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Tag: Setonji David

  • Hunyinsode rallies support for Setonji David as LAHA speaker

    Hunyinsode rallies support for Setonji David as LAHA speaker

    A chairmanship aspirant for Badagry Local Government Area, Hon. Moses Sogotho Hunyinsode, has urged President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership in Lagos State to support Hon. Setonji David for the position of Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday, Hunyinsode emphasised David’s experience and political positioning, arguing that Badagry Division deserves the Speakership following the tenure of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa from Ikeja Division.

    He argued that since the former Speaker, Obasa, hails from Ikeja Division—both of which fall under Lagos West—it is only fair for Badagry Division to produce the next Speaker.

    Read Also: Osun LG crisis: OSIEC, PDP chairman drag IGP to court over alleged planned arrest

    He highlighted David’s credentials, noting that he has been in the Assembly since 2015, representing Badagry Constituency 02, and currently serves as Chief Whip. Previously, he also held the position of Deputy Chief Whip.

    Hunyinsode, who serves as Supervisor for Information in Badagry LGA, described David as a seasoned politician and accomplished engineer. 

    He noted that David, a former Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE), Lagos Chapter, played a key role in major Lagos State infrastructure projects during his 25-year service in government.

    “As Resident and Chief Resident Engineer, he supervised multiple road construction projects across the state and his expertise was instrumental in the Restoration and Stabilisation of the Lagos Bar Beach Shoreline Protection Project – a pioneering initiative in Nigeria and the West African subregion. 

    “Additionally, he was the pioneer Project Engineer for the renowned Eko Atlantic City reclamation project, further solidifying his reputation as a forward-thinking engineer committed to sustainable development,” Hon. Hunyinsode stated.

    He emphasised that David’s emergence as Speaker would help to compensate Badagry Division and Badagry federation for its solid performance in the 2023 presidential election that brought President Tinubu into office.

  • Reconstruct Lagos-Badagry-Seme Expressway, lawmaker to Buhari

    A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Setonji David, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to reconstruction the Lagos-Badagry-Seme Expressway.

    David, representing Badagry Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly, made the plea following the President’s visit to the area on Tuesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that President Buhari flew to Seme for the official handover of the new Economic Community of West African States Border Posts in Badagry to his counterpart in the Republic of Benin, Patrice Talon.

    The president was accompanied by the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, and other officials to inaugurate the upgraded border posts.

    David told Our Reporter that residents of the area were going through hardship because of the collapse of the international road.

    “I think the visit of President Buhari to Badagry should renew his commitment to completely reconstruct this very important road.

    “It is an embarrassment and our people are suffering.

    Read Also: I’ll campaign for Buhari, Sanwo-Olu, says Ambode

    “Apart from the plights of transport workers and commuters in the area; the nation is making huge money from the borders, hence the more reason for reconstruction of the road. This road is a gateway to our country.

    “I am optimistic that President Buhari will include the repair of the road in the 2019 Budget so that people in this area can enjoy a new lease of life,” the lawmaker said.

    David, also the Chairman, House Committee on Urban Development and Physical Planning, urged the government to consider the tourism potential in Badagry for national growth and development.

    “Badagry is the next tourism destination for Nigeria. It is a tourism destination throughout and outside Nigeria.

    “We are trying to prevail on the government to repair our roads. Badagry should be the next stage of development in Lagos State,’’ he said.

    David advised residents of the area to be hopeful that the Buhari-led administration would reconstruct the road.

    The lawmaker commended Ambode for his efforts to alleviate the sufferings of users of the road.

  • Lawmakers hail planned 3,000MW power project for Lagos

    Lawmakers hail planned 3,000MW power project for Lagos

    Some lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday said that the N1.046 trillion Lagos State Budget proposal Government would facilitate growth and development.

    The lawmakers hailed the state Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode for prioritising capital expenditure.

    According to them, since the 2017 budget performance was above 70 per cent, the 2018 budget will transform the state, especially through a planned power project.

    Ambode presented the 2018 budget proposal tagged: “Budget of Progress and Development” before the state House of Assembly on Monday.

    The budget size, which represented a 28.67 per cent increase over the 2017 budget of N812 billion, had a capital expenditure of N699 billion and a recurrent expenditure of N347 billion.

    The Acting Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Mr Tunde Braimoh said: “The budget is apt, ambitious, lofty and well-targeted at transforming the Lagos State economy and infrastructure.’’

