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Tag: Yemi Osinbajo

  • Osinbajo flags off market power intervention in Akure

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo flagged off the pilot project of Special Intervention in Energising Markets as Productive Clusters at Isinkan Market, Akure, Ondo state capital.

    The federal project being powered by the National Rural Electrification Agency and Ondo State Government’s Office of Public Utilities was aimed at ensuring power supply in all markets across the state.

    The VP explained at the flag off at Isinkan market that the project is being put in places by the Federal Government to ensure power supply in all public markets with a view to boosting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME-s) in the country.

    According to him, “We are focusing on major markets across the country to put an end to power problem. We are working at Ariria Market in Aba, likewise Sabongeri market in Kano and we focusing on markets in Lagos as well.

    “We can see how excited the market women are judging by their testimonies.

    “This technology is new and it is remotely monitored from the headquarters of the service providers. If anyone attempts to tamper with the meter it would be detected from the monitoring centre immediately and necessary action would be taken.”

    Osinbajo who was accompanied by Governor Oluwarotimi  Akeredolu, however, promised the market women that the project would be extended to all other markets.

    Special Adviser to the governor on Public Utilities, Engr. Tunji Light Ariyomo explained that Governor Akeredolu is working in conjunction with the Federal Government to ensure power problem is resolved in all public markets in the state.

    “The governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, is concerned about the plights of the market women in terms of poor power supply. He’s working with the Federal Government through its agency to power all our markets in Ondo State.

    “This would enable the people to run their businesses smoothly and make more profits which would invariably allow them to create more jobs and shore up the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state government,” Ariyomo said.

    A team, comprising market women, state government representatives and a representative of the federal agency, was inaugurated by the Director General,  National Rural Electrification Agency,  Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi and Engr. Ariyomo to ensure the safety of the gadgets.

    The team tagged Cluster Management Unit has five members.

    The solar power used as pilot project is 3kw capacity meant to serve 14 lock-up shops in Block I of Isinkan Market, Akure. A total of 8,750 matket shops in Akure across Oja Oba, NEPA and Isolo markets have been profiled as beneficiaries of the intervention consequent upon the success of the pilot.

    According to the Iyaloja of Isinkan, Chief (Mrs.) Bolarinwa Temidayo, the project is a solution to the main problem they have been facing for the past four years.

    She disclosed that they were suffering from outright blackout in all public markets in the state capital and across the major markets in towns and villages of the state which had undermined their rate of turnover.

    Bolarinwa, who revealed that there were 8,700 lock-up shops in major markets in the state capital, called on the Vice President to ensure the agency responsible for the installation of the solar power extend the project to other markets in Akure and across the state.

     

  • We are passionate in fighting corruption – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday said the present administration has integrity and would continue to prevent corruption at all levels.

    He spoke in Ondo town during the inauguration of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) clinic.

    Osinbajo said “We will continue to expand social investment schemes as income increases.

    “The difference between us and any previous government is that we are not going to steal the money. We spend the money on the people, that’s the difference.”

    “We will continue to invest in states through the Social Investment Programme. But as our income increases we intend to improve and continue to expand.”

    “Indeed, in the last three years, we have demonstrated an abiding commitment to facilitating genuine efforts by all the States of the Federation to attract investment, to diversify their economic base, and create jobs and economic opportunity for their people.”

    “So far, we have held 13 editions of the MSMEs Clinic in various states across all the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, and we are today holding the 14th edition of the MSMEs Clinic here in Ondo state.

    “This is further demonstration of our commitment in ensuring that small businesses, market women, artisans have several opportunities to do business successfully.”

    “It is of course well known that MSMEs have tended to be neglected in this country over the years, as a result of competing priorities as well as a tendency to discount their contribution to the national economy.

    “As individual units, small businesses may appear to be slight, but together they account for as much as 50 percent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, and over 80 percent of our labour force”.

    Osinbajo said the MSMEs Clinics were conceived with this in mind; designed to bring government closer to the people by assembling in one place all the regulatory agencies whose work affects the business experience of small and medium scale businesses.

