The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mr Tunji Bello

  •  Activities of local, foreign investors crucial for economic growth- Ambode

     Activities of local, foreign investors crucial for economic growth- Ambode

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday said that the activities of both local and foreign investors in the State are key indicators that would trigger economic growth and enhance the emerging opportunities in the socio-economic landscape of the state.

    The Governor who spoke at the City Hall, Lagos, venue of the 2016 Stakeholders Forum organised by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Central Business District (CBD) also commended the enthusiasm of investors and entrepreneurs alike to put their money in worthwhile investments in the State.

    He added that the present administration is also providing more opportunities to investors and entrepreneurs in the emerging economic profile of the Lagos Mega City in the various sectors of real estate development, marine transportation, commercial and business activities.

    “Our administration is focused on providing more opportunities to investors and entrepreneurs in the emerging economic profile of Lagos Mega City in the various sectors of real estate development, marine transportation, commercial and business activities to create job opportunities and generate wealth for investors in a conducive and secure environment,” he said.

    Governor Ambode, who was represented at the Forum by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Tunji Bello, said the focus of his administration since inception has been to put in place necessary structures that would sustain a 24/7 economy in the “New Lagos”, adding that despite the global economic challenges, “we have ensured that the business districts functioned effectively to move the wheel of economic growth in the Lagos Mega City”.

    He assured that in the months to come, the district will witness tremendous transformation with the completion of the Blue Line rail system and the ongoing reconstruction of the Marina axis.

    The Governor said the gathering was about ways to identify the gaps in the operation of the district and what can be done individually and collectively to uplift the status of the CBD to global standards.

    “It is also about maximizing the investment opportunities in this axis through government policies, incentives and direct intervention in terms of infrastructure provision and upgrade towards actualizing the vision of the present administration of making “Lagos safer, cleaner and more prosperous”, he said.

    He urged the stakeholders to share experiences, ideas and evolve new strategies that will enhance the effectiveness of the Central Business District administration and management for the benefit of all.

    Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on CBD, Mr Agboola Dabiri, reiterated the readiness of the Government to return the lost glory of Lagos Island by bringing back corporate organizations and private companies to the District just as it was in the eighties.

    He added that the State Government has committed enormous resources in rebranding, painting, beautification and general upliftment of the axis to ensure it is conducive for businesses to thrive.

    The event which also featured panel discussions was graced by many important personalities including members of the State Executive Council, members of the State House of Assembly, Body of Permanent Secretaries and members of the Organised Private Sector.

  • Security: Ambode receives #10m donation from Lebanese community

    Security: Ambode receives #10m donation from Lebanese community

    Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday received a donation of N10 million from the Lebanese Nigerian Initiative (LNI) for the State Security Trust Fund, charging the body to continue to do more for the State.

    The Governor, who spoke at the Lagos House, Ikeja when he received the Chairman and the directors of the LNI through the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello thanked the group for the initiative, adding that a lot could still be done for the State in that regard.

    “Particularly in the field of security, there is still a lot you can still do for us. Without the efforts of people like you and others in the past, Lagos would not have been where it is today in terms of maintenance of peace and security”, he said.

    The Governor added that with the business pedigree of each of the members of the LNI, the present administration is deeply appreciative of their contribution which, according to him, is a good initiative.

    He said the issue of security cannot be left alone for government to handle and that this was one of the reasons that informed the clarion call to members of the organized private sector to join the State Government in ensuring that the people can sleep with their two eyes closed.

    Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Lebanese Nigerian Initiative (LNI), Mr. Faysal El-Khalil said the members of the Lebanese community have been in Nigeria for over a century doing legitimate business.

    He said the members are, through the latest gesture, demonstrating a reassurance of their commitment to the determination of the present administration to keep criminals at bay permanently.

    Mr El-Khalil said the donation was about how the members of the Lebanese community can give back to the Nigerian and Lagos community which they have been operating for long.

    He said in addition to the security initiative, the LNI has also embarked upon a project towards investing in education by creating an endowment fund in the American University in Beirut where specified number of Nigerians would be beneficiaries.

    Meanwhile, the State Government, through the LSSTF, on Thursday donated 100 hundred level four bullet proof vests and ballistic helmets to the State Command of Nigerian Police.