    Read also: Ambode to present 2018 Budget on Monday

    Braimoh noted that the budget provided for a power project aimed at boosting economic activities of the state.

    According to him, epileptic power supply has caused severe damage to the nation’s economy, and if Lagos State Government can provide regular power supply, it will boost investments.

    “The problem of power supply has made our country to lose its industrial base. The budget will change the topography of Lagos,’’ he said.

    The lawmaker, however, said that there was the need to sustain the robust relationship between the legislative and  executive arms of the government for expedited implementation of the budget.

    On whether the budget will be passed before January, the spokesman said that it might not be possible as the Assembly would do proper scrutiny of the budget before its passage.

    Braimoh, however, said that the lawmakers would sacrifice their comfort to ensure quick passage of the budget without compromising standards.

    Also speaking, Mr Setonji David, the Acting Chairman of the House Committee on Physical Planning and Urban Development, said : “It is a great thing that the budget of Lagos State is over N1 trillion.

    “It means Lagos is moving and more infrastructure development on the way. The ratio of capital expenditure to recurrent expenditure is fantastic, and this means the governor is visionary.

    “It is quite impressive that the governor budgeted massively for the embedded power project to light up the state for industrialisation,” David said.

    Mr Olusegun Olulade, the Acting Chairman, House Committee on Health Services, said that the budget would galvanise result in accelerated development of the state.

    The Acting Chairman of the Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (Local), Prince Adebisi Yusuf , who expressed satisfaction at the 2017 budget performance, said that the 2018 Budget would be better implemented.

    Ambode stated during the budget proposal that his administration would have direct intervention in the power value chain toward generating 3,000MW Embedded Power Programme-  a three-year plan to achieve regular  power supply for the state in 2018.

    “The challenge of inadequate power supply must be resolved for our economy to perform optimally, and we believe the provision of this essential utility can no longer be left in the hands of the Federal Government alone.

    “We must complement each other for the overall development of our nation,’’ the governor said.

    NAN

  • I did not disregard you, LBIC MD tells Lagos Assembly

    I did not disregard you, LBIC MD tells Lagos Assembly

    The Managing Director, Lagos State Building Investment Company ( LBIC ) Plc, Mrs Folashade Folivi, on Thursday said she was surprised at being accused of disrespecting the state house of assembly.

    She spoke at the assembly when she appeared before the lawmakers who had summoned her for ignoring one of its committees.

    Mr Setonji David, the acting chairman of the House Committee on Urban and Physical Planning, had accused her of disregard for the committee.

    He made the accusation while presenting a report on a petition written by the residents of Ogba/Ijaiye Low and Medium Housing Estate.

    The residents had petitioned the House over a plan by LBIC to demolish the illegal structures in the estate.

    David said that Folivi went ahead to demolish the alleged illegal structures within the estate, when the committee had called for a stay of action.

    Folivi, who answered a barrage of questions from the lawmakers during her appearance, however, said she did not ignore any committee of the House.

    She said that the company stopped demolition of shanties as directed by the committee.

    The managing director said that LBIC never demolished any house in any estate, but was only interested in clean up of estates.

    “We want to restore the aesthetic and economic values of our estates. We don’t demolish any house.

    “Crimes are so many in the estates because there is no visibility anymore.

    “We don’t demolish houses, we only demolish shanties and illegal structures.

    “We have looked at the Master Plan because it is completely distorted.

    “We only clean up environmental infractions, we don’t demolish houses,’’ she said.

    Folivi said that the company never carried out anything without collaborating with relevant government agencies like the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development as well as the Ministry of Environment.

    On an allegation of illegal rates’ collection by the officers of the company, Folivi said that such had stopped since she became the MD in 2015.

    She said that anyone with evidence should come up with it and the culprit would be prosecuted.

    According to her, the company has 1295 shareholders which include Lagos State and is being regulated by Company and Allied Matters.

    Folivi noted that LBIC is a mortgage bank that finances construction of residential houses.

    The committee chairman, David, however, insisted that the company continued with the demolition in spite of the committee’s order.

    The Chairman, House Committee on Housing, Mr Bayo Osinowo, also insisted that Folivi disregarded several calls to her from the Ministry of Lands.

    Mr Mudasiru Obassa,  the Speaker of the House, eventually stepped down the matter.

