Tag: Lagos Assembly

The Lagos State House of Assembly has directed the immediate suspension of the ongoing demolition exercise at the Makoko community waterfront.

The announcement was made by Hon. Noheem Adams, chairman of the ad-hoc committee set up by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.

Adams, who is also the Leader of the House, read the committee’s resolution following a stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday at the Lateef Jakande Auditorium in Alausa, Ikeja.

The decision followed protests by hundreds of displaced Makoko residents at the Assembly last week against the demolition, which had heightened tensions and led to the arrest of some activists who are now undergoing trial.

The state government had stated that the demolition was necessary to ensure safety, as structures were being built beneath high-tension electricity cables.

Adams said, “On behalf of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa and on behalf of all 40 members of the House, we are directing that all ministries henceforth should stop work with all demolitions, I repeat, all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities should stop from today, all demolitions will start until further notice.

“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting.

“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensation for all those whose properties have been demolished.”

The leader went on to ask the audience, “So are you satisfied with the committee’s work or are you not satisfied?” And there was a thunderous reply of “We are satisfied.”

Read Also: Lagos earmarks $2m to build water city from Makoko

Earlier, in the course of interrogating the chairman of Yaba Local Council Development Area, Hon Bayo Adefuye, a member of the Committee who is the chairman of the House committee on Information and Strategy, Hon Stephen Ogundipe said, “The most important point is that there should be communication even if you are not going there physically. Those you want to help must know the plan you have for them.”

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Special Adviser on E-GIS and Urban Renewal, Dr Babatunde Olajide, who also presented, had said on Monday during a press briefing that the State government would compensate residents of Makoko whose properties had been demolished.

Dr Olajide further disclosed that Governor Sanwo-Olu had set aside $2 million since 2021 for the redevelopment of the Makoko waterfront to meet international standards.

He stated that the State government is already working on a large water city project to redevelop the community, adding, “We have to do it with a human face. We have been working on this since 2021.

“All those people who have been affected have to be compensated, and we have the task force. We are in the process of enumeration, but the first thing to do is to save the people. It is better to be wary than to be late.”

Some of the leaders of the communities who were present maintained that they were no longer interested in NGOs interfering in their affairs.

They agreed that they were capable of handling their issues, especially now that the State House of Assembly had intervened.

In his comment, Baale of Makoko, Shogunro, Iwaya LCDA, High Chief Yusuf Sagra said, “We are here to explain to you our petition to members of the House on what is happening in our communities, and we are happy that they have given us a word of peace, and we are satisfied.”

Also, Chief Orioye Ogungbure said, “I’m happy about this deliberation. I didn’t expect it. If the government continues to go this way whenever people have grievances, it will be okay. This is democracy; our government should continue to listen to the people.”

The Lagos State House of Assembly has called on Babajide Sanwo-Olu to direct the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) to conduct bye-elections to fill vacant councillorship seats in Ibeju-Lekki, Mushin, and Somolu Local Government areas.

The issue was raised on Thursday during plenary under a personal explanation by Hon. Akinsanya Nureni, representing Mushin I, who noted that the deaths of three councillors had left their wards without representation.

Nureni appealed to the House to intervene by urging LASIEC to organise fresh elections, warning that the continued vacancies deny affected communities adequate legislative representation.

Supporting the motion, Hon. Esho Kazeem of Mushin Constituency II confirmed that a councillor in his area had died and that no replacement election had been conducted, adding to calls for immediate action.

Read Also: NBA Chairmen laud Sanwo-Olu, NTDA GM Aboyeji on projects

Hon. Kehinde Joseph further urged the Assembly to formally write to the Governor to mandate LASIEC to commence the electoral process. He also proposed a minute of silence in honour of the deceased councillors and suggested sending condolence letters to their families.

In his ruling, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa directed lawmakers to observe a minute of silence for the late councillors and the late Oba of Badagry. He also instructed the Clerk of the House, Onafeko Olalekan, to transmit the Assembly’s resolution to the Governor.