    Speaking during the donation which was received by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, Executive Secretary of LSSTF, Dr. Abdulrazak Balogun said the massive support to security agencies in the State was part of the strategy of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration at ensuring a safe, secure and prosperous State.

    While stating that businesses and investments can only thrive in a secured and conducive atmosphere, Balogun said there was a need for the Organized Private Sector (OPS) to continue to support government, especially by complementing the sincere and genuine efforts of the present administration in the State at securing lives and property.

    He said: “We just continue to appeal to the private sector to continue to support us. They have been doing so well. As you know, the Trust Fund is based on donor funding and so all we have been able to achieve is from the private sector and we just appeal to them that nothing is too small.

    “As Lagos continues to grow and improve, security challenges continue to increase and we need to forestall this problem in future and we can only do that with the continuous support of the private sector.”

  • Ambode approves dissolution of caretaker committees of LGs/LCDAs

    Ambode approves dissolution of caretaker committees of LGs/LCDAs

    Following the resolution of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday relieving the Executive Secretaries of the 57 Local Governments Councils and Local Council Development Areas in the State of their responsibilities, the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has approved the immediate dissolution of the Caretaker Committees.

    In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Tunji Bello, the Governor also directed the Executive Secretaries to hand over the reins of administration to the Head of Administration in each of the Council Areas.

    Thursday’s dissolution of the Caretaker committees is preparatory to the holding of elections into the 57 Council Areas by the State Government and ensuring that the necessary machineries are put in place preparatory to the elections.

    The State House of Assembly had also on April 22 this year passed into law a bill recommending a four year tenure for elected Local Government helmsmen instead of the three years tenure that hitherto obtained.

    It would be recalled that the Caretaker Committees which was headed by Executive Secretaries were inaugurated by former Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola on January 5, 2015.

  • Mile 12 Clash: Lagos meets market, community leaders

    Mile 12 Clash: Lagos meets market, community leaders

    The Lagos State Government Friday met with all the stakeholders from Mile 12 market, Agiliti community, Maidan and its environs aimed at finding a lasting solution to the violence that led to the closure of the Mile 12 market with a promise that a harmonious and effective solution would be put in place in the next few days.

    Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, who presided over the meeting held at the State Secretariat, Alausa, said that all the leaders agreed on the need to cohabit in peace irrespective of their religion, culture or tribes.

    Bello urged the leaders to go back and assure their people to maintain the peace, stating that the State Government would consider the inputs of all those present in arriving at a decision.

    Addressing the leaders which included those of the various sections of the Mile 12 market, traditional rulers from Agiliti, Maidan, leaders of the transport unions, commercial motorcyclists, community development associations and leaders from the communities, Bello said leaders also agreed to go back to their communities and assure their people of government’s desire to ensure that lasting peace reigns in that community.

    The SSG who said the issue of disagreement is not new in the area said what is uppermost is that everybody should see the next person as his brother, hence everyone at the meeting must leave with an open mind of cohabiting peacefully with their neighbours and avoid bloodletting.

    He reiterated the directive of the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode that the market remains closed and all trading activities be suspended to aid security agencies restore calm to the affected areas.

    He gave an assurance to the market leaders from Mile 12 that the State Government is studying the situation and would address all the issues that have arisen decisively with a view to ensuring that it does not recur again.

    Speaking at the meeting, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr I.O Edgal who stood in for the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni said the Police High Command has secured the Agiliti area and its environs and peace has now returned to the community.

    He said the clash and resultant loss of lives was very unfortunate and that going by the level of destruction on ground, it was not commensurate with what was reported to have precipitated the clash.

    Other participants at the meeting including the Iyaloja of Mile 12 market, Alhaja Iyabo Ahmed, Baale of Maidan, Chief Baale Ogunjobi, Baale of Agiliti, Chief Jimoh Onikosi, Serikin Nupe, Alhaji Jibril Magaji, Chairman, Shukura yam, Alhaji Mohammed Damdana, Chairman of CDA Central, Elder M.A Showande, were all resolute in appealing to the State Government to ensure that the issue is resolved on time so that they can go ahead with their various businesses.

    Other Government functionaries in attendance include the Special Advisers to the Governor on Civic Engagement, Hon Kehinde Joseph, Community Development and Communication, Hon Kehinde Bamigbetan and Permanent Secretaries from Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr Fola Adeyemi and Cabinet Office, Mr Olushola Odupitan.

