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Tag: Presidential Lodge

  • 20 years after, Fed Govt cedes Presidential Lodge to Lagos

    20 years after, Fed Govt cedes Presidential Lodge to Lagos

    •Ambode says asset will boost economy

    THE final papers on the transfer of the Presidential Lodge on Marina to the Lagos State government were signed in Abuja yesterday.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Works, Power & Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola signed the documents on behalf of the federal and Lagos governments at the at the Works, Power & Housing ministry’s Conference Room in Abuja.

    Yesterday’s final handing over came 20 years after the Lagos State government showed interest in taking over the management of the edifice that once served as Presidential Lodge.

    Speaking after the signing, Ambode said the asset transfer will not only boost the state’s economy, but, shore up the tourism potential of the Centre of Excellence.

    He described the development as a testament of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s commitment to bring a positive change to the national’s industrial hub.

    Besides commending the President, Ambode laos lauded the roles played by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Fashola (his successor), officials of the ministry,  and the permanent secretary in the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, as well as other stakeholders, who ensured the final transfer of the asset to Lagos.

    The governor said: “We are strongly delighted to be here on this historic day; on a day that actually finalises the intention of Mr. President to bring positive change to Lagos.

    “We want to sincerely appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari who has graciously approved that the Presidential Lodge be released to Lagos State and for the use of Lagos State which, just has said by the Minister, we have been trying to get for the last 20 years.

    “We are pleased that on a day like this, it is my predecessor and present Minister of Works who is now doing the final handing over of which he had also been part of that process to get this asset back to Lagos but in God’s own doing, the Minister is in the position today to do the final documentation and we are very grateful for that.”

    Alluding to the fact that the development was a sign of greater collaboration between the federal and Lagos State governments, the governor described the transfer as the beginning of a process for the state to take over the management of more federal assets.

    Ambode reassured that his administration will put the edifice to good use and transform it into a national monument to boost tourism and grow the economy of Lagos and Nigeria.

    He said: “This is a sign of greater things and greater collaboration between the Federal Government and Lagos State. We believe strongly that this singular gesture is part of what will improve the economy of Lagos because our intention is to turn that particular asset into a national monument where we can christen it a National Heritage Centre for Leadership and we will use it also as a tourist centre to bring Nigerians and foreigners to come to Nigeria and as well use that as a means of improving on the economy of Lagos State and Nigeria.

    “On a final note, I want to show my sincere appreciation to the Minister and hope that this particular event will bring more good stories as we continue to see how much we can strive to get some of these assets back to Lagos State.”

    Fashola congratulated his successor and Lagosians for the N1.04 trillion budget estimates, presented by the governor to the State House of Assembly on Monday.

    He expressed the hope that the proposal will improve quality service delivery to the people of the state.

    According to the minister, the signing of the document formally vests ownership of the Presidential Lodge in the State sovernment, describing it as a fulfillment of the promise made by President Buhari.

    He said: “It is gratifying that the long journey spanning, about two decades, had finally come to an end. This is a long journey that has come to an end; a journey that has taken almost two decades when the Lagos State Government asked that the property be vested in Lagos but for reasons that remained difficult to understand it did not happen but the President of change who is a promise keeper has made it happen.”

    At the historic transfer were: Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Tunji Bello; Information & Strategy Commissioner Steve Ayorinde and his Waterfront Infrastructure Development counterpart Adebowale Akinsanya.

     

  • Our plans for Presidential Lodge, by Lagos government

    Our plans for Presidential Lodge, by Lagos government

    THE Lagos State Government yesterday spoke its plans for the Presidential Lodge on Marina, Lagos Island; the ownership was finally transferred to it yesterday by the Federal Government.

    It said the historical monument would be transformed to a world-class tourist attraction and well preserved without compromising its structural integrity.

    “The government will ensure its transformation without compromising its structural integrity and preserving its architectural finesse and beauty”, Secretary to the Lagos State Government (SSS) Tunji Bello, who received the keys to the building, said.