    According to him, “This affords MSMEs an efficient platform to which they can bring their business-related problems for the intervention of regulatory agencies for solution, outside the formal and sometimes intimidating offices of these agencies.

    “At the same time, gaining access to all the agencies in one place saves MSMEs the travel time and cost of having to seek out different agencies”.

    The VP noted that since the launch of this programme last year, it has been easier for small businesses to access funds, because the Bank of Industry (BOI), Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) and the Nigerian Export and Import Bank (NEXIM) .

    Osinbajo said they have used the Clinics to increase awareness of their products, and also make available credit to participating businesses.

  • 7.6m children are fed daily under FG’s school feeding programme – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Friday said that about 7.6 million children in 22 states across the country were being fed daily under the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP).

    Osinbajo made this known in Akure during an interactive session with beneficiaries of the NHGSFP and inspection of the N-Power Programme at Alagbaka Estate Primary School, Akure.

    He explained that the purpose of NHGSFP was to ensure that children in public primary schools across the country would have at least one very good meal daily.

    The vice president, who had lunch with the pupils, added that the meal would improve the children’s health, boost farming in the country and create job opportunities for some people.

    “I have tasted the food myself and I think it is the quite nice,” he said.

    Osinbajo said that another set of 300,000 Nigerian youths were to be engaged in the N-power programme.

    He explained that the new set of beneficiaries would teach in public primary schools, pointing out that 200,000 graduates were already benefiting from the programme.

    He described the N-Power programme as a very compelling testimony.

    “I have seen firsthand what the N-Power teachers are doing in the classroom, using tablets to teach. I was able to see it for myself and also use it in teaching the pupils.

    “As you know, in the programme, each of the teachers has a tablet which contains materials for teaching and I wanted to see in particular how they used the tablets and the materials.

    “I think it’s a very revolutionary thing for all these young men and women who have volunteered to participate in the programme,” he said.

    The Ondo Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu commended the Federal Government for the efforts in bringing both programmes to the state.

    He attributed the success of the programmes in the state to the positive relationship between the state and the federal government.

    “It is rather unfortunate that we are just joining. Our caterers in the NHGSFP are being paid monthly and this has improved the economy of the state.

    “The food that is served the pupils which I and the vice president ate was a sumptuous meal.

    “I believe we are on course. What we need to do is to ensure that we get more school pupils registered. The federal government is ready to feed them also,” he said.

    Earlier, Mrs Grace Ekpemogu, the Headmistress of the primary school, commended the federal government for the programme which she said, would guarantee the pupils one good meal a day.

    She said that NHGSFP would help increase the intelligence quotient of the pupils and also go a long way in repositioning the education sector, especially at the primary school level.

    Osinbajo also inspected the pilot scheme of the special intervention in energising markets as productive clusters at Isinkan Market, Akure.

    The market stalls are fitted with solar panels which supply lights as an alternate source of energy.

    NAN

     

  • FG ‘ll continue to encourage entrepreneurs – Osinbajo

    The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has said that the Federal Government would create more jobs and continue to provide enabling environment for entrepreneurs to thrive.

    Osinbajo stated this in a keynote address he delivered on Tuesday at a programme titled `The Platform 2018′ organized by the Covenant Christian Centre, Lagos.

    According to the vice president, “our business as government is to create more enabling environment for entrepreneurs to do business and create more infrastructure.

    “We have to provide more jobs as more people are added to the population every day.

    “Today we are confronted with the remnants of Boko Haram with farmers/herdsmen clashes and ethno-religious conflicts,’’ he said.

    Osinbajo recalled that when oil was selling for 100 to 142 dollars per barrel, the budget of Transport and Agriculture Ministries; all the ministries together got 139 billion.

    “Today with oil prices between 60 and 70 dollars per barrel, the Power, Works and Housing, Agriculture and Transport Ministries got N560 billion.

    “How come we can do more with less income?

    “How come we are able to invest in infrastructure. How come we can do the Lagos-Kano standard rail gauge; the Second Nger Bridge, with 60 per cent less income than we earned a few years ago,” he asked.

    According to the vice president, the truth is that if we can control corruption, we can do more with far less income than we earned many years ago.

    “The job of the builder is not to complain. I believe the solution is in building that Nigerian bridge.

