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Tag: Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode

  • Vote for Sanwo-Olu, others, civil servants told

    The Chief of Staff to Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Mr. Olukunle Ojo, has urged civil servants to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and others in tomorrow’s elections.

    According to him, this is necessary for the public to continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

    Ojo said the workers should canvass the support of their friends and neighbours for the APC candidates in the governorship and house of assembly polls.

    He said if the APC candiwon, the progress and development enjoyed by Lagosians will not be truncated.

    Ojo spoke yesterday when he met with the workers at the Office of the Chief of Staff, Alausa, Ikeja to solicit support for Sanwo-Olu, his running mate, Obafemi Hamzat and APC house of assembly candidates.

    Read also: Lokoja Port gets N1.6b crane

    Said he: “Lagos, as we all know, has enjoyed good governance since 1999. Right from the time of our leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to former governor Babatunde Fashola and our vibrant Governor Akinwummi Ambode, Lagosians have been enjoying good governance. It is now time to vote for continuity, and more importantly to take Lagos to the next level. “You can see how our governor is campaigning vigorously for Sanwo-Olu and other APC candidates. So let all of us contribute our quota, perform our civic responsibilities by campaigning for the APC candidates. Please go out and vote massively for the APC candidates tomorrow.”

  • Tinubu, Ambode for coronation anniversary

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart  Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will on January 26 attend the 10th coronation anniversary of Alapa of Egun Awori, Apa Kingdom Oba Oyekanmi Ilufemiloye Ajose, Possi III.

    The anniversary planning committee Chairman, Alhaji Fatai Shokunbi, told reporters yesterday that Ambode and Tinubu would be special guest of honour and father of the day.

    The activities, he said, would begin tomorrow  with a Jumat Service at Apa Central Mosque.

    “Later in the day, the semifinal of Alapa Football Competition will hold at the Local Authority Primary School, Apa.

    “On Sunday, there will be a service at St. Francis Catholic Church, Apa.

    “The next day, the Baales and the communities will pay homage to the king.

    “On Tuesday and Wednesday, the indigenes and others will enjoy free health service.”

    The Youth Day and final of the Alapa Football Competition come up on January 24.

    He added: “Installation of chiefs will hold on January 25, while the grand finale of the event will take place on January 26. Thanksgiving service holds the following day at the United African Methodist Church, Apa.

    “Other dignitaries expected at the ceremony include the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, APC governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his running mate, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, monarchs and others.”

  • Island club urges unity of Nigeria

    Vice Chairman of Lagos Island Club Oladiji Veracruz had said the club’s impact on the development and unity of the country is its major priority.

    Addressing a conference on the club’s coming 75th anniversary in Lagos, he said the topics for discussion during the event would reflect of issues that promote, security, economy and harmony.

    He noted that President Muhammadu Buhari, Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other notable Nigerians would grace the event.

    He said: “The club provide veritable platform to discuss issues of national interest. I can authoritatively tell you that topic on restructuring will be given attention, security and other germane national issues.

    “The discussions will affect policy which the club had often done from time to time. It is important to note that internally displaced people is of major concern, the club is equally interest in the matter.”

    He added that the club was in the vanguard of fighting colonialism, stressing that had not deviated from the old path.

    “In view of that when we realised that the country is facing challenges, it club steps forward to offer help in every possible ways.

    “In furtherance of the course of learning, as done severally in the past, we are organising school debate among a number of public secondary schools in Lagos where Laptops, Ipads, Note pads, exercise books among other will be given out.”

  • My five graduate kids can’t find work, Senator laments

    My five graduate kids can’t find work, Senator laments

    …Falana, Ananaba back calls for restructuring

     

     

    A former Secretary to the Taraba State Government Senator Abdulahi Bala Adamu Friday lamented that despite their university degrees, five of his children are out of work.

    Bala disagreed with “the perception” that Nigerians from the north have it rosier in the country, because a northerner – President Muhammadu Buhari – is in power.

