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Tag: Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode

Olusosun Dumpsite: Ambode to engage scavengers on means of livelihood

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos has assured that the state government would engage scavengers and other workers at the Olusosun dumpside on ways to make their lives bearable.

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Habib Aruna, said in a statement that Ambode gave the assurance to the scavengers when he visited the dumpsite after the recent fire incident.

He said that there was the need to engage the scavengers and workers following the shut down of Olusosun dumpsite.

According to him, the location of the facility is no longer healthy both for trading activities and residents living in the neighbourhood.

He said that aside the negative health implication of the site to the people, the structure of the facility was also risky and susceptible to all forms of hazards such as fire outbreak.

The governor said it was gratifying that there was no casualty from the Wednesday fire outbreak, adding that the closure of the site became necessary to forestall future occurrence and protect the health of residents.

”We thank God nothing bad happened to those living there and around the neighbourhood. What we have decided now is that there will not be dumping of refuse here any longer.

”But the most important aspect of it is that I cannot open my eyes and allow diseases to befall you here.

”You may not have diseases now, but there is no way you can say you are looking for money without contending with series of hazards and a clear example is the fire outbreak.

”At the end of the day, it is government that will still care for you. So, we have to sit down and agree,” Ambode said.

The governor said that it was not government’s intention to make people lose their means of livelihood, adding that all the stakeholders must agree on what to be done going forward.

He called on the scavengers and other workers to cooperate with the government to ensure a benefiting solution.

”We are not here to cause pain for you, we will engage all of you on how we can improve on the environment and also make life bearable for you and your children,” Ambode said.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, said that the decision to shut down the site was to protect the people and the environment and ensure their health and safety.

Bamigbetan called on Waste Collection Operators (WCO) to make use of the landfill site at Owu Elepe in Ikorodu and that of Epe.

He said that government planned to transform Olusosun dumpsite into parks and gardens, among others.

”Other efforts to contain the situation include the decommissioning of the site to facilitate alternative use for parks and gardens and other projects.

”This action is in line with the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) of this administration and conforms with international best practices,” he said. (NAN)

March 17, 2018
RCCG opens drug abuse rehabilitation centre

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Tuesday urged parents, guardians and caregivers to watch out for signs of drug abuse and addiction in their children and wards to tackle it fast.

Ambode said on Tuesday that drug abuse was harmful to its victims and threaten the peace of the society.

The governor spoke at the inauguration of the Christ Against Drug Abuse Ministry (CADAM) Rehabilitation Centre of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Araga-Epe in Lagos

He said that it was important for parents to be vigilant as drug addicts could be easily lured into crime which would ultimately threaten the development of any society.

”Let me use this opportunity to implore parents, guardians and caregivers to be vigilant in order to detect early signs of drug addiction in their children and seek help from appropriate quarters before it gets complicated.

”On our part as a government, we shall continue to take preventive measures through public campaign programmes, especially among our youths so that they are adequately informed on the dangers of drug abuse, ” he said.

Ambode hailed the General Overseer of RCCG Worldwide, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, and his wife, Folu, for joining in the fight against the menace.

He promised that the state government would support the initiative to achieve the desired aims.

”CADAM has, on its own, with it own resources, picked up, fed, sheltered, treated and rehabilitated many people who have been addicted to drugs, and given them a new life.

”I am optimistic that many lives that had been compromised as a result of drug addiction will be redeemed, stabilised and given a new hope for a better and meaningful future, ” he said.

Earlier, Pastor Adebayo, represented by his wife, said that the CADAM initiative was founded in 1991 by Pastor Ezekiel Odeyemi, a Special Assistant to the General Overseer of RCCG.

She said that it started as a department in the RCCG to visit homes of addiction victims and hospitals to pray and minister to their physical needs.

According to her, the name was changed in 1996 to enable a wider dimension as well as remove stigma associated with addiction – stigma directed at the addicts and their families.

”Since inception, the centre has assisted more than 2, 000 beneficiaries, most of whom have become professionals and well-to-do persons in the society.

”Over N200 million has been spent so far to put up the facilities.

”The centre will soon commence full implementation of educational and skill acquisition programmes for empowerment, ” she said.

