The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State

  • Flood sacks Motorists on Lagos roads

    Flood sacks Motorists on Lagos roads

    Motorists and commuters had a hectic time travelling on major Lagos roads on Monday.

    This follows a torrential rainfall that started at dawn and lasted till mid-day, leaving all major roads flooded on Monday.

    The flood became a major headache on such roads as the Agege Motor road (as the flash flood practically took over three major bus terminals – Ladipo, Shogunle and PWD, on the Ikeja bound axis of the three lane expressway.

    Several vehicles which could not navigate the flood, broke down and were seen been attended to by their owners inside the flood.

    The flood left a major traffic gridlock that snaked from Ladipo to G. Cappa, on the outward bound carriage of the express, as well as from Ladipo to Capitol Road, on the Agege Motor road, and up to Egbeda, on the Iyana-Ipaja end, inward bound Oshodi.

    Many motorists bemoaned the terrible traffic situation that has become a common feature along the Agege Motor road, a federal road axial in the state.

    They recalled a similar occurrence last Thursday, which left the entire axis prostrate for about 20 hours after similar rainfall.

    Solomon Oladele, a commuter said he spent five hours on a 35 minutes distance (Agege to Oshodi).

    Lamenting what he described as a recurrent nightmare, Oladele wondered why the government has remained unconcerned to the plight of Lagosians who make use of the road.

    When reminded that government had awarded a contract for the construction of a BRT lane on the Oshodi road, Oladele said the contractor should show more sympathy to the plights motorists and commuters using the road, by urgently carrying out remedial work on the spot causing gridlock on the road.

    “Let the state government direct the contractor to begin urgent remedial works on the collapsed drainage that was causing the flood in the area, while the continue the major work on the road. That way, they would convince us they do not intend to see us dead before the new road is delivered next year,” Oladele said.

    Similar gridlock was recorded across the state. Many stranded commuters were trekking, when it became apparent they could not get any bus to their destination.

    A middle aged woman backing a baby broke down in tears when speaking with our Correspondent. She said she had trekked from Ikeja to Ladipo and was lost how she could get to Oshodi from where she could pick a bus to FESTAC Town.

    “I am tired, I trekked from Ikeja to this place (Ladipo), and am still going to FESTAC Town, I don’t know how to make it to Oshodi,” she said breaking down in tears shortly before a good Samaritan motorist offered her a ride.

    Many motorists living around border towns with Ogun State told our Correspondents that the rain has added to their travel challenges. They said they may not return to their various homes on Monday as they cannot face another round of stress on the road.

    “I have called my wife and told her I may not return home tonight.” Tunde, told our correspondent on Monday.

    Another motorist said he might have to wait till midnight before going home to prevent stress.

    The state government have however urged motorists and other road users to exercise patience as normalcy would soon return to the roads. Government says the traffic gridlock is the usual pattern along the area, any time there is rainfall.

     

     

     

  • Lagos declares June 12 public holiday

    Lagos declares June 12 public holiday

    …Says State Remains Committed To Ideals Of The Annulled Elections

    The Lagos State Government on Sunday declared Monday public holiday to mark June 12 celebration in the State, saying that the State remains committed to the ideals of the annulled 1993 Presidential election.

    In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello on behalf of the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, the government said the holiday was in honour of the ideals which June 12, 1993 Presidential election represents being a day that the country experienced an election that was adjudged as the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history.

    The Governor said 24 years after, the ideals of June 12 commemoration were worth celebrating, describing the day as one of the most defining moments of the country’s political history which has positively shaped its democratic rule.

    Governor Ambode said the time has come for Nigerians to go beyond the commemoration and entrench a viable democracy as a way to immortalise the late presumed winner of June 12, 1993 Presidential election, Chief M.K.O Abiola through the practice of true federalism and conduct of credible and fair elections.

    He said: “June 12, 1993 is a day we must not forget in the annals of our democratic history. Our present democratic experience may still be far from the ideal but we must all make concerted efforts to entrench fiscal federalism which is the only way to achieve true nationhood.”

    Continuing, Governor Ambode said part of the enduring lessons of June 12 election is that it imbued the patriotic and nationalistic zeal in all Nigerians to speak with one voice to make a political choice devoid of ethnic, racial or social sentiments.

    “On June 12, 1993, majority of Nigerians across all divides demonstrated through the ballot box that irrespective of class or ethnic sympathies, the Nigerian people are united and would always join hands to promote our unifying values,” he said.

    Governor Ambode said though the peoples’ hope was dashed with the annulment of the elections by the military junta, the lessons of the elections cannot be wished away despite subterranean efforts by many to do, describing June 12 as the real Democracy Day in Nigeria.

    “We owe it a duty to genuinely immortalize the fallen heroes of the June 12 struggle nationally and deepen our democratic values to ensure that never again will such anti-people action be allowed to take place”.

    He also assured that his administration remains committed to the ideals of June 12 by carrying out people-oriented programmes across the State and making life more comfortable for the people.

