The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lagosians

  • ‘Lagosians should make input into budget’

    The Chief Whip of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Rotimi Abiru, has called on the people to make inputs into next year’s budget.

    The lawmaker, who spoke during a parley with stakeholders at the Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Secretariat, enjoined residents to support the government.

    He explained that the fundamental objectives of the meeting was to brief constituents on the activities of the House in the last one year, stressing that information from participants on the peculiar security problem will assist the government.

    Abiru said the requests made by residents at the parley were given considerable attention by the government, especially in the area of infrastructural development across the state in the 2016 budget.

    He said: “I wish to state that, it is in our determination to give meaning to good representation and good governance that we have come again with the second edition of the stakeholders’ meeting, which will enable us sit together to brief you on our activities in the last one year.

    “We submitted the collated complaints and requests of our constituencies to Governor Akinwumi Ambode for executive action. I’m pleased to inform you, that the report has been receiving the attention of the Governor and part of your requests and our recommendations are being implemented across the State.”

    “In line with the policy of the State government of inclusive governance, the process leading to 2017 budget commenced with the yearly budget consultative forum, which provided an avenue for citizens and residents of the State in the three.  Senatorial Districts to make inputs into the budget. MDAs are enjoined to incorporate these inputs into their budget proposals. In addition, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly held constituency stakeholders’ meeting across the 40 constituencies of our State and the reports are equally available as inputs into 2017 budgets.”

    The Chief Whip, who acknowledged complaints, requests and pieces of advice to government from participants, promised to channel them to the appropriate authority.

    Abiru said he appreciated all the encommium showered on him by the constituents, noting that it will encourage him to do more for the people at the Lagos House. He said the issues raised at the interactive meeting will form the basis of next year’s budget.

  • Expert to Lagosians: use pedestrian bridges

    The Director of Operation, DMS Security, Mr Emmanuel Onyekeh, has appealed to commuters in Lagos to always use the pedestrian bridges provided by the government to avoid being knocked down by vehicles.

    Speaking at the inauguration of “Operation use the bridge campaign” under the pedestrian bridge at Onipanu, at the weekend, Onyekeh said many lives have been lost in recent times, especially on the Ikorodu Road dual carriageway.

    According to him, besides the fact that climbing the bridges across the highway would save lives, “it is also a way of exercising the body”.

    He said the government was aware of the challenges being faced by in climbing the bridge from Eleyedeye and Onipanu, hoping that something will be done to address the problem.

    One of the residents in the area, Atere Abiola, expressed joy over introduction of the Operation use the bridge campaign, which he said would help reduce death on the highway.

    But a commuter, Chinedu Ugochuwkwu, described climbing the bridge as a waste of time.

    “I have to walk a distance from Eleyedeye to climb the bridge. The truth is that if there was no barricade, I would prefer running across the road,” he said.

    He also expressed concern about old people and the physically challenged that go through hell climbing the stairs as the bridge was not constructed to accommodate the aged and those with physical disabilities.

  • Fourth Mainland Bridge excites Lagosians

    Fourth Mainland Bridge excites Lagosians

    Arguably the most ambitious project by any government, the proposed N844.4 billion Fourth Mainland Bridge, which Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed last May, may well be the signature project for the Akinwunmi Ambode administration, writes ADEYINKA ADERIBIGBE

    WITH a population of about 25 million, an economy reputed to be Africa’s fifth largest and a Gross Domestic Product (GDP), averaging $133 billion (about N27 trillion), Lagos State can be called Africa’s megacity.

    But, unlike other megacities, Lagos cannot boast of modern infrastructure. Rather, it parades old infrastructure that are inadequate for its growing population.

    One area where the inadequacy is most evident is in the transportation sector, where traffic congestion has become the new definition of modern Lagos.

    This problem, according to experts, may get worse if the government does not address the infrastructure deficit, by not only expanding the  old roads across the state, but also building new ones.