October 4, 2017
Muslim communities urged to sustain inter-religious harmony

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has called on Muslim communities to uphold the legacies of late Chief Imam in the state, Sheikh Garba Akinola, especially on inter-religious and ethnic harmony.

Ambode made the call at the eight-day Fidau prayers held in honour of the late Chief Imam of Lagos State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sheikh Akinola, who was inaugurated as the 9th Chief Imam of Lagos on July 30, 2000, died on Sept. 24, at the age of 79.

Ambode, represented by his Deputy, Dr Idiat Adebule, said that the best way to honour and immortalise the late cleric was to uphold his known legacies of faithfulness, hard work, religious tolerance, fear of God, love for one’s country, state and community.

According to him, the late cleric also believed in mutual and peaceful co-existence among people, irrespective of their religions or tribes.

”We should continue to live together in peace, irrespective of religion or tribe; we should emulate all those virtues of the late Chief Imam and his strict adherence to the doctrines of Islam.

”The state government will continue to miss him for the noble role he played to promote inter-religious harmony in our state.

”He was a detribalised Nigerian, who used his vast knowledge of his religion, to promote peace and unity,” the governor said.

Ambode urged the executive committee of the Central Mosque, where the late Sheikh was holding forth before his demise, to remain committed to the principles of unity and religious harmony.

”Do not allow the death of the Chief Imam to bring disharmony to the community.

”As a government, we will not relent in promoting peaceful relationship among people of different tribes and religions in the state,’ ‘Ambode said.

In his sermon, the Chief Missioner of the Ansar-ud-deen Muslim Society of Nigeria, Sheikh AbdulRahaman Ahmad, advised Nigerians to face the reality and should not get entangled with material things.

According to him, always live life with the fear of God as death is inevitable.

”Let us always be conscious of the life after death.

“Every living soul will give accounts of his or her deeds on the day of judgement where material things like gold, houses, cars and love for power will be of no help,” he said.

October 2, 2017
World Bank official in Lagos, renews partnership with state government

Impressed by the massive investment of the Lagos State Government in urban renewal and infrastructure, the World Bank said on Saturday that it would facilitate and mobilise the private sector to partner with the state government on the projects.

Mr Joaquim Levy, the Managing Director/Group Chief Financial Officer, gave the assurance in Lagos when he led the World Bank Group on a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule.

Levy said Lagos State had shown commitment in mobilising the private sector and civil society organisations to drive development and improve the standard of living of the people.

According to him, developed countries have been able to grow and sustain their economies through the adoption of public-private partnership.

“Though, we have been working with Lagos State for many years, but we came to Nigeria to see how the private sector is performing so we can fashion out new ways to accelerate development in the country.

“In Nigeria, Lagos State has been leading in many aspects like transportation, agriculture, environmental management, education, infrastructure and other developmental projects.

“We are very happy that the government is striving to directly impact on the lives of its citizens and the World Bank has come to further assist the government in some other challenging sectors such as the energy sector.

“We are willing to assist the government and mobilise the private sector to help the government accelerate its urban renewal and infrastructural development to improve the living condition of the people,” Levy said.

Levy lauded for providing and mobilising resources to drive government activities in terms of development, saying “the people are seeing the results”.

In her remarks, he deputy governor, who received the group on behalf of the state governor, said positive partnership was key to the development of any nation.

She said the state government was ready to partner with the World Bank and the private sector to further boost and develop all the sectors of the economy.

Adebule urged the group to also consider healthcare, environmental management, tourism, education, agriculture, energy and transportation as possible areas of collaboration.

She said:“Your partnership with us in the past years has been very tremendous and we look forward to more of such collaborations, especially in some challenging sectors.

“The government is judiciously expending the internally generated revenue to drive development, but more still needs to be done like in the area of potable water.

‘“Only 30 per cent of the people in the state have access to potable water and we need to really increase access to water.

“The energy sector, education and water transportation are our areas of challenge and we need your assistance to surmount them,.”

Adebule also appealed to the World Bank to intervene in the country’s exchange rate crises as a world financial body to get the country out of its economic challenges and put it back on the path of growth.

June 3, 2017
LASG commended on digital library initiatives

Mr. Simeon Fowowe, the Head of Department, Early Childhood Care Education (ECCE), Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) has commended the Lagos state government for initiating digital library.

Fowowe made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

While commending Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode for the initiative, Fowowe, however, called for inclusion of ECCE in the project implementation.