  • Ambode moves to stop street trading, begging

    Ambode moves to stop street trading, begging

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Wednesday directed the Task Force on Environmental Sanitation and Other Special Offences to ensure enforcement of the law prohibiting street trading and begging in the state.

    A statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello, expressed government’s concern over the return of street trading in major areas of the state.

    It said not only does this constitute environmental nuisance, the development also poses a security threat to residents.

    The statement said that there was an existing law in the state prohibiting street trading.

    It urged those interested in doing business to seek for space in the various modern markets redeveloped by the state government to enhance their business activities.

    “At the State Security Council meeting on July 7, it was resolved that street trading has continued to hamper free flow of traffic on roads.

    “It also constitutes nuisance and security threat to the citizens and will no longer be tolerated.

    “Therefore, street traders and buyers will henceforth be arrested and prosecuted.

    “The Task Force on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences has been mandated to ensure that the law of the state against street trading is enforced to the letter,” the statement said.

    It said that all security agencies had resolved to beef up security in the state to ensure that it remained safe for residents and investors.

    The statement also urged residents not to encourage the trend by patronising street traders, saying doing so indirectly aids and abets crime.

    It also decried the prevalence of street begging, saying that some unscrupulous persons hide under the guise of seeking alms to rob unsuspecting members of the public.

    “To this end, efforts will be made to rid the state of street beggars and the destitute.

    “We’ve had security reports on the activities of persons who pose as beggars, especially in traffic, but their sole aim is to perpetrate evil.

    “We are putting a search light on this trend and one way to do that is to ensure that we take pre-emptive measures to forestall this development,” the statement said

     

  • Lagos urges residents to plant trees

    The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Tunji Bello, has advised residents to embrace the principle of tree planting; saying that it is essential for people’s well-being.

    Speaking through the director of Laboratory Services Mrs Adetola Onisarotu during the state’s sixth annual tree planting exercise organized by the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) held at the Nigerian Breweries, Mr Bello noted that tree planting is a panacea for issues of climate change like global warming and other ecological challenges.

    He said that “Green is Peace,” which is the theme for this year’s exercise, even as he added that the exercise has continued to expand with over four million trees planted within six years.

    He reeled of the benefits of afforestation; which are beautification of the environment, shield for rare and endangered animals, wind barriers, deflectors of sun rays as well as other adverse weather.

    He said: “Trees serve as breeding ground for some animals and equally help to check erosion as well as supply food and materials for building houses. The more trees we plant, the more we reclaim our forests.”

    In order to continue the tree-planting initiative, the state government has established the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK); which an institutional structure to integrate the initiative into the system and to improve the aesthetics of the environment.

    Nursery, primary and secondary school pupils were not left out of the environmental re-engineering as tree planting and nurturing techniques have also been included in the school curriculum by LASPARK, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

    The general manager of LASEPA Mr. Adebola Rasheed Shabi, an engineer who represented Governor Fashola at the event, noted that the existence of a green environment is germane for the well-being of individuals and the society.

    He, however, advised individuals to inculcate the habit of planting trees, even as he added that “one can even name a tree after one’s child.

    He said “I planted a tree in my house and named it Babatunde Fashola.”

    Mr. Chukwuemeka Ezobu, a lecturer and consultant in the Department of Chemistry, University of Lagos shed light on the significance of trees to the ecosystem. He explained that trees act as agent for extracting pollution from the atmosphere. He therefore identified tree planting as a natural means of removing carbon-dioxide from the environment.

    He said: “I need to mention the key element of protecting human population because people’s well-being depends on the availability of sustainable resources and the ecosystem. In the past, trees have been used to preserve memorable dates, form an archive of the past and used to project cultural appreciation. Trees also serve as purifying agents as they ensure clean air and soil by removing dust from the atmosphere. They serve as natural biodiversity, form shade and increase property value. They produce oxygen for us to breathe in.

    “So, I enjoin all participants here today to engage in this global fight. Join this cause so that we would have peace in the environment.”

    Mr Samson Aigbedo who represented the managing director of the Nigerian Breweries Aigbedo commended the efforts of the government on providing a sustainable environment for operation.