    He said that the House would have to reach a conclusion on the report of the committee on the matter.

    Some lawmakers urged the House to sanction Folivi for failing to proffer adequate explanation, to serve as a deterrent to others.

    NAN

  • Building collapse: Assembly to go after regulatory agencies

    Building collapse: Assembly to go after regulatory agencies

    All regulatory agencies in charge of monitoring construction of buildings in the state would now be kept on their toes to guard against incessant cases of building collapse.

    The Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA) Committee on Physical Planning and Urban Development on Monday disclosed this on Monday to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    The Committee’s Chairman, Mr Setonji David, said this against the backdrop of the collapse of two different three-storey buildings on May 18, 2017 and May 29, 2017, respectively.

    NAN reports that five people lost their lives in the incidents.

    Similarly, on March 9, 2016, at least 34 people died when a five-storey building still under construction collapsed in Lekki Area of Lagos State.

    David said that the level of sensitisation and monitoring of buildings under construction had increased under Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration to curb the menace.

    He said: “Since the assumption of office by Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode, the level of compliance by developers has changed; though there is still room for improvement.

    “Government is a continuum; and the government is reorganising its agencies responsible for monitoring building constructions to be more effective in service delivery.

    “So, things are getting better. Building collapse will end soon in the state,’’ he said.

    The lawmaker also attributed the development to the high rate of influx of people into Lagos State.

    “ But, what we have on ground at present is better than what we had in the past.

    “Then, buildings used to collapse, but they were never reported.

    “Because of our current level of development with the knowledge and use of the social media, if anything happens in Ikeja now, it will be reported immediately.

    “So, things are getting better and the rate of monitoring is improving. We are putting every regulatory agency on its toes so that they will not rest on their oars.’’

    The lawmaker said that he was always holding regular meetings with the officials from the Ministry of Physical Development and Urban Development.

    “This is to ensure that whatever they do is in concert with the laws passed by LAHA.

    “ The ministry is adhering to our rules and we are on top of the situation,’’ he said.

    David, who is representing Badagry Constituency II at the Assembly, said that the government would not tolerate flagrant disregards to building laws and order by anybody.

    He said that one of the regulatory agencies had placed a stop-job order on the building that was under construction in Ilasamaja before it collapsed.

    The lawmaker said that: “It is very unfortunate that the state has been recording several cases of building collapse in recent times.

    “This is because the people have failed to adhere to the rules governing construction of buildings in Lagos State.’’

    David said that the public should liaise with the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development that supervises the regulatory agencies in charge of erecting new building for the approval of their building plans.

    “They are supposed to submit their building plans to the ministry where experts will look at them before giving approvals; but this is not done.

    “ So, cases of building collapse are caused by our people’s ineptitude.”

    The lawmaker also advised intending landlords not to patronise quacks in the industry for their own safety and that of their neighbours.

    He assured the residents of the state that the LAHA committee would ensure proper monitoring of physical development by regulatory agencies.

    “We will not rest on our oars until things improve and cases building collapse become a thing of the past in the state,” he said.

  • Lagos Assembly urges agencies to address cases of building collapse

    Lagos Assembly urges agencies to address cases of building collapse

    Lagos State House of Assembly on Saturday asked relevant agencies in the building sector to brace up and stop the rising cases of building collapse in the state.

    The Chairman of the House Committee on Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Setonji David, said the state would no longer tolerate violations of its rules and regulations on building construction.

    The Speaker’s remark followed Thursday’s collapse of a three-storey building at Richard Abimbola Street, Ilasamaja, Lagos,  killing at least three people while 19 some construction workers were rescued alive.

    At least 34 people were killed on March 9, 2016 after a five-storey building still under construction collapsed in Lekki District, Lagos.

    The lawmaker, who frowned at negligence on the part of building owners and contractors, said: “It is very unfortunate that another building has collapsed in Lagos.

    “It is painful that we have lost precious souls again due to the negligence and lack of expertise of contractors.

    “Our officials at the state level must brace up to stem the trend.”

    David urged house owners to obtain approval before embarking on their projects.

    “Safety should be paramount in whatever we want to do, it is not safe to build without approval by the relevant authorities such as  physical planning department,” he added.

    The lawmaker urged the State Building Control Agency (LABSCA) to step up monitoring of buildings to ensure compliance with standards.

    NAN