Tag: Sanwo-Olu

• Financial commitments secured
• 11 governors source funding for SAPZ

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has sought investors for the proposed $1.9b Purple and Green rail lines.

He spoke at the ongoing Africa Investment Forum (AIF) Market Days in Rabat, Morocco.

Sanwo-Olu, who led a team, including his commissioners for Transportation, Finance, the General Manager, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and head of the state’s Public Private Partnership, among others, made a compelling case to would-be investors on the need to fund the projects.

Presenting the state’s investment strategy for the Purple Rail Line project, Sanwo-Olu said it represented a viable investment opportunity with promising returns.

He said his administration was excited to move forward with the project and was ready to be flexible with the investors to ensure it was delivered.

He said the Purple Rail Line was a 60km electrified rail system with 16 stations and seamless integration with existing metro and bus services to enhance connectivity.

He told the gathering that the Purple Rail Line would connect Lagos and Ogun states, targeting the most densely populated local governments in Lagos State with over six million daily commuters.

The governor said the project was expected to serve over 300,000 passengers daily, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging a shift from road to rail transportation.

“The Purple Rail Line is a 60 km electrified rail system that will include 16 stations and seamlessly integrate with existing metro and bus services to enhance connectivity. It is projected to serve over 300,000 passengers daily, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging a shift from road to rail transportation,” he said.

Canvassing for funders, Sanwo-Olu said the immediate requirement was $866.05, which comprised survey and design as well as civil works, adding that in the short-medium term funding projection, the state would need $602.81 and $497.70 in the long term funding plan.

The Nation reports that by the end of his presentation, investors indicated interests, which amounted to $560m to $810m, a development the African Development Bank (AfDB) representative in the boardroom described as impressive.

Read Also: Investors thrilled as Sanwo-Olu makes case for Purple, Green rail lines

For the impact assessment, Sanwo-Olu said integrated mass transportation system for Lagos would lead to improved air quality, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, reduced noise pollution and efficient and sustainable land use.

Arguing that the state had a proven track record in ensuring funded projects by development partners were delivered on, he said: “Lagos State Government through LAMATA has an environmental and social safeguards management system that has been adopted and successfully implemented for the last 15 years on the following projects:

“Lagos urban transportation project (LUTP) I and II – funded by the World Bank; quality bus corridors and interchanges -funded by Agence Francaise de Development (AFD); Quality Bus Corridors funded by the International Finance Corporation (IFC); Green Line ESIA/RAP funded by the Swedfund and the Purple Line ESIA/RAP funded by AfDB.

“Associated project risks are managed in conjunction with external consultants, using international best practices and LAMATA’s Safeguard measures. Understanding the ESIA and RAP: highlighting all environmental and social risks; risk assessment and mitigating measures; grievances redress mechanisms; RAP implementation and livelihood restoration, as well as monitoring and evaluation.”

Explaining further, the governor allayed the fears of investors on possible backlash from displaced communities, noting that the government had always ensured adequate relocation or compensation where necessary.

According to him, the state was working towards a transportation master plan that would be brighter, more effective, efficient, sustainable and safer.

He said the state was ensuring integrated transportation systems and mass transits in order to reduce traffic and by extension the number of hours spent commuting, which would ultimately lead to improved health and well-being of the masses.

He said each of the corridors had a Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) and waterway transportation route to take commuters off the major roads and by so doing, decongest traffic.

“Two of the stations that were built on the same line are also connected with water, rail and BRT altogether,” he said.

The governor assured the investors of the state’s willingness to ensure that there were no disturbances or backlashes, saying the government would even pay compensations to displaced persons where necessary, ‘’so no additional burden is brought to would-be funders.’’

“We don’t want to lock in anything, we know all the various options. We understand how some of these things work. We’re willing and ready to make those transactions work. We’ve seen from our experience how to guarantee revenue assurance.

“We have a payment system under the cowry card, which is where we’d block leakages to a large extent and the same contactless card, we can use it on our bus, train and ferry where you’d have it all integrated.

“On a daily basis they know what the traffic is and what is due to everybody. Whatever base on study or the ridership guarantees, we’d look at it of which the state government now needs to either top up or other forms of revenue that can help out in terms of advertising rides on the corridor we can even put a real estate plague.’’