    Meanwhile, the State Government, through the office of Civic Engagement, has perfected arrangement for the annual public symposium which will hold at the De Roof, LTV 8 in Ikeja, to celebrate June 12.

  • Ambode pledges support for young entrepreneurs to support economy

    Ambode pledges support for young entrepreneurs to support economy

    …Kick-Starts Lagos @ 50 Celebrations

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Saturday evening formally flagged off the opening ceremony of activities lined up to commemorate the State’s Golden Jubilee Anniversary, just as he pledged that his administration would pay greater attention to the growth of young entrepreneurs and back it up with an enabling environment and friendly policies that will enhance success of their business initiatives.

    The Governor also said that concerted efforts would be put in place to utilise the golden jubilee celebration to lay a solid foundation for another glorious 50 years in the State.

    Governor Ambode, who spoke at the premiere of ‘Wakaa The Musical’, held at the new Terra Kulture Arena at Tiamiyu Savage Street, Victoria Island, said as the fifth largest economy in Africa, the State Government would explore all other areas of possibilities for growth while the future of the State would be premised on mutual love, peaceful coexistence, greater economic prosperity, tourism, urban renewal and infrastructure development projects that will complement its megacity status.

    “On our part, we are determined and committed to fully explore all the possibilities presented by this moment to lay a solid foundation to another glorious and prosperous 50 years. This golden jubilee therefore presents a unique opportunity for us not only to celebrate our achievements, but also showcase to the entire world the immense potentials waiting to be tapped in our dear state,’’ he said.

    He said the Government was more than committed to further boost the State’s economy by building capacities of young entrepreneurs especially in the areas of arts, culture, tourism hospitality and other businesses, urging the youths especially young graduates to take advantage of hospitality and friendly business environment to explore other areas of possibilities and develop their entrepreneurial skills that would place them at vantage position in the on-going economic reforms of his administration.

    Represented by his deputy, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, Governor Ambode said that the 50 years anniversary of the State presented a unique opportunity not only to celebrate the achievements of its founding fathers in the last 50 years but also to showcase to the entire world its rich cultural heritage and immense potentials waiting to be tapped by people with ideas and great vision.

    Governor Ambode, while commending the founding fathers and all his predecessors for their great vision for the State, pledged that his administration would leave no stone unturned to build on their good legacies to deliver a new Lagos that will be the pride of every African man.

    The Governor also lauded the Director/Executive Producer of Wakaa the Musical, who is also the founder of the Terra Kulture, Mrs. Bolanle Austen–Peters, for her initiative, focus and business ingenuity, noting that the actualization of the beautiful edifice which according to him was the first privately owned ultra-modern theatre in the country, was a reward for her selflessness, vision, courage, determination and belief in her abilities.

    He noted that the partnership of the State Government with the Terra Kulture was not only to identify with the success story of the private cultural heritage, but a demonstration of his administration commitment to encourage younger generation to maximize their potentials.

    Earlier in her opening remarks, Mrs Bolanle Austen-Peters Founder of Terra Kulture and the Executive Producer of Wakaa The Musical said Wakaa The Musical, was a compelling story of the travails young people go through after graduation in a bid to achieve their dreams.

    The collection of plays according to her explored the challenges and obstacles young graduates faced after leaving their colleges and the assurance for victory and success when they show commitment, brevity and tenacity in the face adversity.

    “Wakaa celebrates patriotism, honesty, diligence and the eventual success of excellence over mediocrity, greed and selfishness’’, she said.

    The Lagos at 50 Celebrations which commenced from Saturday, April 8 2017 will feature series of interesting activities and will climax on Saturday 27th May 2017 to commemorate the May 27, 1967 date of the creation of Lagos State.

  • Julius Berger to complete Apapa-Oshodi Expressway next week

    Julius Berger to complete Apapa-Oshodi Expressway next week

    Construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc., says the ongoing rehabilitation of the Barliet to Ilasa section of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway will be completed next week.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State had mobilised the firm to site in May following public outcry over their hardship on the dilapidated portion.

    When NAN correspondents visited the site on Tuesday, construction activities, including grading, asphalt lay, earth works and reconstruction of drainage channels were going on simultaneously.

    The development made the construction zone a beehive of activities with different earth moving equipment, rollers, pavers and trucks working on various stretches of the road on the Oshodi bound carriageway.

    A Julius Berger engineer at the site, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that the firm was carrying out emergency repairs on the highway.

    “This is not a contract but an emergency repair being undertaken by the Lagos State Government.

    “We have worked on 1.5 kilometres of road so far and we are also reconstructing this drainage channels that have collapsed.

    “We have been on site for about three weeks and should complete the work in a week’s time from now.

    “We have no challenges because we have been able to deploy adequate manpower and equipment to site,” he said.

    Also, an authoritative source in the Federal Ministry of Works told NAN that the ministry was working with the firm on the project.

    “It is the governor that directed Julius Berger to carry out the work and we are supportive.

    “It is our road and Lagos State Government needs our permission for access,” the source said.