He observed that the library lacked instructional and research materials on early childhood care education.

“As equipped as the digital library is, there are no instructional materials for early childhood caregivers or professionals to assess the development.

“Gov. Ambode Akinwunmi recently blazed the trail in the digital library project when he unveiled the first of its kind via an online portal.

“But as beautiful and laudable as the library project is, there is no provision for early childhood education for repository contents where caregivers and the trainers of the teacher can access materials for professional development,’’ he said.

According to him, the digital library should provide repository contents for primary, secondary students and even for vocational and entrepreneurship trainees.

Fowowe, therefore, appealed to the state government to consolidate the existing structure such as pre–schools, where the foundation of formal education begins.

He urged the government to give priority to the recruitment of right professionals, the inclusion of early childhood education in the digital library project and the online portal.

The Don said that with two colleges of education in the state, Lagos had overcome the challenge of scarcity of ECCE professionals and caregivers.

“It is the teaching and stimulation from these professionals in ECCE that can guarantee effective teaching and learning at these levels,’’

NAN reports that Ambode had on April 28 launched a digital library to provide access to educational materials through a collection of digital contents via the online portal.

The library will provide a repository of contents that include 2,000 study aids on core subjects for primary and secondary school curriculum.

It will also provide instructional videos and selected e-books for all classes from primary to SS3.

The library resources also include texts on the brief history of Lagos State, online forum podcasts, ‘exam-mate’ like past questions papers.

June 2, 2017
Calls for Buhari’s resignation over ill-health wrong – Bode George

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, on Thursday faulted calls by some politicians on President Mohammed Buhari to resign over his ill-health.

George faulted the calls while speaking with some journalists in Lagos, describing them as wrong and inflammatory.

He said it was inhumane of anyone to pressure the president to step down from office just because he was having some health challenges.

George pointed out that it was only the president and his managers who could decide when he was incapacitated, adding those making the calls are taking politics too far.

He said though he had always been in different camps with the president, he was always praying for his quick recovery, urging all Nigerians, irrespective of political allegiance, to do the same.

“You see, I don’t support the call by some people that the president should resign because of his health.

“Even though I have always been on different camps with the president, I do not think it is right for anybody to have evil thoughts towards him.

“He is ill and we can only wish him good health and pray for him; calling him to resign because of this is getting beyond politics. He is a human being and only God knows the appointed time for everyone.

“The holy book says we should always pray for people in authority; I think the president deserves everyone’s prayers, not comments that could even outrage some people and create unnecessary tension, “he said

According to the former military administrator of Ondo State, Nigeria is experiencing some challenges which require everyone to join hands to overcome.

He said the predilection of some people to make inflammatory comments along ethnic and religious sentiments would escalate the tension in the land.

While saying people have the right to speak up against marginalisation by the Nigerian state, he such agitations should not be fashioned in a way that suggested secession.

George said as a stateman who had an unwavering belief in the non-negotiability of the unity of Nigeria, he would never support the disintegration of the country.

He decried the falling nationalism and patriotism among Nigerians, which he said was making people identify more with tribes and religion rather than the country.

The PDP chieftain said it was unfortunate that the good idea of restructuring was being given all sorts of colourations to suit ethnic and regional sentiments.

He said the only form of restructuring that he would support is the one that would make the centre unattractive and empower states to develop faster.

George said it made no sense to have all the resources at the centre while states came cap in hand all the time for federal allocation.

“People talk of restructuring to mean let everyone go on his way, let the country break and all of that. That to me is not the idea of restructuring.

“The restructuring that was approved at the last national conference, which I think is the right thing, is to make the centre less strong and make the states stronger.

“A restructuring that will empower the states to control resources and give like 30per cent to the centre.

“That is the restructuring we are talking about. The form that will accelerate the development of the states, which in turn will fast track national development,” he said.

On the crisis in the PDP, George said the party was having some challenges at the moment, but expressed the optimism that the party would overcome its problems and come back stronger.

He said people saying that PDP would die were missing the point as the party was laid on a very strong foundation that could last for so long.

George explained that the PDP was created for the unity and prosperity of the nation by its founding fathers and its national spread would make it stand the test of time.

He dismissed rumours that he would soon dump the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he would rather quit politics instead of going to APC.