Besides Sanwo-Olu, 10 Nigerian governors attended the opening ceremony and a boardroom session on Specialised Agro Processing Zones (SAPZ) to seek funding for establishment of industrial hubs in their areas of comparative advantage to drive divestment from crude oil.

In an interview with The Nation yesterday, AfDB’s Vice-President for Private Sector and Industrialisation, Solomon Quaynor, said the SAPZ boardroom for Nigeria was one of the biggest held in this year’s AIF.

“We had about 11 governors here and we’re looking to actually raise money to support these specialised agro processing zones, which are actually at the state level, not the national level. It is a programme supported by the national government but delivered at the state levels and we are trying to encourage a lot of the state governments to pursue public private partnerships, to really implement this effectively, cost efficiently and fast.

“So this is really going to drive agriculture, production and processing in Nigeria, where each of the states look at the value chains in which they are competitive, and they focus on that.

“Yes, the special agro processing zones cover several states in Nigeria, in the North, Northwest, Northeast, Southsouth, Southeast and Southwest. It definitely has full coverage. We are expanding it even to more states.

“So, for example, we’ve been having early conversations with the new governor in Edo State. He has indicated that he would really like to have a specialised Agro Processing Zone. So we’re having conversations with them as well and the idea is to help them understand what is required of them to qualify to participate in this programme.”

• …11 governors source funders for SAPZ

Investors at the ongoing Africa Investment Forum (AIF) Market Days in Rabat, Morocco, were on Wednesday thrilled following the presentation of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on the proposed $1.9b Green and Purple Rail lines.

Sanwo-Olu who led a team including his Commissioners for Transportation, Finance, the General Manager, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and the head of the state’s Public Private Partnership, among others, made a compelling case to would-be investors on the need to fund the projects.

Presenting the state’s investment strategy for the Purple Rail Line project, Sanwo-Olu said it represented a viable investment opportunity with promising returns.

He said his administration was excited to move forward with the project and was ready to be flexible with the investors to ensure it was delivered.

According to him, the Purple Rail Line was a 60km electrified rail system with 16 stations and seamless integration with existing metro and bus services to enhance connectivity.

He told the gathering that the Purple Rail line would connect Lagos and Ogun, targeting the most densely populated local government in Lagos State with over six million daily commuters.

He said the project was expected to serve over 300,000 passengers daily, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging a shift from road to rail transportation.

“The Purple Rail Line is a 60 km electrified rail system that will include 16 stations and seamlessly integrate with existing metro and bus services to enhance connectivity. It is projected to serve over 300,000 passengers daily, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging a shift from road to rail transportation.”

Read Also: Sanwo-Olu emphasizes need for tax reforms

Canvassing for funders, Sanwo-Olu said the immediate requirement was $866.05 which comprised survey and design as well as civil works, adding that in the short-medium term funding projection, the state would need $602.81, and $497.70 in the long term funding plan.

The Nation reports that by the end of his presentation, investors indicated interests which amounted to $560m to $810m, a development the African Development Bank (AfDB) representative in the boardroom described as impressive.

For the impact assessment, Sanwo-Olu said integrated mass transportation system for Lagos would lead to improved air quality, reduced green house gas emissions, reduced noise pollution and efficient and sustainable land use.

Arguing that the state has a proven track record in ensuring funded projects by development partners were delivered on, he said: “Lagos State government through LAMATA has an environmental and social safeguards management system that has been adopted and successfully implemented for the last 15 years on the following projects: “Lagos urban transportation project (LUTP) I and II – funded by the World Bank; quality bus corridors and interchanges -funded by Agence Francaise de Development (AFD); Quality Bus Corridors funded by the International Finance Corporation (IFC); Green Line ESIA/RAP funded by the Swedfund and the Purple Line ESIA/RAP funded by AfDB.

“Associated project risks are managed in conjunction with external consultants using international best practices and LAMATA’s Safeguard measures. Understanding the ESIA and RAP: highlighting all environmental and social risks; risk assessment and mitigating measures; grievances redress mechanisms; RAP implementation and livelihood restoration, as well as monitoring and evaluation.”