Among the deceased are Oluwakemi Rufai, Councillor for Ward C in Ibeju-Lekki, who died on August 13, 2025, just 17 days after her inauguration; Zainab Shotayo, Chief Whip and Councillor for Ward C3 in Odiolowo-Ojuwoye LCDA, who passed away on August 18, 2025, 22 days into her tenure; and Basirat Oluwakemi Mayabikan, Councillor for Ward F in Somolu, who died on September 21, 2025, 56 days after assuming office.

The Lagos State House of Assembly has called on Governor Babajide  Sanwo-Olu to direct the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency, (LASCOPA) to seal Yard 158 Events Centre, located in Oregun, Lagos, over the management’s persistent refusal to honour official invites in respect of a pending petition.

This followed a personal explanation raised on the Floor of the House by the Chairman, Committee on Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives,  Abiodun Tobun. 

He informed the House that the Committee was considering a petition submitted by Mrs. Nurat Alaba against the management of Yard 158 Events Centre, which has been stalled due to the continued non-appearance of the company despite several invitations from the House and LASCOPA.

According to Tobun, Mrs. Alaba paid ₦3m on January 30, 2025 to secure the venue for an event scheduled for December 21, 2025. 

However, due to unforeseen circumstances, she contacted the company the following day, January 30, 2025, to request a change of date to December 20, 2025. She was informed that the company would revert to her.

He further explained that after several follow-up calls over the ensuing weeks, Mrs. Alaba was eventually informed that a 33 per cent cancellation charge would apply.

 She agreed to the deduction and requested a refund of the balance.

However, she received no further communication until October 2025 when she visited the company’s premises in person.

 She was then informed that the 33 per cent cancellation charge would be calculated not from her ₦3 million deposit but from the full event fee of ₦6.5 million, which she had not paid. 

Read Also: Lagos Assembly passes N4.4tr 2026 Budget

This development prompted her to file a petition with the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Tobun expressed concerns that despite multiple invitations, neither the owner nor any representative of Yard 158 Events Centre has appeared before the Committee.

 He added that LASCOPA also wrote several letters to the company, all of which were ignored.

He stated: “This level of disregard will not be accepted or tolerated in Lagos State. As a Committee, we have resolved to bring this matter before the entire House for appropriate action.”

Consequently, Tobun urge Speaker Mudashiru  Obasa, to compel the appearance of the owner of Yard 158 Events Centre before the House to enable the investigation to be concluded and a report submitted.

Supporting the motion, Nureni Akinsanya emphasised the need to uphold the authority of the House, warning that failure to act decisively could set a dangerous precedent that may embolden other businesses to disregard legislative directives.

Also lending his voice, Kehinde Joseph noted that the House conducts petition hearings to restore peace and order in the State, stressing that such acts of defiance undermine this responsibility.

In his contribution, Bonu Solomon called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the management’s decision to disregard the authority of the State Legislature.

The Speaker directed the Clerk of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko, to forward a clean copy of the House resolution to the appropriate quarters.

The Lagos State House of Assembly has passed a ₦4.4 trillion budget for the 2026 fiscal year, following the adoption of the report of the House Committee on Economic Planning and Budget.

The committee chairman, Hon. Sa’ah Olumoh, presented the report during plenary on Thursday, detailing the assumptions, projections, and structure of the 2026 Appropriation Bill, tagged the “Budget of Shared Prosperity.”

According to the report, the 2026 budget represents the third budget cycle of the current administration and the final new-cycle budget of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term. 

It is aligned with the administration’s development agenda, anchored on four strategic pillars: human-centric development, modern and adaptive infrastructure, a thriving 21st-century megacity economy, and effective governance that exceeds citizens’ expectations.

Hon. Olumoh noted that the budget framework was informed by macroeconomic indices, including an exchange rate benchmark of ₦1,512 to the dollar, an inflation rate of 14.7 per cent, oil production of 2.06 million barrels per day, and a benchmark oil price of $64 per barrel.

