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Tag: Governor Akinwunmi Ambode

  • Ambode reads riot act against chiefs colluding with criminals

    Ambode reads riot act against chiefs colluding with criminals

    Any Bale or chief found to be collaborating with militants and other criminals to destabilize Lagos State would have their title revoked, dethroned and prosecuted, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said on Thursday.

    “Once you (the chiefs) are identified, you are gone,” he said.

    Reading the riot act to hundreds of these Bales and chiefs at the Adeyemi Bero Hall, Ambode said the government would not fold its arms while some unscrupulous elements collude with hoodlums to make the state ungovernable.

    He spoke through the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs Mr Muslim Folami.

    Folami said the meeting with all the Part II and Part III Bales and chiefs was sequel to the one organised at the palace of the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi last weekend where the Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni disclosed that security reports had indicted some of the chiefs of aiding and abetting the militants in causing mayhem in the division.

    The discovery according to Folami made the government to resolve to henceforth apply the full weights of the law against any Bale or chiefs caught colluding with any criminal in the state.

    “To show you how serious we were, the governor directed that we summon all of you from all the five divisions of the state to inform you of our resolve as a government to protect lives and properties of all Lagosians and in doing this, we would deal decisively with anyone found to colluding with criminals to disturb the peace-loving people of Lagos.”

    Early this month, militants had stormed the riverine community of Ishawo, in Ikorodu, killing a military captain, five other policemen and dozens of residents.

    Only last week, ruval cult gangs had over run some streets in Mushin causing mayhem, killing and destroying properties.

    He said the government would continue to invest in the security architecture of the state wuth a view to be responsive to the safety needs of the people.

    “The Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, which we just established is another initiative by the government to secure all neighbourhood from attacks from kidnappers, cultists, militants, vandals and other criminals threatening the peace of the state.”

    He charged all chiefs and Bales to be fully committed to helping the government to nip the spate of violence in the state and not join hands with undesirable elements to destroy the state.

    Folami also addressed the issue of land grabbing; urging these chiefs community leaders to eschew greed, adding that anyone caught fermenting trouble in any part of the state would no longer be spared.

    In their response, the Bales and chiefs urged the government not to hesitate to flush out undesirable elements.

    One of Bales the Alakan of Imota Chief Abudu Sani, also called for transparency in the war against crime, alleging that some unscrupulous elements within the Police Force also collude with criminals to destabilise the lead of their various communities.

    He said the Bales and chiefs would continue to collaborate with the government to sanitize the state.

     

  • Ambode tasks FG, States to scale up capital expenditure

    Ambode tasks FG, States to scale up capital expenditure

    As Nigeria gradually makes its way out of economic recession, the House of Representatives on Wednesday commended the Lagos State Government’s role, saying that the success story of the State was not only benefitting residents, but helping to get the nation’s economy back on track.

    Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Economic Recession, Hon. Olabode Ayorinde who said this when he led members of the Committee on a courtesy visit to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode  at the Lagos House in Ikeja, said the State currently dictates the pace of the economy in Nigeria.

    While congratulating the Governor on his developmental strides in the last two years, Ayorinde said other States could learn from the template Lagos deployed to tackle the economic recession.

    He said: “We take legislative notice of the serious development that is going on in Lagos State and with your permission, we don’t mind interacting with those that are in charge perhaps there are one or two things that we can recommend to other states in the nation because in togetherness we can only move this nation forward.

    “Talking seriously, the economic power of Lagos State also dictates the pace of the economy in Nigeria. Some of the steps that Lagos is taking now, some other States that have not been able to pay salaries may not be able to take such steps. We are looking at this nationally; for example, if an industry is working in Lagos that is employing about 5000 persons I am sure that the company will not employ only citizens of Lagos State. So, it is to the benefit of Nigeria and if the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country increases, it is not a factor of where it comes from, wherever the economy has been improved, it is national income and Nigeria will be better for it.”

    Earlier, Ayorinde said he was in Lagos with his team to inspect some of the moribund industries in the State, with a view to coming up with appropriate legislations that would help them get back in business.

    Responding, Governor Ambode said his administration intensified its capital expenditure to reflate the State’s economy, noting that 60 percent of its budget last year was ploughed towards infrastructural projects in all parts of the State to tackle recession.

