Tag: Fashola
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Photo: Fashola at Ebola isolation ward
Back view of the Isolation Ward prepared for patients who have shown symptoms of the Ebola Virus Disease at the Lagos Mainland Hospital, Yaba by the Lagos State Government during an inspection visit by Governor Babatunde Fashola on Friday
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (2nd left), Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris (2nd right), his Special Duties counterpart, Dr. Wale Ahmed (left), Special Adviser on Public Health to the Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Yewande Adeshina (2nd left, behind) and Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Mr. Hakeem Bello (right) during the Governor’s inspection visit to the Isolation Ward prepared for patients who have shown symptoms of the Ebola Virus Disease at the Lagos Mainland Hospital, Yaba, on Friday
The Isolation Ward prepared for patients who have shown symptoms of the Ebola Virus Disease at the Lagos Mainland Hospital, Yaba by the Lagos State Government during an inspection visit by Governor Babatunde Fashola SAN on Friday, August 08, 2014. INSET: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (middle), Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris (left), his Special Duties counterpart, Dr. Wale Ahmed (left, behind) and Special Adviser on Public Health to the Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Yewande Adeshina (right).
The Isolation Ward prepared for patients who have shown symptoms of the Ebola Virus Disease at the Lagos Mainland Hospital, Yaba by the Lagos State Government during an inspection visit by Governor Babatunde Fashola SAN on Friday
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (right) being conducted round the Isolation Ward prepared for patients who have shown symptoms of the Ebola Virus Disease at the Lagos Mainland Hospital by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris (middle) and his Special Duties counterpart, Dr. Wale Ahmed (left) during the Governor’s inspection visit to the Hospital at Yaba, on Friday -
Fashola pegs LASU fees back to N25,000
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), on Thursday announced the reversal of LASU tuition fee to N25, 000.
Fashola, who said he had earlier met with the state executive council over the issue, ordered that the old rate takes immediate effect.
The new auditorium of LASU which held the grand finale of its 19th convocation reverberated with joy at the announcement.
Security and protocol officers found it difficult controlling the jubilant students who danced round the institution.
Unable to control their excitement, some of them breached the protocol, rushed to the podium and prostrated before the governor as a show of appreciation.
The news which soon filtered across the campus saw students embrace and gave handshake to one another. Many of them huddled up in groups under the Abe Igi, a popular students’ meeting point, discussing the development.
Announcing the reversal, Fashola thanked the Students’ Union for their maturity and civility ever since they commenced protests to compel government to reverse the fee which was jerked up from N25,000 to between N193,000 to N350,000 three years ago.
“I want to appreciate the maturity of our students in the way they went about their agitation for reduction in their school fees. In the course of their protests, I invited them and they responded and we both arrived at a decision where the students submitted a position paper on what they feel should be recommended as fees. We looked at their (students’) position papers, and the adjustment they recommended and made appropriate reduction of between 34 to 60 per cent.
“But they (students) were not yet satisfied. They still came back to say the reduction was too high and wanted further reduction. We have therefore looked into their demand, and decided that their school fees must revert to the old rate henceforth.”
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Ebola: Fashola urges FG to shut borders with neighbouring countries
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has urged the Federal Government to shut the nation’s borders with neighbouring countries without delay to avert the spread of the deadly Ebola virus.
The governor’s concern is coming on the heels of the controversy generated bythe case of a recent corpse from Liberia, said to have been routed through Lagos to Anambra State.
Fashola, while speaking with Journalists yesterday, at Ikeja House, noted that, “This is no longer a local, but an international problem. This is because it is easily transmittable across the borders and boundaries. The Federal Government team has been working with the state team. I think what the Federal Government needed to do at this time is to consider the imperative of closing some of our borders.
“It is difficult to stop this epidemic. We must now choose the treaty obligations that we hold under the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) treaty and perhaps short term benefits in terms of economic cost to human life.
“We must make that choice and consider it very seriously. It is a national security issue. I think we should give it that attention. I think men and women who man our border posts-sea, air and land, especially the customs, now know that they are our first line of defence.”
Fashola said there is no pretence about the issue of such importance, saying few West African countries who are at the epicenter of the virus pose danger to others.
He said:“I believe some of the countries were Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. There is a risk to the entire sub-region. I like to appreciate all the health workers at the state level for the very professional manner they have responded while I was out of the country.”
Giving update on the Ebola issue, Professor Abdulsalami Nasidi of the National Center For Disease Control (NCDC) who briefed the press with Lagos State Government officials, allayed fears on possible outbreak from the corpse brought in from Liberia .