    The Federal Government has finally handed over the Presidential Lodge on Marina, Lagos Island, to the Lagos State Government.

    A federal delegation, led by the Permanent Secretary, State House, Abuja, Mr. Jalal Arabi, gave the keys to the historical edifice, built to commemorate the nation’s Independence in 1960.

    The building was handed over to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who was represented by the SSG.

    Signing the Memorandum of Understanding, Arabi said the transfer of the property was done in the spirit of togetherness and the interest of the country.

    He said: “History is being rewritten with this handing over. Although the State House Marina is being seeded to Lagos state government but we are not losing the fact that it has gone to the right hand.

    “Most of us have been involved in keeping this place we never wanted any distraction. There is difference between old age and statesmanship. I believe we are now in an era where we have a principal, who believes that your words should be your bonds.

    “Every parent feels the pains when giving out their daughter in marriage. They would have felt that they made an investment on the daughter and held on to her, but the pleasant thing is that they will be more elated when they realise the husband is worthwhile, this is a clear analogy of how we felt when realised that the state House will be, ceded to Lagos.”

    Bello described the development as an affirmation of the healthy intergovernmental relationship between the federal and the state government.

    The SSG said: “The successful handover of this structure which represent one of the landmarks of the city of Lagos is an eloquent testimony to the new dawn of politics of tolerance and inclusiveness which the All Progressive Congress (APC) has brought to Nigerian landscape.

    “We will ensure that the edifice becomes a tourist destination which residents of Lagos in particular and Nigerians in general would not only be proud of but which compares to similar ones in distant destination.”

    Also part of the Lagos State team at the handover were: Commissioners for Special Duties & Intergovernmental Relations, Seye Oladejo; Housing (Prince Gbolahan Lawal); Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (Mrs. Lola Akande); Special Adviser on Tourism & Culture (Adebimpe Akinsola); Special Adviser on Urban Development, Mrs. Yewande Onabule and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Olujimi Hotonu.

     

  • FG hands over presidential lodge to Lagos

    FG hands over presidential lodge to Lagos

    The Federal Government on Thursday formally handed over the Presidential Lodge, Marina, to Lagos State Government.

    The Permanent Secretary, State House, Abuja, Mr. Jalal Arabi, led a federal government delegation to hand over the edifice built to commemorate the nation’s Independence in 1960.

    Arabi, while signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), said the transfer of the property was done in the spirit of togetherness and interest of Nigeria.

    He said: “History is being rewritten with this handing over. Although the state House Marina is being seeded to Lagos State government but we are not losing the fact that it has gone to the right hand.

    “Most of us have been involved in keeping this place and we never wanted any distraction. There is difference between old age and statesmanship. I believe we are now in an era where we have a principal, who believes that your words should be your bonds.

    “Every parent feels the pains when giving out their daughter in marriage. They would have felt that they made an investment on the daughter and held on to her, but the pleasant thing is that they will be more elated when they realize the husband is worthwhile. This is a clear analogy of how we felt when realised that the state House will be ceded to Lagos.”

    Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, who received the document, said the development signposts an affirmation of the healthy inter-governmental relations between the federal and the state government.

    He assured that the property would be well preserved, adding that the government will ensure its transformation without compromising its structural integrity and preserving its architectural finesse and beauty.

    “The successful handover of this structure which represent one of the landmarks of the city of Lagos is an eloquent testimony to the new dawn of politics of tolerance and inclusiveness which the All Progressive Congress (APC) has brought to Nigerian landscape.

    “We will ensure that the edifice becomes a tourist destination which residents of Lagos in particular and Nigerians in general would not only be proud of but which compares to similar ones in distant destination,” he said.

    Other members of the Lagos State team that attended the event included the Commissioners for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Seye Oladejo; Housing, Prince Gbolahan Lawal; Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon Lola Akande; Special Adviser on Tourism and Culture, Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola; Special Adviser on Urban Development, Mrs. Yewande Onabule and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Engr. Olujimi Hotonu.