    He said such projects contributed significantly to keep the State’s economy afloat with low income earners engaged, adding that it was important for government at all levels to keep spending on infrastructure.

    “Every contract or construction that you see in the nooks and crannies of Lagos, there is a bricklayer that is employed; there is a driver that is driving lorry load of sand; there is that food seller that is given the workers some food and a minimum of N5,000 in every household has a multiplier effect on the economy.

    “So, that is the sure way that we have done this and we have not kept that development in one area, we have replicated it in all the senatorial zones so that those living in Badagry can earn income in Badagry and actually improve on the economy. This is what we think should be replicated by other States in the country and even at the national level. You need to spend your way out of recession and that is why it appears there is nothing like recession in the city of Lagos,” Governor Ambode said.

    The Governor also said that his administration invested massively on security and reviving a 24/7 economy for the State through the Light Up Lagos project, saying that such was important for the economy to thrive.

    Besides, Governor Ambode called for convergence between fiscal and monetary policies to tackle recession, while also urging lawmakers to come up with legislations that would take people out of poverty.

    “I want to enjoin our legislative house that we need to fast-track some of our legislations that are really people-driven and also back us in terms of the executive decisions that will take us out of recession,” he said.

     

     

  • Arowolo, 73 condemned prisoners, others seek pardon 

    Akolade Arowolo, 34, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) youth pastor who killed his banker wife, Titilayo Omozoje at their residence,  Akindeinde Street, Isolo, Lagos,is among 74 condemned prisoners seeking mercy under the prerogative of mercy conferred on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State under the constitution.

    Aside from the condemned prisoners, there were also scores of those serving life sentences at kirikiri maximum prison, Lagos also seeking mercy of the state.

    Arowolo, spotting a sky blue T-shirt over a blue jeans trouser with a low haircut, sat among condemned prisoners who were called out randomly by Prerogative of Mercy Committee led by Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo, set up by the governor to review their applications yesterday.

    The committee was on a fact finding visit to Kirikiri Maximum Prison to have firsthand information of the inmates that are eligible for mercy and pardon.

    Justice Lateefa Okunnu of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja sentenced Akolade to death having found him guilty of a one count charge murder of his wife, Titilayo preferred against him by the state government.

    Foremost pathologist and Chief Medical Examiner at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), who was a witness during his trial,  Professor  John Obafunwa, had then testified  that he “discovered at least 76 stab wounds resulting from the use of  tremendous force on the chest, heart, lungs, liver, diaphragm, hands and other parts of the deceased’s body.

    The chairman of the committee, Prof. Oyewo said that there are rules and guidelines that would guide the committee in the conduct of its work.

    Prof. Oyewo said the committee would look at how heinous the crime committed was, whether the person cut his victim into pieces, how long he has spent in prison after conviction, whether he has truly repented and is remorseful and whether the society would accept that person.

    He said a lot really depend on the family who is expected to give some undertaking and care for beneficiaries of prerogative of mercy as those who have no family to receive them mighty lose the opportunity.

    He said assurance of lifer outside prison is for them to first reconcile with their family, asking for forgiveness adding “I want to see it in you. Let your works speak for you, the way you comport yourself and mind who you flock with”.

    He however said that nobody on death row, life sentence or serving a long prison term should expect pardon immediately as there are different stages of prerogative of mercy.

    Prof. Oyewo disclosed that the governor has approved the application for mercy of 18 prisoners whose cases were among those reviewed during their last visit to the prison facility.

    Arowolo who delivered a remark on behalf of his fellow condemned inmates, pleaded for mercy stressing that they are all remorseful and have learnt from their mistakes.

    “Your coming gave us a beacon of hope. I know that not everybody wrote application. Would there be opportunity for them? A lot of us have realized the wrongs that we did and having gone through the process of reformation, restoration and rehabilitation (3Rs), being faced with life and death, have held on to God that indeed we are wrong and plead that you give us a second chance”, he told the committee.

    Deputy Controller, Kirikiri Maximum prison, Seye Oduntan thanked the committee for the visit which he said helped to reduce tension amongst the condemned prisoners.

    Oduntan said that the prison was heated since last week following reports that government was considering execution of Reverend Chukwuemeka Ezeugo a.k.a. Reverend King whose death sentence was recently affirmed by the Supreme Court for the murder of one of his church members, Ann Uzor.