He said, “All the handlers of the corpse brought into the country from Liberia will be registered and tracked. And those who accompanied the corpse to Anambra and the mortuary handlers are under quarantine in Anambra State.
“Our team in Anambra State will tomorrow (today) give us the statistics of those who came in contact with the corpse.”
On the collaboration with other countries, Nasidi explained that the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Aviation and the Federal Government will soon issue directives on matters of bringing corpse into the country.
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Fashola calls for peace, vigilance
Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday called for the cooperation of Nigerians to resolve the challenges confronting the country.
The governor said only Nigerians can take the country out of the doldrums.
In a Sallah message to the residents, Fashola said it is only by embracing peace, unity and fairness that Nigerians can put the country back on its leadership pedestal.
The governor urged the people to embrace love, tolerance, forgiveness and brotherhood which Islam and other religions preach.
He noted that Nigeria, with all its potential, has no business with poverty, if its citizens could give it the right focus.
Fashola advised Nigerians to rid the country of intolerance, discrimination, cheating, violence and disobedience to the law and other ills.
According to him, Nigeria will only assume its leadership position in Africa and among the black race when its diverse people embrace law and order, unity of purpose, equity and patriotism.
Fashola urged Nigerians to celebrate the Eid-el-Fitri with moderation and in the same spirit they exhibited throughout Ramadan.
The governor noted that such spirit encourages peace, sharing, brotherhood, kindness and fairness between Muslims and the followers of other religions.
He urged Nigerians to be open and receptive to positive changes to enable the nation achieve real development.
Fashola said human beings should always seek better ways of doing things.
According to him, development can only take place when the people show understanding that constant innovation, expansion and general redevelopment often take place in developed societies where the right sacrifices have been made.
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Fashola gives N2m to dead soldiers’ families
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, on Wednesday gave N2 million to families of two soldiers killed in a road accident in the Lekki area of the state in April.
The deceased soldiers’ families got N 1 million each from the governor.
Fashola also gave N500, 000 each to two civilians affected in the accident.
The soldiers – Sergeant Abdulmumini Musa and Private Bamidele Ayuba were members of the state Quick Response Squad. They died in the crash which occurred along the Lekki-Ajah Expressway on April 30.
The two unnamed civilians were also critically wounded in the crash.
The Commander, 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Ikeja, Brig. Gen. A.S Maikobi, who presented the cheques on behalf of the governor, described the gesture as state government’s little token to the soldiers’ families to cushion the effect of their loss.
He stated that Fashola’s initiative is an incentive that will propel the army to do more in the efforts to secure the state.
“We will do our best to bring peace to Lagos State. It will motivate soldiers to put in their best at all time. The money given to the dead soldiers’ families is not a compensation. It is an insurance cover to their families to cushion the effect of their loss,” the commandant said.
Musa’s widow, Margret, hailed the governor’s gesture, saying it was a welcome relief for her family.
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Fashola, Osoba, Ikuforiji celebrate Jakande at 85
It was a glorious day for the first civilian governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, when Governor Babatunde Fashola, former Ogun State Governor Segun Osoba and associates converged on Darlington Hall, Ilupeju, Lagos to celebrate his birthday. He turned 85 yesterday.
At the occasion, a book titled: “Jakande: Fountain of Excellence” was presented. The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council sponsored the publication.
Aremo Osoba described Jakande as a legend of journalism. He said Jakande was co-founder of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), co-founder and first President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and co-founder and twice President of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN),
The former governor also lauded Jakande’s leadership quality when he abolished in one fell swoop the shift system in Lagos public schools on assumption of office as governor in 1979.
Lagos State Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji described Jakande as an enigma, a colossus and a giant among men.
Ikuforiji said no administration had surpassed what Jakande’s achieved in four years and three months as governor. He said it was the Jakande administration that built Lagos- Epe Road, Iba-LASU Road and Egbe-Idimu Road.
He said: “He tarred more roads in Epe where I come from more than any governments after him. He built affordable houses all over the state that are today referred to as Jakande Estates. Old men like Baba Jakande that served selflessly are not being respected because they are out of power; that is why we are in trouble today.”
Ikuforiji, who was the book presenter, urged every Nigerian to get a copy.
The book reviewer, Mr Gbile Oshadipe, a lecturer at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), described the subject as a role model, a great administrator and the champion of the people.
Oshadipe said Jakande would be remembered for his laudable achievements in education and 16 housing estates known as Jakande estates he built across the state during his tenure as Governor of Lagos state.
He is a humanist, trainer of journalists, global activist in journalism profession, consistent and transparent in his dealings. He remains the hero of our time, he added
Lagos NUJ Chairman Deji Elumoye said Jakande’s biography is one in the series the council plans to write.