The PDP chieftain expressed disappointment over the defection of some party members at the trying period, and said their action meant they were not committed in the first place.

“I am disappointed at those leaving this party at this time. As for me, I would rather quit than defect.Whoever is saying I plan to defect to APC is lying. I am not a chameleon. I do my things straight. I can never go to APC,” he said.

George said the crisis in party had put it in quagmire as it prepared for July 22council polls in Lagos.

He said he hoped the same fate that befell the party at the Benue State council polls where APC had an easy win as a result of infighting in PDP would not occur in Lagos polls.

According to him, the party is earnestly waiting for the Supreme Court judgement on Ali-Modu Sherriff and Ahmed Makarfi case, as it is important its future.

He said his commendation of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos was borne out of the acknowledgement of his successes in infrastructural development in the state.

George, however, said the PDP would give him a good run for his money in 2019, as it would present a seasoned candidate who would outperform him.

He said it was worth it to celebrate Lagos at 50, but said visionary leadership and commitment was required to push the state to an enviable level of development within the next 50years.

June 1, 2017
Lagosians happy over new 1.2km Abule Egba flyover

Residents and motorists in Abule Egba and environs in Lagos on Thursday expressed relief at the completion and inauguration of the Abule Egba Flyover on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that construction work on the 1.2 km flyover commenced in February 2016 and the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, inaugurated it on Wednesday.

NAN reports that the flyover was expected to be completed in 18 months but was opened for use two months ahead of time.

Speaking at the inauguration, Ambode said that the project was borne out of government’s interaction with residents on ameliorating their challenges on the road.

He said that the construction of the bridge was the beginning of the process to transform the axis to the new economic hub of the state.

Photo by David Lawal

Some residents and road users in the area who spoke to NAN expressed their delight at the completion of the flyover.

Mr Taiwo Aderele, a resident of Abule Egba, told NAN that the flyover would bring huge relief to motorists.

“I am very happy that they delivered the job on schedule and I appreciate the governor for being a man of his words.

“The difficulty and discomfort in plying this route because of perennial traffic gridlock will now be a thing of the past, and we can now commute comfortably.

“I will only appeal to fellow road users and government to ensure that the maintenance of the bridge so that it will serve its purpose for as long as possible,” he said.

Another resident, Mr Peter Ogu, said: “I find it hard to believe that the traffic gridlock that we used to experience will now be a thing of the past.

‘’This is a very commendable project by the Lagos State Government; and we are very grateful to Gov. Ambode,” he said.

According to Mrs Hannah Akinpelu, the flyover would open up the area for development because of the ease in commuting.

“We usually find it frustrating commuting along this axis, but this bridge will bring unimaginable relief.

“I hope government will also fix other bad portions of the Lagos-Abeokuta express road so that we can have complete relief,” she said.

May 18, 2017
Ambode Pledges to Refurbish Lagos Lawn Tennis Club

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode has said the state government will continue to invest in youths sport and recreational facilities in the state.

Speaking at the Commemoration of Lagos at 50 at the Lagos lawn Tennis Club, (LLTC)the governor hinted that plans are underway to refurbish sport facilities at the major social clubs in the state including the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club.

Represented by the Honourable Adefunmilayo Tejuoso, the governor who recalled that the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club is as old as state said a lot of efforts from philanthropists and well meaning Nigerians have kept the age long edifice and its sport infrastructure.

He however hinted that “in the spirit of celebrating the state at fifty, the state government plans to take up major projects in all the first 50 major social clubs in the state. This will further give opportunity to the government to have direct impact in the social and well being of the state residents.”

According to the President of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Barrister Rotimi Edu, celebrating Lagos @ 50 cele “is also our own celebration at Lagos Lawn Tennis Club. This is due to the long and robust historical ties between LLTC and Lagos.

He mentioned that “we are even happier that the Governor’s Cup, the international ITF grade tournament which is our club’s flagship competition, is sponsored faithfully by the State with significant improvements every year.”

Recall that some127 years ago, when Lord Frederick Lugard, the first President of our club, and his successors who were colonial governors-general when Lagos was the seat of what would later become modern Nigeria, lived right across our old club house.

“It is on record that over the past century and more, and till this day, the successive administrators as well as military and civilian governors of Lagos State have been veritable partners in progress with the LLTC in the development of the game of tennis.”