     

  • Lagos true model for growing businesses in Nigeria – FG

    Lagos true model for growing businesses in Nigeria – FG

    The Federal Government on Thursday described Lagos State as a true model of the vision of improving on the ease of doing business and turning Nigeria into one of the easiest and most attractive places for investors in the world.

    Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enelamah, who stated this in Lagos after a meeting with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, said the State, as the commercial capital of the country, stands in a vantage position to drive the goal of government to improve World Bank ranking of Nigeria on the ease of doing business.

    Speaking with Government House correspondents after the meeting, Enelemah said both the Federal Government and the State Government were willing to collaborate on strategic areas to achieve the overall goal of growing the economy.

    He said: “We basically have been talking about creating enabling environment for investments and ease of doing business and the area where we have strong convergence between Lagos State and the Federal Government.

    “Governor Ambode and I have been discussing how to collaborate very strongly to make Lagos State a true role model in line with our vision of making Nigeria one of the easiest and most attractive places to do business and you will agree with me that there is no better place to start than Lagos State, particularly when you have a Governor who is committed to it and as he puts it to us, it is like preaching to the converted.

    “So, what we have done today is to agree on modalities on working together to achieve the targets that we have set for ourselves both in ease of doing business ranking of the World Bank, in terms of some of the areas where we know that we should improve upon like tourism for instance, by making sure that people who want to visit Nigeria come in seamlessly; in terms of making it easy for people in Lagos State who are, as the Governor puts it, paying the taxes by making life easier and better for them.”

    Giving details, the Minister said his office would be collaborating with the Office of Transformation under the Governor’s office, as well as the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, to achieve the overall objectives.

    He also assured that the Federal Government would not hesitate to impose import restrictions where necessary to avoid Nigeria from being a dumping ground, while concerted efforts would be put in place to check negative trade practices, especially for the benefit of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

    Also speaking, Governor Ambode recalled that in the last few months, the State Government had been engaging the business community on ease of doing business, saying that the meeting with officials of the Federal Government was in sync with the vision of his administration to achieve the very best in driving investment.

    “What has been happening in the last two years is that on our part, we have tried as much as possible to provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in Lagos but again the indices that indicate that we are improving on ease of doing business is not really looking too good and we believe strongly that if 70 per cent of businesses or these indicators are actually coming from Lagos State, there is a need for us to quickly create a convergence between the efforts of the Federal Government and the State Government to make sure that we improve the business environment and that is what we have been discussing in the last few weeks as well as today.

    “Moving forward, we have also engaged the office of the Vice President to see that there is a convergence in all our efforts to make sure that if possible, people should come to Lagos and start their business the same day.

    “We want a situation whereby construction permit is given to people within the shortest possible time; we want to ensure that people who pay their taxes actually have the benefit of what they are paying for and in doing that, if we get in right in Lagos, it is very clear that Nigeria has gotten it right and that is why we are meeting,” Governor Ambode said.

    The Governor expressed optimism that the current efforts would bring about major improvements on the business environment, adding that such would go a long way in growing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria.

     

  • Lagos restates commitment to Justice Sector reform

    Lagos restates commitment to Justice Sector reform

    …Receives report of implementation committee



    The Lagos State Government on Monday pledged to fully implement recommendations made at the recently held summit on administration of justice with the view to enhancing justice delivery in the State.

    Speaking while receiving report of a 10-Man Committee set up to review communiqué issued at the end of the summit, the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem assured Lagosians that they would soon feel the positive impact of the policy implementation of the State Government on justice administration.

    He said the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was determined to implement reforms that would guarantee effectiveness, efficiency and transparency in justice administration in the state.

    The two-day Summit was organised by the State’s Ministry of Justice in January 2017 to deliberate on how to improve justice delivery in the state.

    “I am so happy to receive the report within the stipulated time of three weeks. The Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode is operating so fast as if he is running out of time to implement his good policies.

    “We are at the implementation stage now having submitted your report, and I believe the Governor will not hesitate to see the implementation of the recommendations as fast as possible,” Kazeem said.

    He also promised to extend the policies recommended to the Federal Government through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the National Judicial Commission (NJC) for input and successful implementation.