NUJ National President Mallam Garba Mohammed noted that Jakande was a gifted writer whose factual editorials were respected in the days of colonial regime.
Dignitaries at the event are Fashola, who was represented by Commissioner For Information Lateef Ibirogba, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, represented by the Information Commissioner Yusuph Olaniyonu, the celebrant’s wife, Abimbola, Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Regional Integration Rev Tunji Adebiyi and a former member of the House of Representatives, Chief Adekunle Ali.
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Fashola asks military to fish out ‘bad eggs’
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, on Tuesday asked military authorities to fish out those giving bad names to the institution
Fashola gave the charge when the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Kenneth Minimah, visited him at the State House, Marina.
He said, “Nigerian Army has done very well for Nigeria as a body but like every institution, there are bad eggs within the institution. They are in the minority and we must continue to do everything possible to show them up for who they are.”
The governor while acknowledging the efforts of the military in sustaining the country’s democracy noted that the military owes it a duty to refrain from anything that can undermine the nation’s democracy whether in conduct or deed.
“I think that it is important to reinforce the role that military across the world have played in democracy. While society moved on, as we have done, the military owes it an obligation to do everything that is possible to sustain its democracy and to refrain from anything that undermines it whether in the mind of the people or as a matter of fact. In essence, the military must become like Caesar’s wife and avoid suspicion in conduct and in deeds.”
Earlier, Lt. General Minimah said he delayed his familiarization tour for six months as a result of the exigencies of work.
He said: “When I assumed office, the exigencies of operation did not allow me to commence my familiarization tour of the formations. Six months later, I have decided to commence my familiarization tour from the 81 division which covers Lagos and Ogun States.”
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Photo: Fashola in Apapa
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (2nd left) with Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa (2nd right), the General Manager (Admin), Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Mr. Aloga Ogbogo (right), General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Mr. Babatunde Edu (left) and Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello (left, behind) during the Governor’s third visit to the Apapa area as part of continued effort to address the problem of traffic gridlock caused by illegal parking of Tankers and articulated vehicles on the road on Sunday 
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (2nd left), Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa (2nd right), General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Mr. Babatunde Edu (left) and Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello (left, behind) listens to the General Manager (Admin), Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Mr. Aloga Ogbogo (right) during the Governor’s third visit to the Apapa area as part of continued effort to address the problem of traffic gridlock caused by illegal parking of Tankers and articulated vehicles on the road on Sunday 
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (2nd right) fielding questions from newsmen during his third visit to the Apapa area as part of continued effort to address the problem of traffic gridlock caused by illegal parking of Tankers and articulated vehicles on the road. With him is Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa (right). 
Failed Portion of a road leading to the Nigerian Port Authority, Port of Lagos Apapa Quays being inspected by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) as part of continued effort to address the problem of traffic gridlock in Apapa area caused by illegal parking of Tankers and articulated vehicles on the road on Sunday. INSET: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (2nd left), Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa (2nd right), the General Manager (Admin), Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Mr. Aloga Ogbogo (right) and General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Mr. Babatunde Edu (left). 
Failed Portion of a road leading to the Nigerian Port Authority, Port of Lagos Apapa Quays being inspected by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) as part of continued effort to address the problem of traffic gridlock on Apapa area caused by illegal parking of Tankers and articulated vehicles on the road on Sunday. INSET: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (left) with Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa (middle) and General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Mr. Babatunde Edu (right). 
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (left) with Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa (middle) and General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Mr. Babatunde Edu (right) during the Governor’s third visit to the Apapa area as part of continued effort to address the problem of traffic gridlock caused by illegal parking of Tankers and articulated vehicles on the road on Sunday 
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (2nd left), Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa (2nd right), General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Mr. Babatunde Edu (left) and Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello (left, behind) listens to the General Manager (Admin), Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Mr. Aloga Ogbogo (right) during the Governor’s third visit to the Apapa area as part of continued effort to address the problem of traffic gridlock caused by illegal parking of Tankers and articulated vehicles on the road on Sunday -
Lawmakers to Fashola: Curb menace of truck drivers
Lagos State House of Assembly has called on Governor Babatunde Fashola to check the menace of truck and trailer drivers on bridges and highways in Apapa Local Government Area.
They also urged the governor to ensure that tanker drivers patronise their terminal and holding bay on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
These were part of the resolutions passed by the House following a motion co-sponsored by Hon. Mufutau Egberongbe (Apapa 1); Wahab Alawiye-King (Lagos Island 2); Sanai Agunbiade (Ikorodu 1), Olumuyiwa Jimoh (Apapa 2) and Moshood Oshun (Lagos Mainland 2).