    While successive administrations in the last 16 years have addressed the first leg by expanding the capacity of most high density roads and have been attempting to fix most of the inner ones, the Akinwunmi Ambode administration last May took a bold step by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a consortium of firms and finance houses for delivering the Fourth Mainland Bridge, a project which has almost become a mirage, having been in abeyance over the last 14 years.

    When the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration thought of the fourth bridge, the needed indices were non-existent. With the state’s population less than 10 million, and traffic recording low congestion compared to its present state, many would have thought the dream was another white elephant that would be dead on arrival.

    With each passing year, however, the need for the bridge becomes more urgent as the vehicle density in the state grows, forcing the Babatunde Fashola government to attempt its hands on it.

    Though the government stopped when faced with some structures (put at 3,000), that have abridged the bridge’s right of way since its conception, it, however, ensured that the preliminary legwork for a new engineering design for the bridge that would take a new alignment began.

    With the early take-off of the project in the Ambode administration, there is no doubt that the state is closer to achieving its dream. Not only would the government deliver the project, it is almost certain that it would come with less pain.

    About 2,200 houses are saved in the new alignment design, meaning a huge reduction not only in compensation, but also the cost of litigation or orders that might emanate from courts by aggrieved litigants over the laudable project.

     

    Dream bridge

     

    The architectural and engineering design of the ambitious 38-kilometre bridge is a wonder to behold. Coming almost 50 years after the state’s existence and 26 years after the delivery of the Third Mainland Bridge by the ex-military President Ibrahim Babangida, the Fourth Mainland Bridge is the most ambitious project to be embarked upon by the state government under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) platform.

    The project, which is the longest of all the bridges connecting Lagos Island to the mainland, is without financial backing by the Federal Government.

    On completion, it would complement the Eko, Carter and Third Mainland Bridges and serve to deflood traffic on the Eastern flanks of the state, providing a backbone to the industrial development rapidly shaping up in the Eti-Osa-Lekki-Epe areas.

    According to the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Ganiyu Johnson, the bridge will pass through Lekki, Langbasa, and Baiyeku towns, on the Lagoon estuaries to Itamaga, in Ikorodu. The bridge, which would have a ring road would be made up of eight interchanges to facilitate interconnectivity among parts of the state. A four lane dual carriage way bridge, with each comprising three lanes with two metres wide shoulder on each side, and a generous median on each side to accommodate future expansion and light rail facility, the road would link Itoikin road, connect Ikorodu-Sagamu road to Isawo inward LagosIbadan Expressway and land at Ojodu Berger axis.

    This uncommon bridge is also coming with very special feature, which Johnson describes as “the heart.” It will consist of a two level bridge which would connect people in large number and improve their natural flow through a reorganisation of vehicular, waterways and pedestrian modes of transportation.

    “This two level bridge will not only function as a means of transportation on its upper level, but would also stimulate and accommodate social, commercial and cultural interaction of pedestrians never before experienced in these parts on such terrains on its lower level to give a typical “Lagos Life” feel, with its tropical environment and intimate street level exchanges,” Johnson said.

    The Fourth Mainland Bridge with road networks, he further added, would form a primary ring road round Lagos to provide alternative traffic routes from Lekki to Ikorodu, Ikeja and Ajah, relieving the Third Mainland bridge of its heavy traffic.

    With the improved flow of people across Lagos, the city will be relieved of congestion, maximise its opportunities and grow better, Ambode had said.

    When completed, the bridge will drastically reduce traffic congestion on the Eko, Carter and Third Mainland Bridges and change the traffic patterns drastically along the new route.

    “The proposed bridge will traverse from Ajah in the Northwest to Lagos Ibadan Expressway via Ikorodu in the Southwest, a 37.9-kilometre long road that is designed with a speed limit of 140km/h.

    It will decongest traffic gridlock within the Lekki corridor and redistribute it towards mainland, improving travel experience and travel time for motorists.

     

    Nightmares gone

     

    Former Commissioner for Housing Mr Bosun Jeje may have spoken the minds of many motorists when he said the bridge would end the nightmare of many.