    “A bridge that will be built on the strongest materials of all and to excel in our commitment to build a new society.

    “A bridge that connects us across tribes; across ethnicity; across dialects; a bridge that connects us across religion; across politics; and across even generations.

    “Every one of us can travel on this bridge. A bridge that rises from innovation and traditions and stands the troubled waters of our past.

    “A bridge that can take the traffic of all our best Nigerians and creativity; and human and materials to the destination of our dream.”

    The vice president commended many Nigerians in both public and private sectors, who had contributed toward nation-building and contributed immensely to the growth of the economy.

    He listed many Nigerian entrepreneurs, farmers, entertainers/comedians, teachers, writers, poets who have excelled, saying that they were determined and prepared to do their jobs.

    Osinbajo said that the task of nation-building should be the responsibility of all, noting that many young people were doing creative things in both government and private sectors.

  • Buhari orders recruitment of 6,000 policemen

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the recruitment of 6,000 additional policemen as part of fresh measures to address the nation’s security challenges including the farmers/herdsmen clashes across the country.

    The President made this known in a special interview session with Voice of America, Hausa service, in Washington, United States on Tuesday morning.

    President Buhari, who is in the U.S. on the invitation of the American President Donald Trump, revealed that additional security measures were being put in place to check cases of insecurity in Nigeria.

    “We will put in place more measures to check insecurity in the country including increasing the number of policemen and train them.

    “I have approved the recruitment of 6,000 policemen by the police authorities and I directed that those recruited must come from all the 776 local government areas of the federation.

    “Even if it means recruiting one person each from the 776 they should do that instead of going to motor parks, railway stations or market for the recruitment exercise.

    “I gave (Police authorities) them this directive,’’ he said.

    The president, who expressed reservation on the call for the establishment of state police as being advocated by state governors, said Nigerians must abide by constitutional provision in regard to the matter.

    It would be recalled that the Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Governor Abdulaziz Yari, had in February said creation of state police would help in addressing spate of insecurity in the country.

    Yari, who is also the Zamfara State Governor, said this at the end of a two-day summit organised by the Senate Ad hoc Committee on Review of Current Security Infrastructure in Nigeria.

    He said: “Today we have reiterated the position of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    “And the position of the security summit we held in August, that there is a need for the state police; we can say it is the only answer.”

    However, President Buhari maintained that the creation of state police would not augur well for the finances of the states, adding that some of them were finding it difficult to meet their financial obligations to workers and other state needs.

    “We must carefully look at the position of the nation’s constitution on the issue of state police before we take final decision on the matter if the constitution allows state police so be it.

    “But don’t forget that many times the Federal Government gave out what we referred to as bail out to state governments for payment of workers’ salaries. How many states can pay salary promptly? and you want to add more financial burden to the states.

    “It is not proper to employ a person, train him on how to handle weapons and then refuse to pay him – you can imagine what would happen in such situation,’’ he said.

    On his purported comment on youth while in London, President Buhari dismissed the report, saying that the media only preferred to interpret and report what they like instead of concentrating on developmental journalism.

    He said: “You know Nigeria’s population is now between 180 and 190 million and 60 per cent of this population is youth that is 30 years down ward.

    “You know in the North most youths are uneducated or school dropouts. If not because we had good harvests in the last two farming seasons the situation would have been deteriorated.

    “These youths even if they travel out of the North for greener pasture they hardly make it economically because what they earn as income cannot afford them to meet their basic needs or return home.

    “All these explanations I made, they refused to highlight them in their report and you know the media in Nigeria in most cases only do what they like.

    “For instance the nation’s achievements in the agricultural sector where millions of Nigerians benefitted financially were left unreported by the media.

    “Even when the Minister of Information and Culture wanted to reply that abusive letter written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, I had wanted Lai not to reply the letter but I said I should allow him to highlight the achievements of our administration.’’

    President Buhari also used the opportunity to debunk the insinuation that Christians were being killed by herdsmen.

    He said that clashes between farmers and herdsmen had been in existence for the past years, saying that Nigerian herdsmen were not in the habit of carrying dangerous weapons while moving their animals around the country.

