Tulip Hotel, Festac, as members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). At the forum were Fashola, his deputy, Mrs.   Joke Orelope-Adefulire, House of Assembly Speaker Hon. Yemi Ikuforiji, top government officials and APC leaders.

    The parley offered an opportunity to them to share experiences, review policies and brainstorm on the way forward for Lagos State.

    One of the issues on the front burner is the proposed general elections. To the forum, the poll is a collective enterprise involving the active participation of stakeholders.

    For ensure free and fair elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be impartial. Apart from urging the INEC boss, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to be above board, the forum also called for the reversal of the order of the 2015 elections by the National Assembly.

    In a 15-point communiqué, the forum articulated the need to fast-track post-election litigations. Urging the INEC to remove the time limit  on the conclusion of electoral petitions after the general elections, the forum said: “The National Assembly should review and reverse the order of the 2015 general elections, starting from the local to the national”.

    The forum reflected on the Boko Haram insurgency. It called for increased intelligence and counter-terrorism actions, adding that multinational military cooperation and foreign assistance, based on agreed parametres of engagement that will not compromisesovereignty, will be helpful.

    But, Lagos, the commercial  hub,  also needs security. The participants urged the government to strengthen the Security Trust Fund, with a view to making the security arrangement more productive. They also brainsormed on the maintenance of law and order, judicious allocation of resources to meet specific demands, the provision of infrastructure, promotion of human rights and sustenance of the effective revenue collection.

    According to the forum, “the laws designed to protect fundamental human rights must enjoy a measure of immunity from legislative review and amendment and credible bodies must be vested with the power to blow the whistle when the parameters of the constitutional covenant are transgressed”.

    Noting that Public Private Partnership (PPP) is effective, participants advocated the training of public officers about its workings so that “the  arms of government can support them to strengthen private investment in the development of public infrastructure for job creation”.

    Government, the forum said, “must work with people to organise economic institutions in such a way that there is no oppression, based on class, social status, ethnic group or state.” In addition, the participants stressed that “a distributive equity is an important cornerstone in the act of national objectives for the government’s programme on reconstruction and social reform”.

    The forum also called for an urgent global action “to halt the alarming pace of climate change and environmental degradation, which pose unprecedented threats to humanity.”  It explained that that urgent action has become expedient to save humanity from extermination.

    The participants urged the government to focus on the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to ensure. It added:“There is no time to lie at ease or be complacent, despite the progress made so far, and hence, we must set new goals and reach for greater heights”.

    Fashola charged the National Assembly to make laws that will strengthen security.

    He said the security challenges underscored the need to review the country’s laws to conform with modern trends.

    Fashola stressed: I will not leave this event without a word or two  about what I think our national legislators can do and be looking at, in view of the challenges we are facing . I believe that the most urgent and compelling issues our nation faces now is law and order. That is the bedrock of good governance and foundation for economic growth .

    “ I think the time has come for our legislators to dig deep. No nation that has the kind of challenges that we have must refuse or continue to refuse to be imaginative about law enforcement. Whatever the argument and fears  about state police may be, we have nothing to fear than the fear itself .

    “We must find the courage now to do something urgent and different to bring collaborative capacity to policing and law enforcement.”

    The governor argued that the constitution has never prohibited multi-level policing. He said:  “Since that has not been forbidden, many legislators who are imaginative can come up with laws that will allow the establishment of multi-level policing”.

    Fashola said that the laws that tend to pitch the state against the federal authority should be reviewed in the interest of cooperative federalism.

    He alluded to the National Inland Waterway Act, which limits the power of states to freely use inland waters creeks and canals. He said, if this act is reviewed, it would boost the capacity of the state to  explore the waterways.

    The Special Adviser on Political and Legislative Matters, Hon. Musiliu Folami, said the theme of the conference has provided an opportunity for political office holders to interact and brainstorm on ways of moving the state forward.

    He said: “The parley also affords members of the state executive council a strategic opportunity to rub minds with our legislators at the state and national levels as well as our party chieftains in the state.”

     

     

  • Taraba: Motion without movement

    SIR: Some people find themselves in leadership position well prepared and ready for the task ahead with a well defined and articulated blueprint which would serve as a guide in actualizing their pre-conceived objective. These group of leaders always succeed; for instance Babatunde Fashola of Lagos and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers.