    Jeje, who hails from Lagos East Senatorial district, said many have been looking forward to the bridge. “We have been dreaming of this bridge for a very long time. Its coming at this time will not only relieve our nightmare, but it will advance development around the entire Lagos East Senatorial District,” he reportedly said.

    A transportation expert Dr Tajudeen Bawa’ Allah described the project as a gift by Governor Ambode to Epe and Ikorodu people, who have almost lost the hope of the realisation of the bridge in their lifetime.

    “For 14 years they have waited and Governor Ambode has assured us all that they only need to wait three more years to see the bridge of their dreams. What is more, the bridge is uncommon, not only because it is ground floor for commercial and other pedestrian purposes, but would have a distribution routes that would link to Ojodu Berger on the southern flanks of the state,” the erudite nonegerian scholar said.

    The people of the area happy with the project. “We won’t mind, if our homes are destroyed during the execution of the project,” the Baale of Baiyeku Chief Saheed Ajibode said.

    Rather than protest the project that would see a large portion of his settlement consumed  by the construction, the chief said: “We know that it is going to affect some houses, but we don’t mind. We want it.

    “We are very happy about the development because it will open up this place, make us more enlightened and bring new life to Baiyeku. Rather than pick up the government, we are appealing to the government to put in more efforts in ensuring that the bridge is completed on time.”

    Another resident, Pa Titus Nosiru, said: “We have been looking forward to this development for a very long time and we are happy and we are looking forward to when these people would come and begin work.”

    A leader of the Egun community, who gave his name as Timothy, said his people were happy because the fourth mainland bridge project has been long overdue.

    “We welcome the project whole heartedly. There is no where any project of this nature is being undertaken that it won’t affect some houses. We have no doubt that the people affected would be compensated and as you can see, there’s no mansion anywhere here,” another lad, Stephen, said as he rows a boat ashore.

  • Lagosians urge to keep environment clean

    A former Lagos State Governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande has urged Lagosians to ensure cleanliness of their environment daily.

    Jakande, spoke last Saturday during the monthly environmental exercise, organised by Greater Ilupeju Township Association (GITA) in conjunction with Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).

    Decked in a blue native attire, a silver cap and blue palm slippers, the elderstateman was seen sweeping the floor with other members of the association – all in uniformed T-shirt.

    Jakande, who recently marked his 87th birthday, said it is imperative to take care of the environment for the good of the society.

    According to him, no country can do well without a good environment.

    “This was why we started GITA and we carry out environmental sanitation every month in various parts of the state,” he said.

    He therefore appealed to all Lagosians to make the environmental day, a day of service.

    “We in GITA attach a great importance to this, because a clean environment ig good for the health of the people and that of the entire nation.”

    Jakande noted that Lagos State government has to do more in the area of the environment.

    “The state should give total support to LAWMA and make Lagos a better mega city. Lagosians should also take initiative to clean the environment. GITA has gone round today to keep the environment clean and I hope that will and be a sample for all citizens to participate,” he said.

    A clean environment, he said, is a good habitation and it is to the benefit of all.

  • Ambode to Muslims: Extend Holy living beyond Ramadan

    Ambode to Muslims: Extend Holy living beyond Ramadan

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday urged Muslim faithful and all Lagosians to carry on with the principles of the holy month of Ramadan which are love, peace, kindness, compassion and happy co-existence.

    Governor Ambode, who spoke in Lagos House, Ikeja at a special Eid el-Fitri celebration organized by the State Government to mark the end of fasting, said it is only when the principles of the season are sustained beyond Ramadan that the fasting period can be given true meaning.

    The Governor, who said that this year’s Ramadan was unique in the sense that the thirty-day fasting period was fully observed, thanked the Muslim faithful for their prayers and urged them to continue to pray for the State and the country in general.

    He said: “As your Governor, I seek for your support and cooperation as we move into the second year of this administration. We must all play our parts and keep relating with this government and we will not fail in making Lagos work for all of us.