The committee also reviewed the 2025 budget performance, reporting a cumulative budget performance of 79 per cent as of November 2025. Capital expenditure performance stood at 75 per cent, recurrent expenditure at 87 per cent, while overall revenue performance was put at 79 per cent.

For the 2026 fiscal year, the approved budget size stands at about ₦4.4 trillion, with proposed recurrent expenditure of ₦2.052 trillion and capital expenditure of ₦2.185 trillion. The capital component represents a significant portion of the budget, underscoring the state government’s commitment to infrastructure development.

The budget includes provisions for personnel costs, overheads, debt servicing, and debt repayment, with a projected deficit of about ₦243 billion to be financed through approved deficit financing options.

During deliberations, lawmakers commended the budget, describing it as realistic and growth-oriented.

 Hon. Aro Moshood disclosed that an additional ₦171 billion was added to the budget during the review process. 

Hon. Femi Saheed said the size and structure of the budget showed that Lagos State remained on a strong economic footing, provided all stakeholders played their roles.

Similarly, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, representing Eti-Osa Constituency II, highlighted the importance of revenue reforms and prudent loan repayment structures, noting that effective implementation would strengthen the state’s fiscal position.

The Assembly also received assurances from relevant officials that revenue-generating agencies would collaborate to ensure that projected revenues are met and possibly exceeded.

Following deliberations, the House adopted the committee’s report and passed the 2026 Appropriation Bill into law.

The House also took the third reading and passed the budget. 

Recall that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had presented a ₦4.237 trillion spending plan to the House on November 25, 2025. Presenting the proposal, the governor said the budget was designed to accelerate economic growth, deepen infrastructure development, and maintain fiscal responsibility.

He disclosed that the budget projected total revenue of about ₦3.99 trillion, with ₦3.12 trillion expected from internally generated revenue and ₦874 billion from federal transfers, while the deficit financing plan stood at approximately ₦243.3 billion.

Members of Lagos State House of Assembly have hailed Police Commissioner Olorundare Jimoh and his team for their professionalism and commitment to safeguarding lives and property during the recent security incidents in the state.

Presenting the motion on the floor of the house, Stephen Ogundipe, chairman, Committee on Information, Security and Strategy, highlighted the importance of community involvement in enhancing security.

He said public safety was a shared responsibility, urging increased community awareness, public education and a stronger crime reporting mechanism.

He advocated improved safety protocols across schools, commercial districts and public spaces, supported by surveillance systems and regular risk assessments.

Read Also: PDP crisis lingers as Anyanwu voids dissolution of Akwa Ibom Exco

Gbolahan Yishawu echoed support for the motion, describing it as timely and relevant.

He acknowledged Nigeria Police Force as the backbone of security in the state, particularly during festive seasons when Lagos received a large influx of people from the diaspora.

Ogundipe urged positive and responsible use of social media, warning that misuse could exacerbate existing challenges.

He concluded by recommending that the Commissioner of Police should engage with the leadership of the House of Assembly to address the state’s evolving security challenges and rising vices.

Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday tasked the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, to intensify efforts in promoting the state’s cultural heritage and improving its tourism potential.

The call was led by Hon. Bonu Solomon, Chairman of the Committee on Tourism, Arts and Culture, who stressed during plenary that the theme of this year’s World Tourism Day, “Our Country, Our Heritage,” underscores the need to harness Lagos’ untapped tourist attractions.

Read Also: Zamfara lawmakers peer review to Lagos Assembly

He urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to direct the ministry to actively promote the state’s cultural values, saying such efforts would significantly boost the economy.

Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu suggested setting up a tourism calendar to help visitors plan their trips, while Hon. Omolara Olumegbon recalled how “Detty December” attracted over 500,000 visitors to Lagos last year.

Also contributing, Hon. Oladipo Ajomale proposed the development of an iconic landmark similar to Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, recommending a giant edifice such as an Eyo statue integrated with restaurants, shopping malls, and other attractions to strengthen Lagos’ position as a global tourism hub.