    He said the country’s economic challenges affected all Nigerians, irrespective of their region of origin or religion.

    The former gubernatorial candidate in Taraba State spoke in Lagos Friday  at the 2017 National Conference of the Public Administration and Management Development Institute (PAMDI).

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was the Guest of honour at the event, themed ‘Re-engineering the Nigeria state: Challenges and prospects.’

    Lagos lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) delivered the keynote address.

    Falana and Dr. Paul Ananaba (SAN) were afterwards conferred with conferred with Distinguished Professional Service Award and Fellowship Award.

    Adamu, who represented his state at the 2014 national conference, said the calls for restructuring was resounding across the country but that there were differences as to what it meant.

    He urged Nigerians unite and forge a consensus on how to make the country better.

    Adam said: “The idea of existing federal structure and the clamour for restructuring that we are inundated with cannot be wished away.”

    He added: “This perception of domination or injustice, I think, is based on a false premise.

    “As I stand before you, I had the privilege of getting free education from primary, secondary, university and even post-graduate degree qualifications all paid for by the state.

    “I had the privilege of serving my state at the highest level as secretary to government and head if the civil service, I had the privilege of being elected to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but today, I have at least five graduates, my own children, that can’t secure a job.

    “And if you say because a northerner is President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, what has it impacted on me and my family? I believe we need to create a consensus about how to move this country forward.”

    Falana, who was represented by a rights activist Stanley Imhanruor, backed the call for restructuring if it involved true federalism and justiciability of Chapter 2 of the Constitution.

    He said: “It is difficult to talk about restructuring without talking about true federalism.”

    Falana noted that he was “100 percent in support of restructuring provided that the issue of justiciability of Chapter 2 of the Constitution and the issue of redistribution of national resources is revisited.

    “We must restructure Nigeria economically so that the country’s wealth is fairly distributed.”

    He warned Nigerians to be wary of political jobbers who might try to hijack the clamour for restructuring.

    Ananaba, who shared similar sentiments, condemned any attempt to balkanise the country.

    He said: “Nobody should be preaching the balkanisation of Nigeria; that is wrong. But we should be looking at reducing the size of government. This bogus government style will not help us.”

    The chairman, governing council of PAMDI, Prof Uche Jack-Osimiri said re-engineering, rather than restructuring was the way to solve the mounting agitations across the country.

    He urged Nigerians to be their brother’s keeper.

    “We cannot afford to leave one section of the country behind. Yes there is poverty in the north east, but the rest of the country must not leave them behind to die. We must help them to grow, just like West Germany helped East Germany after the fall of communism,” Jack-Osimiri said.

    He noted that the country’s problems were complex, but that the problems had nothing to do with “tribe, federal or unity government. The problem is re-engineering of the Nigerian state.”

  • No plan to replace Fawehinmi, Abiola statues at Ojota Parks – Lagos

    No plan to replace Fawehinmi, Abiola statues at Ojota Parks – Lagos

    The Lagos State Government on Tuesday refuted reports that it was planning to replace the statues of late Chief MKO Abiola and late Chief Gani Fawehinmi at the Ojota parks with another monument.

    Acting Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Adebimpe Akinshola, while reacting to a media report that the State was planning to replace the statues, said the ongoing remodeling of both parks was to accommodate bigger sculptures of the two prominent Nigerians.

    According to her, “Rather than replace the two conspicuous monuments, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture with the approval of His Excellency, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, the Governor of Lagos State, commissioned group of artistes to remodel the entire park and erect a new but bigger, better and more aesthetic sculpture of the two prominent Nigerians for better appreciation of their contribution to the development of Nigeria”.

    She said the Government was already set to complete the remodeling of Late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola Garden at Ojota with a new statue and water fountain to enhance the aesthetic value of the park for better appreciation by visitors and enhancement of the June 12 presidential election narrative.