    “While thanking everyone that has spared time to join us in this get-together, I enjoin Muslim faithful and indeed all Lagosians to sustain the lessons of Ramadan,” Governor Ambode said.

    Earlier, in her welcome address, Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, thanked God for giving Muslims the strength to complete the thirty-day fasting, but stressed the need for them to remember the essence of the holy month and the expected renewal of faith and spiritual cleansing of souls.

    She said: “It is important for us to continue with the principles of the Holy Month. Ramadan represents love, peace, kindness, compassion and happy co-existence. The Holy Prophet held these principles in high esteem and lived His whole life around them.

    “Therefore, as brothers, sisters, neighbors, co-workers, we must love one another, show kindness to one another and live together in peace. It is when we do these beyond the fasting period that we give true meaning to the Ramadan,” Mrs. Ambode said.

    The event, which attracted hundreds of Muslims who flocked the Lagos House to celebrate the season with the Governor and his family, was also attended by dignitaries from all walks of life including members of the State Executive Council.

    Highlight of the celebration was the Quran recitation, Islamic quiz and dancing competition, with winners going home with prizes courtesy of the Wife of the Governor.

     

  • ‘Lagosians to witness more developmental projects’

    The Conference of Executive Secretaries in Lagos State yesterday said there will be tremendous developmental projects under the Akinwunmi Ambode administration.

    Speaking with The Nation yesterday, the conference chairman, Mr Kolade Alabi, said Ambode’s achievements in just a year in office have shown that he is a performer.

    Ambode, he said, spent a better part of his career as a civil servant, noting that the governor on assumption of office, quickly restructured the civil service by merging and realigning some ministries, departments and agencies, to ensure efficiency.

    The initiative, he said, has saved the state billions of naira.

    Alabi hailed Ambode’s signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to kick-start the construction of the 38km Fourth Mainland Bridge, bringing a 14-year old dream to reality.

    He said the plan to transform Oshodi into a world class transport interchange in the next 13 to 16 months would go a long way to meet the Mega City status of the state.

    The $70 million project would also remove all notorious activities associated with the area, he said.

    According to him, the simultaneous construction of 114 expected to be completed next month in the 57 councils, is unprecedented in the history of any state in the country.

    Alabi said the commissioning of the 2.481km Ajasa-Command Road in Alimosho Local Government and Okota and Ago Palace Way roads, were part of Ambode’s pledge to make life more meaningful for the people.

    “On our part at the council level, we have complemented the governor’s gesture with various outstanding projects like building of schools, construction of inner roads, building and face-lifting of primary health care centres, provision of educational materials to schools, among others,” he said.

    The construction of roads, he said, was a clear demonstration of what Ambode’s administration stands for, urging people to protect public infrastructure in their communities.

    “These roads are been built with the resources from our common wealth; the tax payers money; it must therefore be protected jealously, to serve the communities and improve our quality of life and standard of living,” he said.

  • Lagosians turn out for International Jazz Day

    Lagosians turn out for International Jazz Day

    Turn by turn, the musicians took to the two stages, filling the night with the sounds of horns, guitars, keyboards, drums and their voices. That was how both the Steve Rhodes and Fela Kuti stages at Freedom Park boomed and lit up Saturday night with over 20 artists and hundreds of fans for the second day of the Lagos International Jazz Festival which held from April 29 to May 1. To the artistes and fans, it was groovy way to spend International Jazz Day which is celebrated globally on April 30 every year. April is Jazz Appreciation Month.

    The celebration also took place at the Intercontinental Hotel and Eko Hotel and Suites, with a fusion of jazz and fashion in a show called ‘Runway Jazz’, while Lagos State governor Akinwumi Ambode hosted businessmen, politicians, celebrities and other VIPs to an evening of music.

    At the Lagos House, the Jazz session, tagged ‘Evening of Jazz’ had musicians such as Kunle Ajayi, Darey Art Alade, two-time Grammy Award winner Lekan Babalola, Yinka Davies and Jermaine Jackson, a member of the Jackson 5 entertaining an elite guest list which included Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, former governor of Ogun state Aremo Olusegun Osoba and his wife, Derin as well as other dignitaries.