Represented by LLTC Vice President Prince Gbenga Lufade, Edu reiterated that the club’s commitment to the development of tennis amongst the youths and to optimize the potentials of the game as a formidable tourist attraction and foreign exchange earner.

“LLTC has launched a Youth Tennis Foundation and we are seeking the support of Lagos State in the area of provision of land space for the realization of the project,” he added.

May 14, 2017
Lagos earmarks N12.6bn for development of sports facilities

The Lagos State Government on Friday said it had earmarked N12.6 billion for development of sports facilities this year.

The Special Adviser to the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Sports, Deji Tinubu, made the assertion at a Ministerial Briefing in Alausa to commemorate the governor’s second year in office.

Tinubu, also the Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, said the government had earmarked N9.6 billion for sports facilities to boost sports infrastructure and committed N3 billion for sports development.

He said that the money was to ensure the state ranked top in sports development, adding that the government was willing to acquire the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

“There is no money for the bidding,’’ Tinubu said, lamenting the dilapidated nature of the stadium that the government was interested in.

He said that as soon as the Federal Government gave the go ahead, the government would develop the facility; make it the best in the country and the toast of all.

According to him, Nigerians will want to see the Super Eagles play at the National Stadium once again.

Tinubu also said that as soon as the Lagos State Sports Commission Bill was passed into law by the State House of Assembly, the commission would be more professional.

“It will be more specific, more dedicated, dynamic and able to keep up with the current and evolving sports trends,’’ he said.

He added that the Lagos State Sports Commission had the vision to engage more schools in organised sports and create a standardised school sports calendar.

It will also create a database for gifted secondary school athletes in basketball, volleyball, handball, athletics, wrestling, table-tennis and taekwondo.

May 12, 2017
More art theatres will provide employment opportunities – Terra Kulture boss

Mrs Bolanle Austen-Peters, the Managing Director, Terra Kulture, an art firm, on Wednesday called for the building of more modern art theatres to generate employment opportunities for Nigerians.

Austen-Peters told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that more people were willing to patronize art theatres to relax from the hustling and bustling of the society.

She said that the theatres would create employment opportunities for many who could be employed as ticket sellers, film operators, cleaners, food sellers, guards and security men.

She said that they would also serve as veritable platforms for artists to showcase their talents and their creativity to the world.

According to her, many budding artists can be discovered and be groomed, and thus reduced social vices in the country from there.

They could also double as movie-screening venues, hosting of live comedies and entertainment shows, stage plays, art exhibitions and musical concerts, she said.

Austen –Peters said that her organization recently inaugurated a 400- sitting capacity private art theatre in Lagos as part of its contributions to support government’s initiative to develop the sector.

According to her, the multi-million naira private art theatre will be of use to artists, creative managers and producers to showcase their talents and handworks.

“We have limited art theatre halls in the country. The facility will encourage stage productions by local and foreign producers which her organization had been popularized over the years.

“This initiative will give the theatre industry a boost and reinforce the position of Lagos as the leading destination for premier entertainment in Nigeria.

“The theatre will also double as a movie-screening venue, hosting of live comedy and entertainment shows, stage plays, art exhibitions and musical concert.

“It will also provide Lagos, its environs, and the country a wide schedule of theatre, comedy, music and dance shows,’’ she said.

They are essential facilities needed to boost activities in the art industry, she said.

“It will be an avenue where up-and-coming artists can exhibit and showcase their creativity and talents to the world and learn from the outstanding ones.

“It is also an avenue designed for art practitioners to meet, train and groom talented individuals in art, drama, culture, comedy and music,’’ she said.

According to the Terra Kulture chief, her organization is consulting for the Lagos State Government in building theatre art halls across the state.

She said with more art theatres in place, it would boost employment opportunities for youths.

She said that other art theatres would complement Terra Kulture as training centres for people who wanted to learn more about African cultures and lifestyles.

Austen-Peters lauded Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State’s efforts to develop the theatre industry in the state through the building of art theatre arenas.

NAN reports that Gov. Ambode in January expressed his administration’s commitment to build art theatre arenas across the state to boost activities in the sector.

“The building of art theatres will go a long way in re-positioning the face and image of the industry in the state and in Nigeria at large,’’ she said.

March 29, 2017