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Tag: Lagos State

  • Updated: Police Inspector kills man over alleged N200 bribe in Lagos

    A Police Inspector identified as Paul Joseph has been arrested for shooting a motorcyclist dead over alleged N200 bribe in Lagos.

    The incident occurred at Kilo Bus Stop in Surulere, Lagos Mainland Thursday morning.

    It was gathered that the policemen who was with two others in a patrol vehicle had stopped the deceased, Ademola Moshood and requested the usual money which the motorcyclist refused to give them because he had closed business for the day and was homebound.

    Angered by his refusal, Joseph was said to have moved closer to the man, cocked his gun and shot him on the head.

    According to witnesses, the policemen were attached to Soloki Division Aguda and had his behind a van when protesters stormed the station to demand justice.

    They alleged that the policemen after killing the man, fled the scene with his motorcycle, leaving his body on the ground.

    Read also: Policemen allegedly kill man over N200 bribe in Lagos

    They identified the other policemen as AK and Patrick, appealing to the Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu to investigate the issue and charge the culprits for murder.

    Police spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP) said the Commissioner Zubairu Muazu had ordered that the culprit be detained and tried.

    “The Inspector is in detention. He is being investigated and the circumstances that led to the shooting. We do not know what led to the shooting and we would not want to preempt the investigation. But be assured that the Commissioner of Police will not tolerate any unprofessional conduct. Details of the investigation will be made known.”

  • Buhari not an orator but action man, says Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said President Muhammadu Buhari may not be an orator but he has a track record of getting things done.

    Osinbajo said this while representing the President at the 11th Bola Tinubu Colloquium at the International Conference Centre on Thursday in Abuja.

    Osinbajo described Tinubu as an astute politician whose political achievements only very few Nigerians can boast of.

    The event, which was tagged “Next Level”, is a yearly programme to commemorate the birthday of the APC leader and former Governor of Lagos State.

    Tinubu, while addressing the gathering joked that the Vice President is “talented but evasive”.

    Read also: How Tinubu led ACN to reclaim lost states in 2007, by Osinbajo

    He commended the current administration efforts and called on Nigerian s to cooperate with the government in moving the country to the next level.

    Tinubu said that the phrase “Next-Level” is not just a political slogan but a call to action for change and development of Nigeria.

    The event was graced by dignitaries from all spheres of the life including members of the federal executive council and the National Assembly, Royal Fathers, Governors and members of the public.

  • TCN’s capacity utilisation dips to 14.8%

    The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has raised concern over the reduction in the load utilisation of its distributor company in Odogunyan substation, Ikorodu, Lagos State  to 14.8 per cent.

    Its Assistant General Manager, Transmission Egbin Sub-region, Ajiboye Oluwagbenga who conducted the Federal Ministry of Power inspection team from Abuja, explained that although the 132/33KVA substation has 96megawatt (Mw) load allocation, it is currently grossly under-utilised.

    He said there was high hope for demand for the load when the TCN was constructing the plant but the Ikeja Electric which is the major distributor of the power is now rejecting the load and rendering the plant almost idle.

    He said: “It is a 2*60MVA. It was commissioned by the minister on May, 7 2018. Presently our projection about the loading is not being met. We have 2*60MVA which is equivalent to 96Mw. But currently we are just making about 14Mw. This morning it was on 20Mw but now it is on 14Mw, translating to about 14.8 per cent loading.”

    The major target of the power consumer which is Mega Steel was utilising 28Mw upon the commissioning of the project last year, but he noted that the dwindling economy has compelled the firm to reduce its demand for power.

    According to him, before the completion of the Odogunyan project, the TCN was only wheeling power from a 132KV single line between Ikorodu and Sagamu, called 132KV single line.

    He said: “With the connection of Ikorodu-Sagamu to double circuit, there is need for additional bay at Ikorodu since it is going to be additional line now. We need to have the second bay. It is the one that is being constructed by these people. The bay which is the expansion project is almost 95 per cent. Every equipment has been tested. This one will take just one day to fix this thing back. If was with Odogunyan project and it was awarded  in 2010. Its commencement was 2011-2012 while completion and commissioning was in May 2018. The line will be completed in July this year. It is a different project.”

    At the Odogunyan substation, the Principal Manager, System Operation Area Control, Mr. Adeniyi Adeleke appealed to the Federal Government to draft armed security personnel from the Nigerian Police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps to take over the surveillance of the power plant.