The House urged the governor to “expedite action on the revitalisation of rail transportation system of the state to help reduce the influx of trucks and trailers plying the route to ease the hardship being experienced by commuters on a daily basis on the road”.
It also called on the National Assembly through the Committee on Works to direct the Federal Ministry of Works to expedite action on the reconstruction of the road to avoid practical shut down of the road.
In arriving at the resolutions, the lawmakers noted the indiscriminate parking and abandonment of trucks and trailers on bridges and highways in Apapa Local Government Area causing traffic jam with their attendant loss of productive man-hours and posing serious danger to the bridges built to ease vehicular movement in the area.
The House also pointed out the health hazards to commuters and residents plying the route because of emissions from the trucks and trailers which constitute nuisance to the environment.
The House expressed worries that the perpetual parking and abandonment of articulated vehicles on the roads and bridges had resulted in serious traffic gridlock that had taken a toll on the economic activities of the axis.
It said the situation had worsened the state of federal roads, thereby posing further serious danger to lives and property in the area.
Also, the House expressed worries that the deep potholes along the roads have turned into death traps, thus giving hoodlums the opportunity to attack commuters and vehicles plying the routes.
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Governor Fashola’s housing palliative
HOWEVER, in the wake of outcry against the demolition exercise, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has explained his reason for demolishing Makoko slum. According to him, it was necessary to halt the continuous expansion of the community into the lagoon with its negative impact on the environment.
He said sequel to several meetings with leaders of the community and an agreed boundary set, the government had been working in the area to find solution to the difficulties, which the indigenous residents encounter by providing basic infrastructure and amenities to uplift the standard of life of the people. He explained that rather than maintain the established boundary, what had happened over the years was a rash of illegal shanties which expanded towards the Third Mainland Bridge and underneath the high tension electricity cables across the area.
Expressing the readiness of his administration to meet with genuine representatives of the community, Fashola advised them to be wary of people who are profiting from their difficult situation. “The truth must be told; some people are benefiting from your difficulty and that is the truth. They are taking advantage of you in the guise of being your friends. They are taking all sorts of grants purporting to help you but it never gets to you. But as your government, we understand the challenges you face there and we are working to solve them,” he said.
The governor noted that piling sawdust on the lagoon, discharging wastes in it and blocking the discharge points for storm water had contributed to the flooding in places like Bariga, Shomolu, Ebute-Metta, Ogudu, Owode, Ajegunle and Ikorodu, among others. “We owe you a duty, but we also owe the greater part of Lagos a duty. That lagoon is the only lagoon where we drain water during rainy season from Akoka, Bariga, Shomolu, Oworonsoki and from Macgregor Canal. The lagoon is shrinking because they are expanding and building into it; it has to stop,” he said.
Giving the clarification about government’s intention, state Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Prince Adesegun Oniru, said the government took the decisive step to ensure the safety of residents, adding “their continuous stay leaves them at the mercy of being victims of environmental hazards.”
On another note, the state is using a N284.4 million loan to compensate 1,933 tenants and 319 landlords affected by the Badia East clean-up, Lagos State Attorney General, Ade Ipaye said recently. Estimates by Amnesty International that the shanty homes of 9,000 people were destroyed are exaggerated, he claimed. The government must ensure people erect legal structures so it can formalize housing and clamp down on crime to make the city more attractive, he said. “If we cannot relax because all of the parks are now market places or places where people have put up shanties, then we don’t have a city,” Ipaye said.
Lagos HOMS to the rescue
Governor Fashola, reacting to critics of his housing policy recently, stated that his administration never promised to deliver low-cost housing but affordable housing whereby owners could pay over a long period of time. He made the assertion at the third monthly draw for allocation of homes to beneficiaries under the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS).
Fashola dispelled criticisms that the cost of the houses being developed under the scheme are too high, arguing that low-cost housing could not be provided in a sustainable way when there is no low-cost land, low cost labour and building materials, and when the exchange rate of the nation’s currency remains high.
“Some people have criticised us that homes under our mortgage scheme are not low-cost; but these people cannot point to one place where our government promised to build low cost houses. We did not promise low-cost housing. What we promised was affordable housing and people should not accuse us of not doing what we did not promise,” he said.
Interest charges on home loans run 18 percent to 25 percent, according to Michael Chu’di Ejekam, a director at London-based Actis. “The ecosystem for residential investment development still remains relatively broken.” said Ejekam adding that, “The lack of affordable mortgages is a major challenge, a major deterrent, a major hindrance to the development of residential properties in this market.”