Explaining further, the governor allayed the fears of investors on possible backlash from displaced communities, noting that the government had always ensured adequate relocation or compensation where necessary.

According to him, the state was working towards a transportation master plan that would be brighter, more effective, efficient, sustainable and safer.

He said the state was ensuring integrated transportation systems and mass transits in order to reduce traffic and by extension the number of hours spent commuting, which would ultimately lead to improve health and wellbeing of the masses.

He said each of the corridors have a Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) and waterway transportation route to take commuters off the major roads and by so doing, decongest traffic.

“Two of the stations that were built on the same line are also connected with water, rail and BRT altogether,” he said.

The governor assured the investors of the state’s willingness to ensure that there were no disturbances or backlashes, saying the government would even pay compensations to displaced persons were necessary so no additional burden is brought to would-be funders.

“We don’t want to lock in anything, we know all the various options. We understand how some of these things work. We’re willing and ready to make those transactions work. We’ve seen from our experience how to guarantee revenue assurance. 

“We have a payment system under the cowry card which is where we’d block leakages to a large extent and the same contactless card, we can use it on our bus, train and ferry where you’d have it all integrated. 

“On a daily basis they know what the traffic is and what is due to everybody. Whatever base on study or the ridership guarantees, we’d look at it of which the state government now needs to either top up or other forms of revenue that can help out in terms of advertising rides on the corridor we can even put a real estate plague.

Aside from Lagos, 10 Nigerian Governors attended the opening ceremony and a boardroom session on Specialised Agro Processing Zones (SAPZ) to seek funding for establishment of industrial hubs in their areas of comparative advantage to drive divestment from crude oil.

In an interview with The Nation on Thursday, AfDB’s Vice President for Private Sector and Industrialization, Solomon Quaynor, said the SAPZ boardroom for Nigeria was one of the biggest held in this year’s AIF. 

“We had about 11 state Governors here and we’re looking to actually raise money to support these specialised agro processing zones, which are actually at the state level, not the national level. It is a programme supported by the national government but delivered at the state levels and we are trying to encourage a lot of the state governments to pursue public private partnerships, to really implement this effectively, cost efficiently and fast.

“So this is really going to drive agriculture, production and processing in Nigeria, where each of the states look at the value chains in which they are competitive, and they focus on that.

“Yes, the special agro Processing Zones cover several states in Nigeria, in the north, northwest, northeast, south-south, southeast and southwest. It definitely has full coverage. We are expanding it even to more states. 

“So, for example, we’ve been having early conversations with the new governor in Edo state. He has indicated that he would really like to have a specialised Agro Processing Zone. So we’re having conversations with them as well and the idea is to help them understand what is required of them to qualify to participate in this programme.”

• Governor signs Electricity Bill

Lagos State has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in its pursuit of energy sustainability and economic growth, as Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu signed the Lagos State Electricity Bill into law.

This landmark legislation establishes a robust legal and regulatory framework for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity within the state, underscoring the government’s commitment to energy security, innovation, and enhanced service delivery.

The signing ceremony, held at Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday, brought together key stakeholders, including members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, energy industry leaders, private sector investors, among others.

According to the Governor, Lagos State Electricity Law positions the state to accelerate renewable energy adoption, expand energy access, and foster a dynamic ecosystem for innovation in the power sector.

Speaking at the event, Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized the law’s transformative potential for Lagos, a megacity with growing energy demands.

“This law represents a bold step toward energy independence and sustainability for Lagos State,” the governor stated.

“It enables us to design tailored policies and implement strategies that address our unique energy challenges, reduce reliance on the national grid, and promote private sector-driven investments in renewable and off-grid solutions. Through this law, we are laying the foundation for reliable power supply, job creation, and sustainable development for the benefit of our residents.”

Read Also: Customs intercepts 788kg of Cannabis, hands over suspects to NDLEA

The law establishes the Lagos Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC), tasked with ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, safeguarding consumer interests, and driving innovation. It also prioritizes environmental sustainability by encouraging clean and renewable energy initiatives to address climate change.

Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Energy, Hon. Sabur Akanbi Olowa, commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for his visionary leadership.

He remarked, “This legislation cements Lagos State’s role as a pioneer in subnational energy reforms. It serves as a model for other states in Nigeria, setting the pace for transformative energy policies.”