    He told the inspection team that was on a fact finding mission that there are no Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) in the substation.

    He said: “We don’t have issues with the community presently but the security situation is not okay. We will appreciate a situation where we can have law enforcement agents here 24/7 guarding the station, equipment and the personnel. We will really appreciate that. We don’t have CCT in this station. Robbers had entered here and we didn’t know where they came in from.

    Read also: VAT designed to support the poor, says Fowler

    shortage of manpower and lack of operation vehicles in the substation.

    Continuing, he recalled: “On Sunday We are supposed to have five staff but we have only three. We are just managing and people find it difficult to go on leave. Imagining only two people running this substation, which operates everyday.

    “They are three in the station and somebody must have some rest. We need more hands. We need training programmes for our staff. We don’t even have official vehicles to run the station.”

  • Foundation offers scholarships to Makoko kids

    Residents of Makoko Community, Lagos State, will not forget in a hurry the day a non-for-profit, Caregiva Foundation, came on a humanitarian mission there.

    No fewer than 500 persons, including women and children, benefited from donations by the group.

    Like children receiving their father back home after a long sojourn, they trooped out enmasse to receive the “ august” visitors. Some could not hide their surprise when they saw that the visitors were youngsters between 20 and 27.  What was even more interesting was how children and teens were calling the visitors “Daddy”, “Mummy”, as they held their hands.

    Tagged: “Visit to Makoko Community”, the event was organised by Caregiva Foundation. The initiative, the foundation said, was borne out of the “desire to give back to the society by providing love, care, and support for the less-privileged that are financially, mentally, and physically challenged”.

    The maiden event witnessed the feeding of over 300 children, the donation of rice, salt, vegetable oil, noodles, slippers, clothes, among others, to orphans and the needy. The foundation also ssssspledged to support five children in their education and 20 others for vocational training.

    Although they were familiar with such visits from well-spirited individuals and groups, the Baale of the Community, Chief Aide Albert Jeje, noted that the foundation’s team, who were youths, was truly inspiring. He urged the foundation to assist the community in alleviating its water problem in the community.

    “We are so happy to receive Caregiva Foundation here. It is impressive seeing that youngsters are the ones behind all the great gifts that are brought for us today. I am speechless and so grateful.

    “Most of the children living in this community don’t have access to good and basic education since there is no money to send them to school. Some of them are orphans. They hardly eat three square meals a day. And so we are praying that God will continue to bless the good work that these youngsters have started,” he prayed.

    Thirteen-year-old Olanike Adeniyi could not hide her joy, saying that the giveaways were coming at the appropriate time.

    “I am thankful for protecting us here in Makoko. I lost my mother when I was only nine months old and was abandoned by my father. I was raised by my grandmother, who feels that after my secondary education, I should either be married off or just learn a trade. I want to grow up to be an important person in the society one day. I wish to be part of those that will be assisted in furthering their education.”

    For seven-year-old Ezekiel Iroko, who is aspiring to be a medical doctor, the foundation’s gesture will serve as relief to his mother who has been the breadwinner ever since he lost his father at a tender age.

    Like the Baale, Aisha Ademola, a young widow and mother of one who was one of the beneficiaries, was also full of thanks to the group for the gifts, stating that the food items would go a long way to alleviate their hunger.

    For the President and founder of the Caregiva Foundation, Bunmi Banjo, the gesture was part of the foundation’s social responsibilities in reaching out to the less-privileged. She disclosed that the foundation will sponsor at least, five children on their education and 20 others for vocational training.

    The foundation, Bunmi said, is geared towards putting smiles on the faces of the less privileged and the orphans in the society by showing them love, care and support.

    “Makoko as the largest slum community in West Africa with over 200,000 inhabitants and thousands of children living here need help. We sincerely hope that other members of the society, who are well to do will support a cause like this and come here to show the children love,” she admonished.

    The programme was supported by Chemart Pharmacy, Metropolitan Motors, Taos Beauty Brand, Tricontinental Oil Service and Mrs Bakers Bakery.

    The community leader, who received the foundation team, Chief Benjamin Aide , commended the spirit behind the donation, saying that the gesture would go a long way in bringing smiles to the needy.

    Aide said: “It is at times like this that you know those who are passionate about meeting the needs of the less privileged and the needy. What the foundation has done today shows that their efforts were based on passion and commitment to the plight of the downtrodden. We can only commend them and urge them to continue to identify with this community and other vulnerable places at large.”