    He thanked the entire committee members for the job, while urging them to expect more tasks ahead in an effort to improve the state of the justice delivery system.

    In his response, Chairman of the review committee, Mr Fola Arthur-Worrey said it was time for drastic steps to be taken to lift the judiciary out of the woods.

    Arthur-Worrey, who was a former Solicitor General of the State, said there was need for a lot to be done in order to improve on the administrative mechanism of the State judiciary to safe guard the system as well as reform the systemic failure.

    He said though any reform process is gradual in nature, but government must be firm enough to implement the recommendations and get the system running efficiently.

    “Reforming any system is an engineering process. If you don’t disrupt, you don’t reform. The judiciary is not efficient enough in mechanism, and we are not talking of the individual judges, but the entire system. So, the government must implement the recommendations fast to make the system work,” he said.

    Other members of the committee included Mrs Busola Okunuga of the State Judiciary; Mrs Kehinde Taiwo, Mr Rotimi Seriki, Mr Gbenga Olatunji, Mr Supo Olayibi, Mr Yomi Okunu, Dotun Ibiyomi, Mrs Joyce Oluwa and CSP Effiong Asuquo.

     

  • Lagoon suicide: LASEMA establishes marine unit to patrol waterways

    Lagoon suicide: LASEMA establishes marine unit to patrol waterways

    In a bid to contain cases of people jumping into the lagoon, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has established a special marine emergency unit.

    The agency, acting on the directive of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has also stationed local divers for quicker responses should anyone fall into the lagoon or attempts suicide.

    Commissioner for Special Duties, Seye Oladejo and General Manager LASEMA, Adesina Tiamiyu stated this during a stakeholders forum held yesterday.

    According to Oladejo, people who can do immediate rescue on the waterways have been deployed and stationed strategically.

    He said: “The recent increase in water-related emergencies such as drowning in the lagoon, well, suck-away and boat mishaps have worried the state government. To this end, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has approved the establishment of Aquatic Rescue Unit with requisite equipment in LASEMA to effectively respond to this trend.

    [quote font_size=”18″ color=”#000000″ bgcolor=”#dda756″ bcolor=”#dd3333″ arrow=”yes”]This unit would complement the activities of sister agencies such as Marine Police Unit,  Lagos State Waterways Authority  (LASWA), Lagos State Ferry Services among others.

    We have deployed people who can do immediate rescue on our waterways. And as a deliberate policy of the government, we have decided to set up a unit that would be stationed permanently to provide help whenever there is an occurrence like that. That’s not to say we are encouraging people to jump into the lagoon.[/quote]

    On the importance of the conference themed “a new dawn in emergency/disaster management in Lagos State”, Oladejo said there was the need for better synergy and collaboration between emergency responders in the state.

    He said such fora would emplace seamless disaster risk reduction strategies across the state, adding that surmounting emergencies takes the collaborative efforts of relevant stakeholders.

    [quote font_size=”18″ color=”#000000″ bgcolor=”#dda756″ bcolor=”#dd3333″ arrow=”yes”]Related Post: Two fresh lagoon suicides averted Lagos[/quote]

    Oladejo said: “We are making very good efforts as regards to collaboration among responders. I believe every response team should be made up of the full compliments of the medical team like the ambulances, SEHMU, police, RRS and others.

    So, we need to achieve a synergy and understanding. We want to achieve bigger collaboration.

    •A vehicle that plunged into the lagoon
    •A vehicle that plunged into the lagoon

    We cannot be careful enough. “Most times you don’t anticipate disasters and emergencies. We are fortunate in this part of the world because we don’t have so many natural disasters. So, we need to be careful to ensure that we manage the situations we have.

    “Disasters like road traffic accidents can still be managed if road users are careful. When such accidents happen, people should endeavour to call our toll free lines for quick action.

    “To stop the attack on emergency workers, we are working on the collaboration with security agencies so that whenever they are going on the rescue mission, security men are attached to them.

    [quote font_size=”18″ color=”#000000″ bgcolor=”#dda756″ bcolor=”#dd3333″ arrow=”yes”]Also Read: Man docked for attempting to commit suicide[/quote]

    “The issue of overstretch is being tackled by putting some of our retired emergency workers on special reserve lists. That way, whenever we have overstretched days for the emergency, we can always bring them in to ensure they join forces with people on the ground. The Government is also poised to provide necessary incentives to achieve this.