     

     

  • I am not frustrating Lagos state govt, says Fashola

    I am not frustrating Lagos state govt, says Fashola

    The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing says allegation that it is frustrating the developmental initiatives of Lagos State Government is untrue.

    Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode had recently accused the ministry of frustrating his administration’s efforts to carry out a total reconstruction of the International Airport Road from Oshodi.

    Ambode also reportedly accused the ministry and security agents of denying the state government access to the Presidential Lodge in Lagos, six months after President Muhammadu Buhari gave approval.

    A statement on Friday in Abuja by Mr Hakeem Bello, Special Adviser, Communications to the ministry, said the minister, Mr Babatunde Fashola, had in 2016 approved the use of the Ministry of Works yard at Oworonsoki for Lagos State Government to create a lay-by to ease traffic.

    It further said that Fashola had also approved Lagos government’s request to manage the street lighting on the 3rd Mainland Bridge to support the security initiatives of the state.

    It said the ministry also supported the approval of a World Bank loan of 200 million dollars to Lagos State, a request denied it by the previous administration.

    On the International Airport Road being the grounds for the allegation, it said that the government had presented a request for four roads that it wished to take over.

    The ministry, however, said the request was inconsistent with its conditions for states to take over roads within their jurisdiction.

    It therefore said, “As far as the Presidential Lodge is concerned, it is under the management of the Presidency and not the ministry.

    “After the approval by Mr President that the Presidential Lodge be handed over to the state government, there was a directive to the ministry to work out the modalities for handing over.’’

    It said that the ministry had prepared a vesting instrument to convey the transfer and all that was needed was a survey plan.

    It said that the Presidential Lodge was a high security location and officials of the ministry also required security clearance to enter, to do any works, noting that access to the lodge was not under the control of the ministry.

    It said that the ministry remained committed to serving the government and people of Lagos and would treat all their requests on merit in accordance with necessary due process.

  • Ambode’s claims on Airport road, Presidential lodge not true- Works Ministry

    Ambode’s claims on Airport road, Presidential lodge not true- Works Ministry

    The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing has denied claims by Lagos Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode that it is frustrating his efforts to carry out a “total reconstruction” of the International Airport Road from Oshodi in Lagos.
    It also said it is not true that the Ministry is denying the Lagos Government access to the Presidential Lodge in Lagos six months after President Muhammadu Buhari approved it off for the State.
    The Ministry denied the accusations of Governor Ambode in a statement by Special Adviser, Communications, to the Minister of Works, Hakeem Bello.
    The full statement follows:

    The attention of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing has been drawn to certain statements credited to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode claiming that the “Federal Ministry of Works“ has been frustrating the efforts of his administration to carry out a “total reconstruction of the International Airport Road from Oshodi.
    The Governor also reportedly accused the “Federal Ministry of Works and Housing” and Security Services of denying the State Government access to the Presidential Lodge in Lagos six months after President Muhammadu Buhari approved it off for the State.
    This response is to ensure that members of the public are not misled by deliberate or inadvertent mis-statements.
    The allegations of lack of cooperation from the Ministry and frustration of Lagos State Government development initiatives are simply not true and the facts do not bear them out.
    In 2016, the Hon Minister for Power Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, approved the use of the Federal Ministry of works yard at Oworonsoki for Lagos State Government to create a lay-by to ease traffic.
    The Hon Minister also approved that Lagos State be granted the Rights to manage the Street Lighting on the 3rd Mainland Bridge to support the security initiatives of the State, a request which the previous Federal Government administration had denied Lagos State for years.
    During the same year the Hon Minister also supported the approval of the World Bank Loan of $200m to Lagos State, again a request the previous administration had denied Lagos State.
    As far as International Airport Road which is currently the ground for alleged “frustration” is concerned, the correct position is that the Lagos State Government presented a request for FOUR roads that it would wish to take over.
    This is consistent with the position being canvassed by the Hon Minisiter for States who are interested to apply to take over Roads that are within their States.
    The Ministry has presented the Memorandum conveying the request of the Lagos State Government to the Federal Executive Council as was done with a similar request by the Kaduna State Government in 2016.
    Due to the fact that TWO of the roads also connect Ogun State, the Federal Executive Council could not reach an immediate decision on them because it requested the input of the other State Government affected.
    The Kaduna State Government requested the Federal Government to transfer two roads within Kaduna Metropolis to the State in November 2015. Due process was followed and the request of the State Government was approved in August 2016, a period of ten months.
    Federal Executive Councill Memorandum are debated and commented upon by all members and in cases of roads, surveys, maps and other material have to be provided to assist members understand the location and connectivity of the roads, (in this case Four roads), in order to assist how they vote on the Memorandum.
    As far as the Presidential Lodge is concerned, it is under the management of the Presidency and not the Ministry.
    After the approval by Mr President that the Presidential Lodge be handed over to the State Government, there was a directive to the Ministry to work out the modalities for handing over.
    The Ministry has prepared a vesting instrument to convey the transfer and all that is needed is a survey plan.
    The Presidential Lodge is a high security location and officials of the Ministry also require security clearance to enter in order to do any works.
    Access to the lodge is not under the control of the Ministry.
    The motive behind this public accusations must therefore be scrutinized coming barely a week after the Governor spoke with the Honorable Minister, Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN on the outstanding requests of the State for several minutes and the Minister took time to explain the situation of things to the Governor. (The first telephone conversation the Governor has had with the Minister since May 29, 2015).
    If there is any lack of co-operation it is on the part of the State Government that has refused to acknowledge not to talk of approving the Ministry’s request for Land of the National Housing Programme in Lagos.
    The Ministry is not frustrated by this lack of response and remains optimistic that a response will come from Lagos State.
    The Ministry remains committed to serving the Government and Good People of Lagos and will treat all their requests on Merit and in accordance with necessary due process as will be done to other States.
    As far as the refund of N51Billion is concerned this is not a new item. Almost all if not all states have these claims and the Federal Ministry of Power Works and Housing has verified these claims.
    What is left is the process of raising the finance to pay the Debt owed to the States.
    Those who are familiar with the workings of Government will attest to the fact that it is an intricate sequence of processses, consultation and collaboration.
    Equating processes to a lack of co-operation is therefore akin to creating a storm in a tea cup.

  • Ambode to turn Lagos Presidential Lodge to Heritage Centre

    Ambode to turn Lagos Presidential Lodge to Heritage Centre

    •Governor hails Buhari for handover

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the hand over of the Marina Presidential Lodge to the state.

    The President’s gesture followed a request by Ambode to have the lodge released to the state in its bid to transform the Marina-Onikan axis into a world-class art and tourism hub.

    The approval was communicated in a letter by Buhari’s Chief of Staff Abba Kyari.

    In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, the governor thanked the President for his magnanimity.

    The statement said with the approval, Ambode had unveiled plans to turn the lodge to The Heritage Centre for Leadership, which will be redesigned and equipped as a research and tourist arena.

    “On behalf of the government and people of Lagos State, I wish to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for his kind hand over of the Presidential Lodge in Marina.

    “This, in my opinion, demonstrates the President’s special interest in Lagos State, which is in line with the promise he made in Lagos during the election campaign that the interest of Lagosians will always be paramount in his heart.

    “The Lagos State House in Marina, which is next door to the Presidential Lodge, is also being prepared for a transformation to The Lagos History Centre, as a mark of honour to, and celebration of all former governors, as well as for the benefit of humankind.

    “These two buildings will be nurtured as world-class monuments by the Lagos State government to complement the larger plan that aims to transform the Marina-Onikan axis into a multi-sectorial culture zone.

    “The plan for the Marina-Onikan culture zone includes a skywalk to connect Marina to Freedom Park on Broad Street.

    “The axis would also accommodate a Tourist Welcome Centre, comprising a multi-layer car park, mall, Lagos Aquarium Centre and other tourist facilities.”