     

  • Tide against commercial motorcyclists, tricyclists

    With the arrest of no fewer than 115 commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as Okada riders, last week, the Lagos State Government may have reaffirmed its commitment to restricting their activities to last-mile shuttles, ADEYINKA ADERIBIGBE writes

    Alhassan Ahmed, a salesman, was running out of time for a business meeting in Ota, Ogun State.

    It was about 1pm, when he left his office at Ikeja, Lagos. He had to make it to Ota by 3pm. He stood by the roadside, contemplating the fastest route out of the traffic bedlam at Ikeja, when he saw the Gokada rider, a commercial e-hail motorcycle operator, in black with green Gokada helmet.

    He flagged him down, and negotiated the trip, mounted the bike and donned the helmet, which Gokada said is certified to the American Department of Transportation (DOT) standard. Within one and half hours, he was sitting comfortably at the company’s boardroom.

    Since that experience, Ahmed said he had “become addicted to Gokada”.

    He added: “Except on Sundays, I don’t see the need to go out with my car again. I move around the city, on a motorcycle. It is fast and affordable for anyone who does not want to spend eternity in the perennial traffic that has made Lagos a pain in the neck for many commuters.”

    Ahmed’s testimony is one of the thousands, who have turned to this two-wheeler alternative to beat the gridlock, which has become a permanent feature of movement around the metropolis.

    Also, a food blogger, Yewande, said she had been taking Maxokada, everyday from Maryland, where she lives, to her Broad Street office, on Lagos Island. According to her, the risk associated with riding such a very long distance pales into insignificance when you imagine the alternative of spending a minimum of three to five hours in buses or a taxi. “I have simply stopped thinking of the risk. I just hop on it because it offers me the quickest option of reaching my destination, though it costs more,” she stated.

    In Lagos, two brands – Maxokada and Gokada Gokada – have become ubiquitous, seizing the space from local operators, who have almost been snuffed out of the business by security operatives.

    Andrew, who works in a media house at Apapa, said he alternates between Gokada and Maxokada daily in and out of Apapa’s perennial traffic gridlock.

    Maxokada, which began operation in August 2015, said it has made over 300,000 kilometres and carried no fewer than 500 passengers. It has 1000 drivers on its platform.

    Similar milestone were reeled out recently by Gokada, which marked its forst year on the road recently. Other operators apart from these two are sprouting by the day, to cash in on the huge market caused by the perennial gridlocks that has made transportation a nightmare.

    The emergence of more organised fleet bicycle operators, have thrown a new spanner to the works as they all deploy machines that do not fall below the acceptable standards in running their shuttling business.

    Unlike the regular motorcycle operators, who have been forced out of business by the government, because of their use of low-capacity motorcycles, these new operators have a fleet of no less than 200cc engines which were approved under the Lagos State Traffic Law 2012, as permissible on its roads.

    Armed with the right kind of machine, the operators have claimed that they could go anywhere unmolested by the law enforcement agencies.

    While Maxokada promises a 70 per cent reduction in travel time on safe, and affordable motorcycle, known as Maxgo, Gokada on its website boasted it could get riders to any destination 50 per cent quicker than any closest road rival. Over the past four years, Maxokada, have also become the biggest logistics partner for major brands on its delivery service known as MaxNow.

    Life saving

    Though transportation and logistics experts are wont to agree that motorcycle, better known as para-transportation, is unknown to organised transportation system and would want it stamped out in Lagos, the “madness on the roads,” are making it alluring to those who needs timely delivery or requires fast-paced movement to move in the course of their business.

    With the Transportation Law 2012 in place, the government had restricted motorcycle drivers from plying major roads, highways and bridges. Eleven highways, 45 bridges and 502 roads were out of bound for them. The law also extends to tricycle operations.

    Operators of commercial motorcycles and tricycles, are expected to operate only the last mile, otherwise known as the inner city roads.

    According to the government, the enforcement of the law brought down the rate of motorcycle-related accident by as much as 70 per cent, and stopped its ugly underbelly of being used as getaway vehicle by armed robbers and other criminally-minded deviants.

    Instilling decorum

    Non- compliance with regulations, according to Safety Without Borders founder, Mr. Patrick Adenusi, could only be a recipe for disaster and a return to the state’s immediate ugly past where accident was the order of the day.