Earlier, the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunleye, stated that the law decentralised the electricity market and encourages investment in modern energy solutions.

According to him, the Lagos State Electricity Law 2024 is not just a legislative milestone; it is a statement of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration’s resolve to empower Lagosians with reliable energy, fostering industrial growth, economic prosperity, and environmental sustainability.

“Today, Lagos will step into a new era, an era where darkness gives way to light and the promise of uninterrupted electricity becomes a reality for millions. This is the dawn of a brighter Lagos, a testament to the transformative power of visionary leadership.

“The law will foster public-private partnerships to deliver affordable and sustainable energy. And promote the adoption of renewable energy to achieve environmental sustainability.

“Through the law, we will be creating and encouraging an enabling and robust environment to attract critical investments into all levels of the sector’s supply chain”.

The Lagos State Electricity Law reflects the government’s dedication to improving the quality of life for Lagosians, strengthening the state’s position as a hub for innovation and investment.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said that the Lagos Central Food Security Systems and Logistics Park, along with a 500-bed psychiatric hospital under construction in Epe, will be completed in 2025. 

Speaking during an inspection of the projects, Sanwo-Olu revealed that the food security park is set to be ready by the second quarter of 2025, while the hospital is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter.

The projects are said to be the largest in Africa.

The governor explained the vision behind the food hub, stating, “The food hub was envisioned five years ago because though we are not an agro-producing state, the least we can do is to have our destiny in our hands.

He added: “Covid that happened in 2020 taught us a lesson because it was then that we saw a global disruption in the chain of food logistics. You remember at that time if you don’t have anything in your house, you continue to pray to God.

‘’It was after the global disruption that we came up with a plan that Lagos should be a large-scale food logistics hub to protect itself from food insecurity. We did mention then that food is security, and it is becoming an important and even a normal threat to life’s security.  We can see that indeed that move that we made three years ago is on the right course.

‘’The largest food logistics hub in sub-Saharan Africa is here. It is on over 230 hectares of land, about five thousand square metres, and it is going to be the largest, biggest cold and dry chain storage.”

Read Also: Lagos food logistics hub, psychiatric hospital ready next year, says Sanwo-Olu

On the 500-bed psychiatric hospital, the governor said the facility will help to promote mental healthcare delivery.

He said: “The Lagos State Mental Health Institute, a psychiatric rehabilitation centre in Ketu-Ejinrin, is the first of its kind. It borders the food and logistics hub and would be the largest psychiatric rehabilitation centre in entire sub-Saharan Africa. Phase one is the 500-bed health facility and it is evident that all of the structures are ready, including the 500-bed accommodation in different sizes, consultation rooms, dormitories and dining rooms, kitchen, and residence for health facility workers, among others.

”It is a massive health institute sitting on about 25 hectares of land. We believe this kind of health institute is equally important because we have seen enough mental health issues, and need to make a classic case, and we need to make it first class so people can come in for psychotherapy, and rehabilitation and get well in a serene environment.

“Phase two of it will be additional accommodation for patients who need services here and who need rehabilitation centres.

“We are targeting that this time next year, the project would have been completed. This project is about 50 percent done and we believe that in the next 12 months, we can bring it to completion. I am impressed with the level of work that the contractor has put into it.”

Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday disclosed that the Food Security Systems and Central Logistics Hub, and the Psychiatric Wellness and Rehabilitation Institute, both at the Ketu Ejirin axis in Epe area of the state would be ready next year.

The Phase One of the 220-hectares Lagos Food Logistic Hub will be ready in the second quarter of 2025, while the first phase of the psychiatric hospital will be delivered in the last quarter of next year.

Governor Sanwo-Olu disclosed the dates for the completion of the two projects during a working visit with members of the State Executive Council, government officials, and journalists to the Food Logistics and Psychiatric Hospital in the Keju-Ejirin, Ketu area of Lagos State.

He said the Lagos State Food Security Systems and Central Logistics Hub, which is the largest in the Sub-Sahara of Africa, will ensure food sufficiency for Lagosians and stabilise market prices when completed next year.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, who expressed satisfaction at the pace of the project at the Central Food Hub, which will have large cold and dry chain storage, assured residents that when completed, food prices would be reduced by a significant amount in Lagos market as the State Government is committed to food sustainability and food security.