    The concert, among others, ensured it was indeed a night to appreciate jazz.

    For the Runway Jazz which held on Friday April 29 and Saturday April 30 at both the Intercontinental Hotel and Eko Hotel and Suites, American Grammy award-winner Kirk Whalum, Omawumi, Yinka Davies, Tosin Alao, Sweet Sound, Chee and other musicians joined fashion designers in a fusion of jazz and fashion. Big wigs such as Femi Otedola, Aliko Dangote and Donald Duke were in attendance.

    At Freedom Park for the Lagos International Jazz Festival, a brainchild of Inspiro Productions, musicians such as Tayo Conga, Tarri Guitarri, Survival Band, Tee Mac, Desmon D African Man, Peter and the Jazz Factory graced the two stages. Orliam, Femi Slide, Dotun Bankole, Jaya, Jasperrazzi Adebowale and Wole Sentimenta were also among other artistes that performed. While some artistes like Tarri who has a banging debut album and the Survival Band performed original songs, others did both covers of, especially legends such as Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Tunji Oyelana. Spoken Word artistes like Kemistree and Samurai also spiced up the night with their rhymes.

    In line with Ambode’s campaign to boost entertainment and consequently revenue, the three events which featured many artistes had the support of the Lagos State government.

    The Lagos state Commissioner for Information and Strategic Duties, Steve Ayorinde, said this is in line with governor Ambode’s campaign of emporwerment throught the arts and entertainment.

    “Governor Akinwunmi Ambode,” he said, “in fulfillment of his campaign promise to use tourism, hospitality, entertainment, and sports for excellence to market Lagos as a destination and create jobs, has decided to commemorate the IJD 2016.”

  • Transporter: We’ll provide world-class services for Lagosians

    Transporter: We’ll provide world-class services for Lagosians

    Worried by the unsavoury transportation situation in Lagos State despite government’s efforts to ameliorate the suffering of commuters, a privately-owned company, Primero Transport Services Limited, has decided to join forces with the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) in alleviating the transportation problems of commuters.

    Briefing reporters on the activities of the company at its corporate office at the BRT Depot, Majidun Awori Ikorodu Road, Lagos the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Mr Fola Tinubu said Primero Transport Services Limited was established two years ago to operate the BRT buses from Ikorodu to CMS.

    He stated that after a thorough study of the business plan, the company was able to raise funds to procure 434 buses from China to help move commuters from one point to the other.

    Satisfied with the level of achievement within a short time of its operation, he said: “We are not where we want to be yet. But we are satisfied that in a short time of operation, we have contributed immensely to the movement of people from Ikorodu to CMS and towns contiguous to them.”

    Being modest, he attributed whatever success the company has recorded to the vision of the Lagos State government and the efficient management acumen of LAMATA.

    Mr Tinubu said: “There’s no  secret in the achievement we’ve recorded so far. The credit should go to the Lagos State Government and LAMATA, because they came up with the BRT scheme.

    “We saw a good business opportunity and we decided to explore it. Basically, we believe we can change the paradigm in transportation in Nigeria. The way to change the paradigm is to provide clean, fast, comfortable and efficient services at a reasonable cost for the people. So far, it’s working.

    “If there is clean, fast, efficient and comfortable public transportation system, most road users would use it, thereby leaving their cars at home. When this happens, the road will not be too chaotic as we have them today.

    “We want to ensure that we provide efficient services so that most people would leave their cars at home and use public transportation system instead of everybody driving each day; a situation that engenders traffic congestion on the roads,” Tinubu said.

    Explaining how Primero Transport Services Limited began, he said: “It’s an opportunity that has been there untapped. After our analyses that the venture would be worthwhile, we embraced it. We first did our business plans and approached some investors who decided to back us. We also had loans from banks and credit facilities from the manufacturers of the buses. The business is worth N10 billion.”