    He sided with Kola Egbeyemi led Task Force, for impounding 115 comercial motorcyclists recently.

    Like Egbeyemi, Adenusi believed operating on restricted routes, including the one-way around Ikeja, Ojota, and Maryland would further excercebate the traffic crisis to which the state has sunk.

    Egbeyemi differed, describing their operations as illegal. He wondered why they should be in business without valid documents or willingness to be regulated.

    “It was an eye-sore seeing operators of these newly branded commercial motorcycles (Gokada/Maxokada) competing for right of way with motorists on highways and bridges across the state,” he said.

    One of the arrested Gokada riders, Francis Ayeni, who claimed to pay N3000 daily to the firm, said they were not aware of any documentation with the government.

    Read also: Commercial motorcyclists, Police clash in Abuja

    Another arrested rider, Mr. Adebayo Adeniran, confirmed that he collected one of the newly branded commercial motorcycles Maxokada on hire purchase after presenting a guarantor.

    An indication that commercial motor cycle system has no place in the state’s transportation architecture is the fact that commercial motorcycle operation has no place in the state’s transportation master plan. The transportation policy being put together is silent on comercial motor cycle operation.

    An expert, Dr Tajudeen Bawa’Allah, insists that commercial motor cyclist has no place in the state’s transportation policy.

    He saidcommercial motor cycle operation is powered by poverty and unemployment, adding that though commercial motor cycle business remains the lowest end of the transportation business, it remains illegal and unacceptable as a means of transportation in a state aiming to operate a smart economy.

  • Lagos judges for Easter break

    Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Opeyemi Oke, has approved April 19 to 26 for Easter vacation.

    In statement by the Chief Registrar, Mrs Taiwo Olatokun, quoted the CJ that arrangements had been made for dealing with urgent cases during the Easter period.

    “Each judge will deal with all urgent applications related to any substantive cause already assigned to him or her.

    “Any urgent application, the substantive cause of which has not already been assigned will be dealt with by the judge to whom the application is specifically assigned.

    Read also: Inspector to Lagos CP: save me

    “Notwithstanding the provisions of Order 49, Rule 4, any cause or matter may be heard by a judge during the period of the Easter Vacation where such a cause is urgent and provided that the condition prescribed by Order 49 Rule 5 shall be observed and be complied with,” the statement reads.

  • Lagos: Why I don’t envy Babajide Sanwo-Olu

    Aside the presidency, being governor of Lagos State is one of the most powerful and prestigious political offices anyone can occupy in Nigeria – and for good reason too.

    Lagos is the nation’s commercial capital and currently ranked the fifth largest economy in Africa –putting it ahead of over 40 countries on the continent. It equally outstrips the 35 other states in terms of revenue generation and overall economic performance.

    Such is the depth of the state’s strength that in 2018 it generated 76% of its revenues internally. This amounted to about N34 billion monthly. Governor Akinwumi Ambode mid last year spoke of an aspiration to reduce the state’s dependence of federal revenues to less than 10%.

    While these figures may seem impressive against the backdrop of 27 states being almost bankrupt, much of what it generates is also devoured by overheads, an ambitious infrastructure development programme and the challenges of catering for an ever surging population whose reveal numbers remain guesstimates.

    State government statistics says 86 immigrants enter Lagos every minute of the day – the highest rate of any city in the world. That translates into 123,840 entrants on a daily basis and they come to stay.

    This influx overwhelms whatever facilities are on the ground and outpaces the ability of the government to provide new ones. So while the city might look like one massive construction site, whatever is being built simply plays catch-up, but never catching-up.

    This pattern will remain for as long as the rest of the country continues to struggle economically – leaving the city and to a lesser extent Abuja and Port Harcourt as the only centres of opportunity open to the desperate. This is the challenge that Governor-Elect, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, will inherit in a matter of weeks.

    His rise was unscripted, as the incumbent Ambode was expected to have an easy ride to a second term courtesy of his ambitious vision for altering the face of the city. In the first two years, his aggressive opening up of the interior of the state as well as showpiece projects like the Abule-Egba and Ajah flyovers, the skywalk and bus terminals at Oshodi and elsewhere, marked him out as a man of action who was intent on outperforming his predecessor, Babatunde Fashola.

    He was not only building big, he was equally providing solutions in certain areas of the city like Ojodu and Oworonsoki where traffic jams had become nightmarish. Unfortunately, it all went wrong suddenly.