He also assured Lagos residents that the ongoing Middle-Level Market being constructed at the Ajah, Festac and Oregun areas of Lagos State will soon be completed, and they are expected to get feed from the Food Security Systems and Central Logistics Hub.

Read Also: Sanwo-Olu suspends media aide over misrepresentation of facts

The governor also restated the commitment of his administration to mitigate shortages and protect residents from food insecurity, saying the Central Food Logistics Hub would be divided into many facilities, among which are a truck park and the largest abattoir in Africa, which can house 14,000 cattle when completed.

He said, “We are on track. Phase one of the project should be ready by the second quarter of next year. It will be fully sufficient with electricity and a road network that can make it operational.

“What we are doing is writing our destiny gradually with our hands. We want Lagosians, citizens of Lagos, to have the ability to have what we call food sufficiency and food adequacy, and what it will do for us is that it will help us to stabilise prices so that prices will not skyrocket unnecessarily.

Speaking earlier, Prince Samuel Joseph Samuel, the Managing Director of Origin Technology Group, who is partnering with Lagos State Government to build the food logistic hub, expressed confidence that the project will transform the entire Ketu-Ejinrin and its environment and have a positive effect on the economy of Lagos, particularly the agricultural sector.

Prince Samuel commended the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration for its commitment and support towards the completion of the Lagos Food Security Systems and Central Logistics Hub.

He expressed confidence that the project would sustain itself in the near future.

Speaking to journalists during the inspection of the psychiatric hospital, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the 500-bed accommodation hospital, with facilities that include consultation rooms, among others, would address mental-related issues in patients.

Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has suspended his Senior Special Assistant on Print Media, Mr Wale Ajetunmobi.

In a statement on Tuesday, Gboyega Akosile, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Sanwo-Olu said the state government frowns at extra-judicial punishment and will never toe that line.

“Mr. Ajetunmobi’s suspension comes on the heels of the misrepresentation of facts on his personal ‘X’ account on a past incident.

“The governor wishes to state categorically that his administration frowns at any form of extra-judicial punishment and will not be a part of any such action.

“That is not who we are. That is not our way.”

In a now-deleted post on X, Ajetunmobi tweeting as #Riddwane, said that the arsonists who burnt down the Television Continental station (TVC) in Lagos during the heat of the 2020 #EndSARS protest, had been “hunted down and executed.”

He also stated that one of the “executed” arsonists was a young boy (name undisclosed) who traded in cooking gas around the Ketu area of the state.

Ajetunmobi alleged that the boy was found with an AK-47 rifle.

The tweet read, “The full story of people who burnt down TVC in 2020 will be told one day, with gory clips and images. One thing to note: the majority of them have been hunted down and executed.

“One of them, a young boy trading in cooking gas around Ketu, was found with an AK-47 at the site. Even his neighbours were shocked. But the full gist is better saved for later.”

An X user @hamoye4real, then asked Ajetunmobi to clarify the nature of the killing he was referencing.

“What do you mean by ‘hunted down and executed’? Are you in the know of extra-judicial killings?,” the X user asked.

In his response, the suspended aide wrote, “Lol… you want to create a narrative in your head. What is extra-judicial killing here? Some of the people were chased by soldiers and an exchange of fire occurred.

“Then arsonists were overpowered and killed in the process. Others ran away. Is that an extra-judicial killing to you?”

Read Also: Sanwo-Olu seeks national energy renaissance at power forum

However, Ajetunmobi, clarifying on Tuesday morning at 2:34 am on his X handle, said that while the word “executed” was “erroneously used,” his tweet was his “personal opinion” and didn’t reflect the stance of his employer or his office.

He also stated that “no extra-judicial killing was insinuated.”

The tweet read, “This excerpt was quoted out of context and there were series of comments made under the same post, which better explained what was intended. Like I did further explained in the said tweet, no extra-judicial killing was insinuated. The word ‘executed’ was erroneously used and not intended in the context of that casual conversation.

“What was written in the entire conversation reflected personal opinion and not the position of any authority or the entity in which I work. The post and other comments had been taken down, even before this publication.”