    The Acting Commissioner said the remodeling work on Chief MKO Abiola statue commenced late January 2017 and was presently about 70 percent completed.

    She said the project also includes additional facilities such as a water fountain and a designated mini park, adding that the Chief Gani Fawehinmi sculpture also at Ojota was about 60 percent completed, while the park was being enhanced with another work of art called “The Possibility”.

    Akinsola reiterated the resolve of Governor Ambode’s administration to change the face of Lagos with the ongoing erection of 29 artistic sculptures and monuments at strategic locations across the State.

    She said while many of the new world class creative monuments are at advance stages of completion, six of them completed and officially unveiled including the statues of the first settler in Lagos, Prince Olofin (erected at Ijora); the first King of Lagos, Prince Ado (erected at Moloney Junction, Lagos); Ojuloge (erected opposite the National Theatre), which celebrates and conveys the sense of beauty, grace, style and passion for fashion of Lagos Women.

    She listed other completed monuments including The Drummer (erected at Ipakodo, Ikorodu), which depicts the Yoruba music culture, Youth Empowerment (erected at Sabo Yaba), which depicts situations and resources the youths deploy to improve quality of life as well as The Fisherman (erected at Badagry junction) which depicts one of the occupations and heritage of the people of Badagry.

  • Ambode to residents: Don’t convert roads to parking lot, street trading

    Ambode to residents: Don’t convert roads to parking lot, street trading

    … Asks LG Bosses To Submit 288 More Roads For Construction

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Tuesday warned residents to resist the temptation to convert any of the 114 newly constructed Local Government roads to venue for commercial purposes or parking lot for abandoned vehicles.

    Governor Ambode made the appeal at the continuation of the commissioning of the 114 roads built by his administration across the 20 Local Governments (LGs) and 37 Local council Development Areas (LCDAs).

    Speaking through his representatives at the various locations, the Governor said that conversion of the roads to other uses other than for motorists would reduce its life span.

    At the commissioning of Seriki Kemberi Road and Alhaji Rasak Street in Iba LCDA, the governor was represented by Mr. Oladele Adekanye, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly and Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Lagos Chapter.

    He lamented that some landlords in the state do not set aside space within their structures for parking, saying “rather, they ask their tenants to park on the road.

    “Allowing heavy static load on the road will reduce the life span of the road. Good roads embellish the community. It would reduce flooding and residents would be able to live comfortably.”

    Likewise, at the commissioning of Ojediran Shopitan and Taiwo Molajo streets both in Ikorodu West LCDA, Governor Akinwumi Ambode said illegal breaking of roads, usage as automobile workshop, as well as refuse dump, must stop henceforth on the new roads.

    The Governor who was represented by Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Bashorun at the commissioning of Ojediran Shopitan Street noted that his government would not relent on its promise of an all inclusive government, boosting economic activities in the state, as well as guaranteeing safety of lives and properties of residents.
    At Taiwo Molajo Street, member of the House of Assembly, Hon Abiodun Tobun who represented the Governor, urged residents to protect public utilities in their neighbourhood.

    In Igando/Ikotun LCDA, the governor represented by Oba Onilado of Ilado, HRH Oba Mobadenle Oyekan, handed over newly constructed Osunba Street, near the Igando market in Alimosho area of the state.

    Also commissioned in Igando/Ikotun LCDA by the Governor, represented by Oba Lasisi Gbadamosi of Igando, was Balogun Olanrewaju Road in Central Igando.

    Sole Administrator of Igando/Ikotun LCDA, Mr. Samuel Ajayi at the event, revealed that Governor Ambode had directed the 57 councils to submit 288 additional roads (four from each council) for construction consideration from 2017.

    Ajayi confirmed the receipt of a directive from Governor Ambode to submit four new roads for construction, a development he described as unprecedented in the history of Lagos.