    Others find themselves unprepared, without any defined idea of what they intend to achieve; in fact, some come into office as a result of a misfortune of others; this group rarely triumph. The acting Governor of Taraba State Alhaji Garba Umar alias UTC fell within the later group.

    I am not trying to validate the nonsensical position of those agitating for his vacation from office so as to pave way for them to run the affairs of government on behalf of ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai, but to highlight silent issues which those sycophants around him would not be able to tell him for the fear of the unknown.

    I have been away from my state, Taraba, for almost four months. As I approached the city gate coming back home, I was expecting to see changes in the landscape of Jalingo. Alas, there were no changes. Even the street lights that I left working are no longer functioning, No single road project is going on, nothing!

    When I enquired from the locals, I was told that it has been like that since I left. One of his defenders told me he is constructing Bali-Gembu Road and that he is also working on the completion of College of Nursing Jalingo. Coincidentally, while watching the local news that same evening, I saw workers of the Taraba State Road Construction and Maintenance Agency (TARCMA) demonstrating over non-payment of their salaries.  What a shame!

    His recent appointment of about 24 Special advisers and 24 Special Assistants is nothing short of embarrassment. What do you need them for when you have commissioners manning all the portfolios? Is that not duplication of work? Or is it an avenue of empowering the foot soldiers that would prosecute the 2015 election? No wonder, I was told that they don’t even have offices.

    The truth of the matter is that, the acting governor’s performance in the last two years by all standards is below average. How did I arrive at that conclusion? It is simple arithmetic; calculate the total amount received by the state government from the various

  • Community seeks fairness in appointment of registrar

    Community seeks fairness in appointment of registrar

    Leaders of  comminuties in Badagry Division   have called the attention of Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola to the appointment of  Registrars at the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Otto/Ijanikin.

    They said there had been no equity in the appointment of registrars over the years.

    In a letter to the governor, the community leaders said    Ikorodu and Badagry divisions have not been given an opportunity to produce the registrar.

    They said: “It is in light of this that we are appealing that the next Registrar should either come from Ikorodu or Badagry division of Lagos State.

    “Our observation reveal that other division of Lagos State have not been giving their fair sharing of sense of belonging. For example, presently looking at the composition of the principal officer of the College, one can see that the Provost is from Lagos division, Deputy Provost recently appointed is from Lagos division, Bursar of the college is also from Lagos Division and present Registrar who has spent seventeen (17) years as a Registrar is from Epe division.

    “However, we reliably informed that some people are shopping for another registrar from Lagos and Epe division respectively for their personal and selfish interest against the spirit of equity and fair play,” the leaders said.

    The leaders called on the Lagos State Government to ensure equity, justice and fair play in picking the next registrar.

    “We therefore use this medium to appeal, and in the interest of equity, justice and fair play to all those in authority and indeed those who has responsibility over our great institution to act and oblige this request in order to ensure that each division of Lagos State has a sense of belonging in our great institution. It is our hope that the appointment of registrar from our division will enable us to have a representative at AOCOED Governing Council and principal officers of the college respectively,” the leaders said.

     

  • Clamour for Christian governor: Fashola cautions religious leaders

    Clamour for Christian governor: Fashola cautions religious leaders

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola has cautioned religious leaders on the clamour for a Christian governor.

    Speaking at an inter-faith conference on “Peace, Religious Harmony and Good Governance: Issues and Challenges”, Fashola said religion could not be substituted for good governance.

    He described good governance as a process through which people’s goals and aspirations can be achieved.

    The governor said: “I read in one of the papers this morning about a group insisting on a Christian governor. I do not recall the last time a Lagos governor was elected based on his religious beliefs. What will the preference for a governor of one faith over the other benefit us? Will it give one religion roads that other faiths cannot use? Will it give them schools that children of other faiths cannot attend? Will it bring water that only one faith can drink, or will it begin to draw a clear line between poverty and the faith? Does hunger know your faith?

    “Maybe we should begin to draw a line of distinction and begin to have Christian money and Muslim money; and in the blood banks now where life is being threatened, maybe we should begin to have Christian blood and Muslim blood.”

    He advised the people to shun all forms of religious dichotomy, saying the nation had integrated for over 50 years and could not afford to be taken aback now.

    Described faith as a powerful tool that must not be used for personal aggrandisement, the governor cautioned against religious debates that lead nowhere.