    Ultimately, his attempt to reform the process of clearing refuse in the city proved his undoing. In the Visionscape debacle his political skills were tested and he fell short. Just as the deal collapsed, the coalition that brought him to power gave way – and the rest is history.

    Whatever may be Ambode’s legacy in terms of infrastructural development, he leaves for his successor a city that has regressed in so many ways.

    Today, Lagos has become one of the dirtiest cities on the continent. This dubious distinction was something the Bola Tinubu and Fashola administrations had managed to bury.

    The inability of the outgoing governor to crack the Visionscape logjam provides Sanwo-Olu with an opportunity for a quick win. The city stinks and is crying desperately for a clean-up. The world would sit up and notice if he can make the mounds of filth disappear.

    To his credit, under Ambode violent crime remained relatively low. Ironically, it was also a period marked by unprecedented lawlessness on the roads and elsewhere. A drive on most Lagos roads is like engaging in mortal combat. You may escape with your life but your vehicle would be the worse for wear.

    On any given day, from the tony environs of Ikoyi to the more prosaic parts of town, swarms of commercial motorcyclists (okada) and tricyclists unleash a reign of terror on the roads. Not satisfied with seizing the roads where the laws say they are officially barred, they now ride freely on pedestrian sidewalks! Driving against traffic, jumping the lights, is accepted practice. Frankly, on Lagos roads you can get away with murder – and not just in a figurative sense.

    Compounding the sense of chaos is the collusion of security officials with delinquent commercial bus drivers and motorcyclists. It is really a lost battle when those who are supposed to enforce regulations are in bed with offenders.

    Another maddening contradiction of the Ambode era is the fact that while embarking on these huge projects like the BRT lane from Abule-Egba to Oshodi, basic things like patching potholes on existing roads were left undone.

    What used to be a tradition of constantly fixing failed portions of key arteries in the city has been abandoned. No area is exempt – not even the seat of government in Alausa.

    The only reason these roads would be left in this condition is lack of funds. But a state that is able to finance multi-billion naira mega projects can spend a few billions fixing potholes if those governing care about the same things as the governed. The condition of roads – major and minor – is another crisis area Sanwo-Olu must address in a hurry.

    Lagos is a city of contrasts where breath-taking opulence lives side-by-side with depressing poverty. The aforementioned swarms of commercial motorcyclists are not just a nuisance on the road: they are a constant reminder of the impoverished state of the larger population in the city.

    That poverty is also on display in the form of street traders selling everything from fresh fruit to fire extinguishers taking over the rail tracks at Ikeja or the uncompleted BRT lane at Iyana-Ipaja as evening falls. The streets become a moving mall because the vendors – battling with daily survival – cannot afford regular stalls in proper markets.

    This poverty is another reason why the okada problem has defied solution. Although they provide transport solutions for people who wish to move swiftly along the clogged roads, they are now one of the major employers of labour in the city. The numbers in operation are probably in the tens of thousands. To eliminate them would require the creations of tens of thousands of jobs otherwise many would take to a life of crime.

    The ability of the government to create jobs for such a large number is limited. But the new administration can encourage the private sector to generate employment by ditching policies that are not pro-business or those that deter the would-be entrepreneur. In this context, multi-taxation by different levels of government in the state needs to be addressed.

    It is no exaggeration to say that if Lagos works, Nigeria works. For the city to be better than it is now, the incoming governor and his team must outgrow the smug satisfaction of being better endowed than less-favoured states, and focus on transforming the city into a truly world class metropolis.

    That begins with dealing with the problem of lawlessness and ensuring that basic rules are obeyed. Lagos cannot be a jungle where anything goes, if it truly aspires to be something special. The Eko o ni baje slogan must move beyond a fond wish and become active impulse that drives how people live.

    That requires a measure of ruthlessness. The governor-elect looks like a nice guy – all smiles and charm. But in Lagos nice guys don’t win, unless their external veneer hides an iron will. Until Fashola, Oshodi was a transport hub notorious for crime, grime and gridlock. But with steely determination he tamed it. Does Sanwo-Olu possess that same streak? His actions would shortly speak for themselves.

  • CIPM confers fellowship on Pastor Awosika

    The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, CIPM, will tomorrow confer its prestigious fellowship honour on Pastor Dapo Awosika, the Pastor in charge of Opebi Zonal headquarters of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Lagos State.