    Satisfied that the government, through LAMATA, has put in place world-class infrastructural facilities, especially on the Ikorodu-Ketu-Mile 12 Road for smooth operation of the BRT; Mr Tinubu said: “Before now, the Mile 12- Ikorodu Road was in terrible condition and movement literally takes forever. Now, the road is world-class. The infrastructure that Lagos State government has put in place is what made our business easier and worthwhile.”

    Dismissing fears that the company’s buses or services would peter out, he said the project is very sustainable.

    “If the project is not sustainable, the banks wouldn’t have granted us loan facility to operate the business. Again, investors are keen to get returns for their money. It is my job to ensure that the project does not fail.

    “The Imo State Commissioner for Transportation came on tour of our facilities. She was impressed by our performance and promised that the governor would come for discussions,” he said.

    Mr Tinubu said the company is thinking of establishing a plant that will assemble the vehicles in Nigeria, saying “Primero is discussing with the manufacturers to set up an assembly plant in Lagos to assemble the vehicles here and build the buses from the scratch.”

    Debunking insinuations that products from China are substandard and therefore not durable, Mr Tinubu argued that it is all about the kind of agreement reached in terms of specifications.

    Assuring the public of the company’s avowal to render world-class services, he said: “Before the buses were manufactured, Primero insisted on the specifications given to the manufacturers concerning quality.

    “The buses are quite durable. We didn’t pick them off the shelf but manufactured according to our own specifications.”

    He revealed that Primero was given the sole right to operate on the BRT lane.

    “Nobody but Primero has the right to use the BRT lanes. We are talking with the regulatory authority because we were specifically given the right to use the BRT lanes. From Ikorodu to Mile 12, nobody uses the lanes but us. It’s from Ketu to CMS that we want LAMATA to  enforce the necessary laws to enable us to use the lanes exclusively,” he said.

    Justifying the fares paid by the public, Mr Tinubu said they are fair enough that an average passenger could afford.

    He, however, said: “If Nigerians want to enjoy services that are world-class, we have to be ready to pay for them because there is no free lunch anywhere in the world. But it is wrong for people to pay for services that are not rendered or poorly rendered.”

    He sounded hopeful that in the next five years, there would be up to 3,000 buses on the fleet of Primero Transport Services Limited.

    Reeling off some of the challenges the company experiences, Mr Tinubu regretted the incessant fluctuation of the Naira and the high Forex rate. He also lamented the high import duty paid, adding that to go forward, there is need to set up an assembly plant in Lagos which will reduce the huge amount of money paid as duty.

    He also said getting good and competent drivers is another challenge.

    On training, Mr Tinubu revealed that the company had reached an agreement on staff training, even as he said six Chinese are in the state training some of the technicians.

    “But as a long-term measure, the firm has the vision to establish a standard private driving school where anybody can learn how to drive articulated vehicles such as buses and trailers. This is necessary because, if we plan to have up to 3,000 vehicles in future, we need to have a school where we will train our drivers.

    How environmentally friendly are these vehicles? Mr Tinubu disclosed that Primero was aware of the danger of climate change and environmental degradation. It was based on this realisation, he said, and to guard against environmental pollution that Primero insisted that the manufacturers should make the vehicles environmentally-friendly. We are happy they complied with our directive.

    On its contribution in solving unemployment problem, Mr Tinubu hinted that Primero Transport Services has contributed immensely towards proving employment opportunities for Lagosian.

    “There are 900 drivers on our employ. We have also employed mechanics, technicians and cleaners. In all, over 2,000 jobs have been created since the inception of the company six months ago,” he said.

  • Lagosians are timid, says suspected robber

    Lagosians are timid, says suspected robber

    A suspected armed robber arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Thursday described Lagos residents as timid and fearful.

    19-year-old Olaoluwa Saheed who is currently being detained at the Special Anti-Robbery Sqaud (SARS) headquarters in Ikeja, stated that he has been having a field day in traffic robbery because Lagos residents tremble at the sight of anything that looks like a gun.