    He said: “There are rules in the legal profession and in football as well. What are the rules in religious debates? Who is going to be the umpire? I know that there are many people for who spiritually is a calling; I also know that for some, it is a business.

    “For a long time, the state and religion were one. Over time, we have tried to separate religion and the state, but it has not been a successful venture.

    “I am not sure that a clear separation will happen and I am not sure what clear separation will deliver. But perhaps, one of the things I will suggest is that we should take better control of our pulpits and be more restrained in what comes from there.”

    Fashola said religious harmony is a basis for peace, stressing that attention should be on harmony among various faiths to sustain the peace.

    He urged religious institutions to run businesses like their counterparts in other climes to create jobs and develop the society.

    Quoting the Holy Bible and the Holy Quran, Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture Oyinlomo Danmole identified forgiveness and peace as key elements for development and progress.

  • Babatunde Williams takes new responsibility

    Babatunde Williams takes new responsibility

    BABATUNDE, the second son of the late slain politician, Engineer Funso Williams, hugged limelight after the demise of his father. He was made the Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Corporate Matters during the first term of Governor Babatunde Fashola. Since the expiry of his tenure, not much has been heard about him. We can tell you for free that the scion of the Williams’ family now calls the shot at the Lagos Ferry Services Company.

    Babatunde is married to Sonita, the daughter of former Information Minister, Walter Ofonagoro.

  • Church holds synod

    Church holds synod

    The annual synod of the Anglican Diocese of Lagos West begins on Thursday and ends on Sunday.

    The clergy, laity and delegates from 300 churches in the 14-year-old diocese are expected at the synod.

    There will be an opening service on Thursday. Bishop James Olusola Odedeji will present the Presidential Charge on Friday. Final deliberations by committees and approval of a communiqué will hold on Saturday. The event ends on Sunday with a thanksgiving service.

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola and his deputy, Mrs. Adejoke Oorelope-Adefulire, are expected at the synod.

    In a statement, the Diocesan Communicator, Ordinand Mobolade Omonijo, said Bishop Odedeji was concerned about the precarious situation in the country and declared a pre-synod three-day fasting and prayer.

  • APC women protest for Chibok girls

    APC women protest for Chibok girls

    •Abduction shows govt’s ineptitude, says Senator Tinubu

    Scores of All Progressives Congress (APC) women yesterday stormed the office of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, to protest the abduction of 234 girls on April 15 in Chibok, Borno State.

    They were led by the Senator representing Lagos Central, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu and the APC women leader in Lagos, Mrs Kemi Nelson.

    The women, all dressed in a red T-shirt and a big banner with inscription ‘Bring Chibok Girls Back Now’, began their protest at 9am at the Archbishop Vinning Memorial Cathedral in Ikeja GRA and marched through Ikeja to Alausa secretariat where they presented a letter to the governor for transmission to President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Speaking on behalf of the women, Senator Tinubu said the abduction of the girls had exposed the ineptitude of the Federal Government to tackle insecurity and unemployment.

    She said:“We thank God for the situation of Chibok girls; if not for them, the insecurity problem we have in Nigeria would not have been globally addressed. We thank God for that.

    “We are concerned because of all that is going on in the nation. We are glad that people are praying for the nation, enough of bloodshed and thank God this case has drawn a lot of attention to the things happening in this country.”

    Mrs Nelson, who read some of the contents of the letter entitled, ‘Bring Back Chibok Girls Now and Alive’, said the women were disappointed that the President had not shown enough leadership to secure the lives of the future of the country.

    She said the Chibok girls were not the first victims of kidnap, recalling that 54 girls from Borno State were abducted on January 14.

    “That Tuesday night, most Nigerians were astonished that your government rather than cancel the centenary dinner in honour of the kidnapped girls, went ahead to wine and dine while our girls a few hours earlier were taken into captivity,” the letter said.

    She urged President Jonathan to institute a judicial enquiry into the kidnapped Chibok school girls and other related issues with a view to exposing all hidden acts of conspiracy and negligence surrounding the recent incidents.

    Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy Lateef Ibirogba, who received the letter on behalf of Fashola,  said  all efforts should be geared towards helping security experts to bring the girls back unhurt.

    Ibirogba said the group’s message would be conveyed to Jonathan.

     

     

  • This is a defining period for our nation, says Fashola

    This is a defining period for our nation, says Fashola

    •More groups protest for girls’ release 

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has said the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, by the Boko Haram sect is a dark experience in the nation’s life.