    Earlier, Tiamiyu stated that the agency receives an average of 80,000 calls through the control room on various issues such as rape, child abuse/trafficking, domestic violence, land grabbing, which are dispatched to relevant authorise for necessary actions.

    He said the meeting was an avenue for stakeholders to review and understand their collective roles in emergency or disaster prevention, preparedness, management, mitigation, response and recovery.

    According to him, responding to an emergency wasn’t for LASEMA alone, just as he disclosed that the command and control centre was being upgraded to interface with those on the field for support and necessary deployment.

    He said: “We have partners. When I came onboard, I visited them individually and solicited their cooperation. Also told them the capacity of LASEMA and when to contact us. We reinvigorated our monitoring and surveillance unit, which goes ahead to check things and give us a report. We also undertake in-house training.

    [quote font_size=”18″ color=”#000000″ bgcolor=”#dda756″ bcolor=”#dd3333″ arrow=”yes”]Also Read: Suicide psychiatrists urges quick passage of mental health bill[/quote]

    “The state government has bought a lot of heavy duty equipment for us. We have invested a lot of money and have been trained on how to use the equipment. What you see now is the result of the investment.

    We don’t want to disappointment the governor who has done all these things. So, when we get to the emergency scene, it’s not an issue of who’s the senior or not. Everyone has a role to play. When there’s an accident, our people know the important thing is to save lives. We have paramedics on our team. When it’s fire incident, the fire service takes charge. So, we are improving.

    “Before the governor gave directive on the aquatic issue, we had retainership of some divers in Lagos. It was one of our retainers who went underwater to latch the vehicle that fell into Elede river on our crane and we pulled it out.

    “He was also involved in the recovery process of Dr Oji. He was in the water. We have the Lagos Waterways Authority and the Marine Police as well.

    “So, all of these agencies usually patrol the waterways but very soon, you would see LASEMA branded boats joining forces with those on the waterways to improve the capacity of emergency services on the waterways.”

  • Kidnappers demand N100m for Caleb varsity student’s release

    Kidnappers demand N100m for Caleb varsity student’s release

    The abductors of a student of Caleb University, Miss Rachael Umejuru, who was snatched from her home in Epe, Lagos on Friday night, have demanded N100million before releasing her, her father, Chukwuemeka Umejuru, said on Monday. 
    He said Rachael, an accounting undergraduate, was abducted at about 2:00 am, by men armed with cutlasses and axes who neither stole anything nor asked for any money.
    Umejuru, 64, pleaded for Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s intervention because the family could not afford the N100m ransom.
    Speaking at his residence in Epe on Monday he said, “We have not eaten any food since she was kidnapped. We are fasting and praying for her release because her safety is paramount to us.
    “On the day they struck, we had all been in the sitting room all night until about 2:00 am and it was not up to 15 minutes after we went to our various rooms that they struck.
    “They invaded our apartment and broke down our door. The men, who were armed with cutlasses and axes, forced their way into our house and took away my daughter.
    “Surprisingly, when they entered, they did not demand money but went straight to my daughter’s room where she was sleeping and asked her to follow them. The four of them pushed her into their Sienna vehicle parked outside our compound and zoomed off. Meanwhile, before they left, it was her screams that drew our attention.
    “Immediately, her mother and her elder sister who were in their room also joined me in trying to resist the kidnappers from going with her. But they beat me off and blood started gushing out of my head. I was later rushed to the hospital. My wife was also injured as she struggled with the kidnappers. 
    “Three days after she was abducted, I was allowed to speak with her on phone and she was begging me to come and take her away and give the gunmen whatever they demanded.”
    Umejuru, who dismissed notions that his daughter might have made some enemies in the neighbourhood, said she was an introvert, who was always occupied with her laptop when not in school.
    He added: “I have been in Epe since 1995 and I have not witnessed such ugly incident like this. I beg Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and the state Commissioner of Police to come to the rescue of my daughter.”
  • Photo: Ambode, VP Osinbajo, Obasanjo at Lagos airport

    Photo: Ambode, VP Osinbajo, Obasanjo at Lagos airport

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Acting President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Wing of Murtala Muhammed Airport.
    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Acting President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Wing of Murtala Muhammed Airport.