    Saheed was arrested with a locally made short gun at about 10pm on Tuesday by a decoy of RRS personnel who have been on his trail for about two weeks.

    It was gathered that some policemen were deployed undercover to man the Surulere- Costain-Alaka axis following incessant attacks on motorists by in-traffic armed robbers.

    Saheed, whose gang was said to have terrorised the area with motorcycle, was caught while trying to dispossess a woman of her handbag and mobile phone.

    As he was about to rob the victim, the undercover policemen were said to have swooped on him, prompting him to run into a moving commercial bus.

    The police, it was learnt chased the bus and eventually caught it, at which point he was arrested, searched and the gun found on him.

    Narrating how they operate, Saheed said that they usually drive their motorcycle when there is traffic, monitoring motorists whose bags and valuables can be seen.

    “We drive through when there is traffic and monitor our targets. We look out for bags, phones and jewelries and once we see anyone we think we will get something reasonable, we will go and turn and come back there.

    “Then, my second will double cross the person or vehicle, while I jump down from the motorcycle and point a gun on the victim.

    “We have been very successful before because Lagosians are timid. They flee at the sight of anything even if it is toy gun. We have not been having issues and we have been making money.

    “But on Tuesday, while I was about to rob the woman who was driving a Toyota Camry, three people came and caught me. I was surprised because ordinarily everybody will escape and abandon the victim but those who caught me pursued me even when I entered a bus and they eventually stopped the bus and caught me.

    “It was later I knew that they were policemen,” he said.

    The suspect who claimed he used to be a bus conductor,  said that he abandoned the motorboy job because it was not paying well.

     

  • Budget our pact with Lagosians, says Ambode

    Budget our pact with Lagosians, says Ambode

    •Governor signs N662.588b Appropriation Bill into law
    •’No plan to introduce new taxes’

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has said the 2016 budget is his administration’s pact with Lagosians as it is in line with delivering on his promises.

    The governor spoke yesterday when he signed the N662.588 billion Appropriation Bill into law.

    Ambode promised that the budget would be judiciously implemented – in line with his administration’s determination to make Lagos work for all.

    The Appropriation Bill, presented to the House of Assembly on December 17, was unanimously passed into law by the House on December 31.

    Speaking at the ceremony at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Ikeja, the governor said: “This budget  will enable our government focus on the present challenges of security, traffic gridlock resolution, physical and social infrastructural development, which have thrown up new challenges quite different from our past experience.”

    He thanked the House for the speedy passage of the bill, considering the long hours spent and meticulous scrutiny provided by the Committee on Appropriation.

    Ambode said the budget would be driven by Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    He, however, appealed to tax payers to promptly pay their taxes.

    The governor assured that his administration would deliver value for every kobo spent.

    “In conclusion, I will commend this budget to all Lagosians and enjoin them to continue collaborating with us in building the Lagos of our dreams,” the governor said.

    Giving a breakdown of “The Peoples Budget”, Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget Akinyemi Ashade said it would go a long way to promote massive investments in security, transport/traffic management, physical and social infrastructural development, in addition to enhancing job creation/opportunities.

    He said the budget ,with an estimated total revenue of N542.873billion and the balance of N119.714 billion, is expected to be funded through a combination of internal and external loans, including the World Bank DPO 3 loan, which could not be accessed last year.

    The State Internal Revenue Service is expected to generate N300billion or 78 per cent of the total IGR.

    The commissioner added that while the government does not intend to introduce new taxes, efforts will be made to bring more citizens into the tax regime.

    Giving a breakdown of the expenditure plan, Ashade said N89billion will be spent on construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of roads and public buildings; and N48.9billion will be expended on various transportation initiatives, including the completion of the Blue Rail Line and expansion of BRT Corridors (Mile 12-Ojota).

    The commissioner added that N86billion will be spent on education, which, according to him, will cover the government’s flagship programmes, including A-Meal-a-Day initiative to be partly sponsored by the Federal Government, Ibile tablets for secondary schools as well as the development of the e-curriculum initiative.