    A statement by the Joy Family in the church said the group and the entire congregation are excited about Awosika’s investiture “because it is a honour well deserved, having distinguished himself in his career as a foremost personnel management guru in the country.

    Read also: Why is desperation replacing geniality in Atiku?

    “We are excited about Pastor Awosika’s investiture as a Fellow of CIPM because he has proved his worth in his chosen profession, provided selfless service to humanity and has over the years deployed his professional expertise in the management of humans and materials in the church”, the statement added.

  • I’m still in PDP, says Agbaje

    THE Lagos State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje, has said no one will force him to quit the party.

    He blamed mischief-makers for the insinuations that he had dumped the PDP, adding it was a move to soil his reputation, provoke crisis within the party and dampen the spirit of party members and his supporters.

    In a statement, his Director of Media and Publicity, Felix Oboagwina, quoted Agbaje as saying: “I have never discussed with anyone any plan to dump PDP, neither has such a prospect crossed my mind.

    “There is no reason for it. It is uncalled for.”

    He vowed to remain in the party, despite the campaign of calumny being waged against him in the media by a few leaders.

    The PDP flag-bearer said he only on Monday released a message encouraging members to rise above the questionable defeats suffered in the last election and maintain faith in the party, and that it would be contradictory for him to suddenly turn tail and flee the same party. According to him, recent vituperations in the media and social media against his person and his role in the last election were the machinations of political featherweights and did not warrant any response.

    He said: “Suffice to say that Chief Layi Ogunbambi’s claim of being denied funds as Director-General of Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Council in Lagos State amounted to attempting to build something on nothing. For starters, the position he lays claim gives him no locus standi as no such formal position existed in the entire campaign structure of PDP in Lagos or any of the other 35 states.”

    Reacting to Ogunbanmbi’s angst, Agbaje noted that the man, who paraded himself as the DG of the Atiku/Obi Presidential Campaign Council, had his wife, Mrs.  Oluwatoyin  Ogunbambi, contesting as gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State against PDP on another party platform! Serious conflict of Interest!

    “I, as the gubernatorial candidate of the party in Lagos, was Chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign in Lagos. Mr. Leke Osikoya was the State Campaign Director. The national body recognised and related with us accordingly. The title of Director General was reserved for the national campaign council. If there was an Atiku/Obi Presidential Campaign, it would have, at best, been a support group.”

  • APC chieftain, hoteliers hail Sanwo-Olu, others

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Ayobo Ipaja Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Otunba Ladi Olo, has congratulated Lagos State Governor-elect Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and all lawmakers-elect on APC platform on their success at the polls.

    He hailed the party’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his political sagacity and praised the leadership of APC in Alimosho, particularly Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and Alhaji Abdulahi Enilolobo for their efforts in ensuring victory for the party.

    He told The Nation yesterday that he had confidence in the representation of Kehinde Joseph, Bisi Yusuf and others from Alimosho in the National Assembly and House of Assembly.

    Olo said: “I believe in the representation of our elected members in Alimosho Constituency. All we need to do is continue to support them and pray for their success. I am sure Alimosho will experience more progress in the next dispensation because of the calibre and quality of lawmakers we are sending to the field.

    “I am very sure the same will be reflected at the state level. You can’t take it away from the governor-elect and his deputy. They are astute leaders, who have been proved and tested. They cannot fail, but they need our prayers and support.”

    Olo, a finance and property expert, urged Alimosho people and other Lagosians to pray for good health for Asiwaju Tinubu to enable him lead the Southwest to a greater height.

    “We need him to deliver more than the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. We need him to continue to lead us aright. So we must pray for his good health and prosperity,” he said.

    Members of the Lagos Hoteliers Association (LHA) yesterday congratulated Governor-elect Sanwo-Olu on his victory at the polls.

    The association also congratulated the newly elected members of House of Assembly.

    The President, Prince Waheed Akilo, said the election of Sanwo-Olu and the lawmakers on APC platform was a proof that Lagosians believed in the programmes of the party.

    He hailed APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other leaders of the party for the success recorded at the polls during the elections.

    Akilo implored the governor-elect to work with stakeholders in order to move Lagos to the next level.

    He advised Sanwo-Olu to see to the issue of multiple taxation , which has become an issue of litigation between the association and the government.

    “We promise to contribute our quotas and partner the incoming administration in ensuring that the state moves to the next level,” he said.