    At the commissioning of Apa Palace Road and Kweme Road both in Badagry West LCDA, Governor Ambode urged all stakeholders in the communities across the State to cultivate the habit of timely reportage of suspicious movement around them to security agencies to nip in the bud any potential security situation.

    He said there was great need for community leaders to assist security agencies to address the menace of cultism, kidnapping, miscreants, vandalism and hoodlums by providing timely information.

    Speaking through the Alapa of Apa Kingdom, HRM Oba Oyekan Adekanmi Ajose and a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Badagry Constituency I, Mr. Olanrewaju Layode, Governor Ambode said the 114 roads initiative was in fulfillment of the social pact which he signed with the people during the electioneering and his inaugural speech of running a system in which the “greatest good shall reach the greater majority of the people.”

    In Eti-Osa Local Government Area, the Governor who was represented by his Special Adviser on Sports, Mr. Deji Tinubu, commissioned Ologolo Road, while Hon. Tajudeen Olusi did likewise at the Oba Elegushi Road, Ilasan.

    Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Muslim Folami who represented Governor Ambode at the commissioning of Oribanwa to Lakowe Link Road in Ibeju Lekki Local Government said the 114 roads was a phenomenal achievement in the history of Lagos State.

    At the handover of Iberekodo Road in Eleko, also in Ibeju Lekki, Governor Ambode who spoke through a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdulkabir Aiyeola urged residents to ensure that the infrastructure stands the test of time.

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Wasiu Eshinlokun and Chairman, Health Service Commission, Dr. Bayo Adeniyi who both represented Governor Ambode at the commissioning of Thomas Street and Evans Street, both in Lagos Island East Local Government respectively said the roads more roads in the area would be given a facelift next year.

    Governor Ambode also inaugurated Coker/Lafenwa Street and Ifoshi/Fadu Street in Ejigbo LCDA, and was represented by Professor Tunde Samuel, a former Special Adviser on Education and Kehinde Bamigbetan, his Special Adviser on Communities and Communication.

    Similarly, the Governor also commissioned Balogun Street, Kuje and Dillion Street, both in Oriade LCDA and Omoalade Alafia and Oloruntoyin/Jebina Streets in Bariga Local Government, where he was represented by Alhaja Ali Ogundeji, Chairman, Ojo Community Development Council, Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Mustapha Akinkunmi, member House of Assembly, Hon. Rotimi Abiru and Mr. Sanya Ajayi respectively.

  • Ambode to FG: Unbundle potentials of states for economic growth

    Ambode to FG: Unbundle potentials of states for economic growth

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday said the Federal Government has a critical role to play in addressing the fundamental structural challenges undermining sustainable and inclusive economic growth in the states of the federation, among which is unbundling the potentials of each of the federating units.

    Speaking in Kaduna at the 4th Progressive Governance Lecture Series organized by Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with the theme: “Building The Economy of States: Challenge of Developing Inclusively Sustainable Growth,” Governor Ambode said the Federal Government must allow the states to develop the natural resources within their domain and create the necessary infrastructure that would attract investors.

    Governor Ambode, who spoke on the Lagos experience of de-emphasizing reliance on oil, said Governors must also be encouraged to tap into multiple streams of income within their domain, especially with the Federal Government allowing the states to develop their potentials.

    The Governor lamented the situation whereby Governors have power over the land in their domain but cannot tap into the resources under the land and even the water, saying that such must stop so that Governors can have power over both the land and resources underneath, thereby unbundling the potentials of the states.

    “We need to start looking at some changes that we need to make within and among ourselves as a government irrespective of whether it is federal, state or local government – that will now unbundle the potentials of each state which is the cornerstone of the whole message we are talking about.

    “There is a great need for all of us to decide once and for all to unbundle the potentials of each state; take the comparative advantages of each state and fuse them together for the needs of our people.