    The governor was, however, optimistic that the period could usher in a new dawn for Nigeria and Nigerians.

    Fashola spoke yesterday in Ikeja, Lagos, when he received groups of women, men and youths who protested the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls.

    The governor hailed the protesters for their solidarity with the girls and their parents.

    He, however, reminded them that information on the efforts to secure the girls may not be made public.

    Fashola said: “Sometimes, there may be a sense of safety in managing more information more closely, as the rescue operation goes on, in order not to compromise the safety of the people we are seeking to rescue.

    “This, for me, is the general global practice. But I don’t know what the situation is currently. As we ask for information, we must have that at the back of our minds.

    “I should just add that the Chibok incident is a very dark experience for our nation. It is a difficult time for our nation but it may yet be our most defining moment. It will be defining, if we can find the children. It will be defining, if after that happens, we can keep this sense of brotherhood and sisterhood alive. Many nations have turned for greatness when they are faced with dark times.

    “The sense of brotherhood, the sense of commitment – where ethnicity and religion do not matter anymore – is a sense that we should go forward with, after Chibok. That is why I said it may yet be our most defining moment.”

    Another group, Women Arise Initiative, led scores of women to mount pressure on the Federal Government to secure the release of the girls.

    Afrobeat king Femi Kuti said there was need to put pressure on the Federal Government to rescue the innocent girls.

    He said it was sad that it took the government about three weeks to come to term that over 200 girls had been kidnapped.

    Kuti said: “It is sad that our government took three weeks to act. The government has failed. This is why we have a government: to deal with this kind of issue. I am here to support Women Arise in this protest.

    “The President should stop corruption and act fast to bring back the girls. And if he cannot do it, he should step down. Boko Haram is a monster that is becoming uncontrollable. Jonathan has to let the nation know what is happening in Borno State.”

    Yoruba actor Jide Kosoko said it was sad that the schoolgirls were kidnapped while the government was looking helpless.

    He begged Boko Haram to release the children.

    Kosoko said: “They should release the children now, if actually they believe in God. If the government is serious about this, it should have devised ways to stop this act. We need to pray for the release of the girls.”

    The protesters’ spokesperson and President of Women Arise Initiative Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin said it was alarming that the abduction took place at all, despite the state of emergency in Borno State.

    She said: “It is equally horrifying that this wickedness was carried out for hours without interruption by security forces. And it is appalling to read the alleged statement credited to Amnesty International that intelligence reports were given to the security forces four hours before the incident.”

    Her consternation is contained in the letter to President Jonathan.

    Other groups of protesters yesterday included the Ikeja branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN); Realm of Glory International Church, Isolo and Victorious Army Ministries, Acme Road, Ikeja.

    They urged the government to ensure the safe return of the schoolgirls.

  • Fashola to residents: Stop spreading panic messages

    Fashola to residents: Stop spreading panic messages

    In furtherance of steps aimed at improving security in Lagos, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has charged residents of the state to desist from spreading messages of fear that can cause panic among residents of state.

    The governor who spoke in an interview with newsmen at the end of the 11th Executive Legislative Parley which was held at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Lagos, added that residents must resolve that any message that is likely to cause panic must not be forwarded to other people but to security agencies.

    “Don’t help to transfer those kinds of viral messages; they do not help the public. If there are any such messages you are aware of, send it to us and don’t pass it on to your friend because your friend cannot do anything about it. We can, if it occurs.

    “So, we must stop passing those kind of messages of fear and be assured that security agencies are working round the clock. We will check everything that we see. I have told the police authorities and all other law enforcement agencies that nothing that is suspicious must be left to any chance. We must check and double check.

    “There may be inconvenience to some citizens, but I assure you that I have told the officers not to take undue advantage or any advantage of the need to enforce an improved vigilance and security checks,” he explained.

    The governor also appealed for restraint, patience and tolerance by citizens and residents, maintaining that all the measures being taken are in the overall public interest, assuring, “Other than that, carry on with your life, your state is safe.”

    While using the opportunity to localise some of the issues, the governor said government is doing its best to ensure that all the residents and visitors to the state are safe, while adding that the is no cause for alarm.

    He assured: I would be the first person to tell you if there was any problem, but it still imposes a duty of vigilance, information sharing whenever you have it with us through the established channels, 767 and 112, my telephone number and that of the Commissioner of Police that are published.”