     

    The dignitaries at the Presidential lounge of Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos
    The dignitaries at the Presidential lounge of Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos
  • Opadokun hails Ambode’s plans to Phase out yellow buses

    Opadokun hails Ambode’s plans to Phase out yellow buses

    Chief Ayo Opadokun, Convener, Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER) on Tuesday, commended Lagos State Government’s plan to ban yellow commercial buses popularly called Danfo from plying roads in the state.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s plan, Opadokun told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that reckless driving by ’Danfo’ drivers called for concern and government action, adding that they had made life unbearable for everybody on Lagos roads.

    ”They drive without adhering to traffic rules and regulations and they do it so ungodly. The one-chance issue is mainly perpetrated by Danfo drivers. Government has every right to check their excesses, therefore, Ambode should go ahead and ban them on Lagos roads,” he said.

    NAN reports that on February 6, 2017, Ambode revealed plans to ban yellow commercial buses from Lagos roads this year.

    He said this while speaking at the 14th Annual Lecture of the Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL) at Muson Centre, Onikan with the theme: “Living Well, The Challenge of Africa’s Future Cities.”

    Ambode said the present connectivity mode in Lagos was not acceptable and befitting for a mega city and called for well-structured transportation mode to address the challenge.

    “When I wake up in the morning and see all these yellow buses and Okada (commercial motorcyclists) and all kinds of tricycles, the claim that we are a mega city is not true. We must first acknowledge that, that is a faulty connectivity that we are running,” he said.

    Opadokun also commended Ambode’s development initiatives and urged him to sustain them to better the lot of the people.

    ”I must confess that I have attraction for that young man for all he has been doing in the state. The way he has been turning the state around positively is marvelous and he should be commended. I pray that God will grant him greater wisdom to make more and better strides,” he said.

  • Ban on ‘danfo’: Lagos allays fear of job loss as NURTW backs move

    Ban on ‘danfo’: Lagos allays fear of job loss as NURTW backs move

    Lagos State Government has allayed the fear of job lost in the state’s transport sector as it moves to stop operations of yellow commercial buses popularly known as ‘danfo’ in order to ensure a more efficient transport system

    In a session with journalists, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde assured that there will be no job lost by the time the state phases out usage of yellow commercial buses, popularly known as ‘danfo’.

    Ayorinde who explained that the government has had series of meeting with stakeholders concerned in the business of mass transportation said the idea to phase out ‘danfos’ in Lagos is essential for the common good of all Lagosians.

    He furthered, “We are not taking the yellow buses out of the whole of Lagos. In the first danfo busesinstance, they will still be able to work in communities, local government roads, but not on the highways, major roads within the metropolis of Lagos.

    Ayorinde added that the yellow buses will be allowed to move into the hinterland but stated that there will be sufficient and more environmentally friendly buses that will be provided by the state before that is done.”

    He said: “The buses that will be brought with air conditions, provisions for physically challenged people will not be powered by angels, solar or driverless technologies. Drivers will work there, bus assistant will work there, so what it means is that we won’t just be able to employ erstwhile drivers of yellow buses but we will also be able to employ bus assistant that read tickets, sign and issue tickets and operate computers. Who says they can’t even be graduates? So far they are adequately remunerated.

    “That is the vision that the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has for Lags state, So it is not about taking jobs away from anybody it is about making lives better for those who are in the sector.nurtw-300x222

    Meanwhile, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Lagos Chapter, on Tuesday advised its members not to panic over the proposed ban on operations of yellow commercial buses.

    The state Chairman of the union, Mr Tajudeen Agbede, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.

    Recall that Ambode had on Feb. 6 announced a plan to stop operations of yellow commercial buses popularly known as ‘danfo’ for a more efficient, well-structured and world-class mass transport system.

    Ambode said that the well-structured transport system would ease movement within the state and make Lagos cleaner without burdening the people in terms of taxes.

    Agbede said that the union was discussing the proposed ban with the government, adding that the union was ready to cooperate with the state government on its mega city project.

    “We are still discussing with the government on the proposed ban on yellow buses, but we believe it is going to yield a positive result.

    “The union is ready to comply with the conditions of making the state a mega city.

    “We are ready to change the colour of our buses and also comply with the directive to follow the service lanes,” Agbede said.