    “Governors are the owners of the land in their states but underneath the land and even inside the water, the Federal Government is structured in a way that it controls those potentials. In a situation where the states are being spoon-fed, because I call the federation account more or less like spoon-feeding. The federal government collects total revenue on Value Added Tax (VAT) and various revenues on behalf of all of us and make us to come to Abuja and more or less share it to us as peanuts thereby not allowing us to reach our potentials as competitive states individually,” the Governor said.

    While alluding to the fact that insignia of progressivism in Nigeria should be first seen in the APC states, Governor Ambode said all critical actors must work together in the common interest of the people.

    He said: “There is just one economy in this country and so we need to first of all accept the fact that there is nothing like private sector as against public sector; there is nothing like Federal Government as against State Government. We are collaborating together to drive the economy of this country. So if that describes what Nigeria is and what it ought to be, we also want to say that government should be seen as an enabler; a platform that more or less creates the enabling environment for the public sector to thrive.

    “If we see ourselves as messengers to allow enabling environment to thrive, that means that whatever it is that we are doing, we must do it in such a way that will allow that enabling environment so that commerce, industry and our people can feel that sense of inclusion and that is why all of us are here. We are making progress because we are there because of our people and if we are there because of our people, it is just those basic little things that our people need that we should go ahead and address.

    “We all must be in one set and whatever that we are doing in terms of policy; what it is that we are doing in terms of what I now refer to as re-arrangement, we should now focus on people and then we should be people-friendly. And that is the only was we can create that inclusive growth,” he said.

  • Why IDPs can’t return home yet, by minister

    Why IDPs can’t return home yet, by minister

    Internally displaced persons (IDPs) cannot return home yet because it is not yet safe, Interior Minister Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) said yesterday.

    He said although most towns have been recaptured from insurgents in the Northeast, security threats still remained.

    The government, he said, is working hard to ensure that the places devastated by the Boko Haram insurgents are made safer for people to return.

    Dambazau, represented by a Director in the Ministry, Noah Auta, spoke in Lagos at a media roundtable with the theme: Developing effective police framework to address the situation of victims of Boko Haram in Nigeria.

    It was organised by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), in collaboration with the Ford Foundation.

    “No IDPs has been authorised to go back home. Although towns have been liberated by the military, some places still have landmines. The government is still fashioning out how to deal with security issues in these areas,” he said.

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode advocated the formulation of a more effective policy to rehabilitate victims of terrorism and IDPs.

    Ambode said as the military makes steady progress in liberating territories under the Boko Haram stronghold, the task of rebuilding the communities and reintegrating the victims requires a well thought-out policy framework.

    The governor, represented by a Director in the Ministry of Special Duties, Mrs Bisi Shonibare, said reintegrating victims of terror, especially children, women and the elderly, will require a systematic process to be implemented in phases.

    “It is important that we evolve a well thought-out policy framework that will guide this process. This will guarantee a process that is well coordinated and goal driven.

    “The objective will be to restore hope to the victims and avoid acts of commission or omission that could result in more complex crisis situations in the near future,” he said.

    A former Minister of Education Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, who championed the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, said a central clearing house on information regarding the terror war should be set up to prevent duplication of efforts and to coordinate inter-governmental activities on the war, possibly in the Vice-President’s office.

    Represented by Ademola Williams, Ezekwesili, a former World Bank Vice President, regretted that on the second anniversary of the Chibok School Girls kidnap, they were yet to be found.

    “People must speak up and hold government accountable. Citizens must protect each other. And we need a leadership that really cares,” she said.

    Activist-lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), represented by Olanrewaju Suraju, said corruption contributed to the inability to defeat Boko Haram quicker.

    He said had the past administrations tackled the problem head on, without mixing it with politics and religion and allowing corruption to undermine it, the war would have long been won.

    “The past government was not interest in tackling the issue but used it for political gains,” he alleged.

    A former Chief Judge of Lagos, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, who chaired the event, said ridding the country of terrorism requires every citizens’ support, adding that is not a fight to be left to government alone.