    On what he does during his leisure time, President Buhari said he hardly listened to music but rather always obeyed his doctors’ advice on the need to eat and have enough rest.

    NAN

  • ‘Ogoni people’ll never allow resumption of oil production, without broad discussion’

    Ogoni people in the four Local Government Areas of Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme of Rivers State have declared that they will never allow resumption of oil production in the marginalised area, without broad-based discussion with the masses of Ogoni people.

    They called on the Federal Government to initiate the broad-based discussion with Ogoni people, by urgently setting up a proper mechanism for engagement that would recognise the critical parties to the Ogoni conflict: the Federal Government, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) and the Ogoni people, as equal partners in finding lasting solutions to the crude oil-induced conflict.

    These were contained in a communiqué issued yesterday at the end of a special Ogoni congress, held at the Peace and Freedom Centre, Bori, the traditional headquarters of Ogoniland.

    The congress was called by the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), with the communique signed by MOSOP President, Chief Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, and the congress was attended by many Ogoni women, youths, politicians, activists, traditional rulers and Ogoni professionals.

    Ogoni people stressed that they welcomed the reconciliatory efforts being facilitated among different groups in Ogoniland, while urging every Ogoni person to work for the greater unity and peace in the area.

    The communique read in part: “Congress urges the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) to make public its work programme, implementation plans and budgets through a dedicated portal and website for proper and appropriate information delivery to enable the community and other stakeholders to monitor and follow-up on the implementation of the report of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on the environmental assessment of Ogoniland.

    “While congress appreciates the medical outreach programme being embarked upon by HYPREP and appeals for its continuous expansion to other areas, congress  calls on HYPREP to move to fully carry out the health study and medical evaluation of every Ogoni person, as recommended by the report.

    “Besides the health component, HYPREP should immediately embark on the implementation of other emergency measures, particularly as it relates to provision of water and vigorous commitment to the implementation of the livelihood-restoration programme for the youth and women.

    “Congress welcomes the ceremonial signing of the Ogoni Trust Fund Escrow Agreement on April 27, 2018 at the Presidenrial Villa, Abuja, in the presence of the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN).”

    Ogoni people also called on the contributing partners to immediately follow-up the Abuja’s signing ceremony with making available their respective contributions into the Ogoni trust fund escrow account, without further delay.

    SPDC was sent packing from Ogoniland in 1993, while the renowned environmentalist, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and eight other Ogoni activists were hanged at the Port Harcourt Prisons on November 10, 1995, during the regime of the late Gen. Sani Abacha. Shell is yet to be allowed to return to Ogoniland, after 25 years.

  • ‘Osinbajo for Ondo MSME clinic Thursday’

    The Ondo State Government says the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, will  be in the state on Thursday for the inauguration of  the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises ( MSME ) Clinic in Akure.

    The clinic was an initiative of the office of the Vice President in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment as well as  11 other federal agencies.

    This was revealed during a news conference on Sunday in Akure by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Mrs Olubunmi Ademosu.

    According Ademosu, the programme would kick off on Wednesday while the Vice President is expected in the state on Thursday for the inauguration.

    She said  the Ondo State Government had  put in place all the required structures and processes that would ensure the success of the programme, adding  that the state government was targeting no fewer than 10,000 beneficiaries.

    “The Akeredolu’s administration has always prioritised the people as a key point of his administration as all programmes we have carried out have been evenly implemented.

    “We have also ensured that political influence is avoided with the commitment to facilitate a sense of belonging to residents of the state.

    “The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Clinic will never be an exemption,’’ Ademosu said.

    She expressed confidence that the programme would go a long way in raising  a new set of entrepreneurs while the existing ones would be guided on the best steps to take to add value to their efforts.

    “ Owners of micro, small and medium enterprises are expected to focus on capacity building before accessing the most appropriate financial facility.

    “This is why you have businesses that open and shut down in less than few months of establishment.

    “Access to finance for at least five years is the right structure for these businesses and government is already working toward  addressing that with the establishment of the Development Bank of Nigeria ( DBN ), ‘’she said.

    The Special Adviser explained that the idea of the MSME Clinic is part of the efforts of the Buhari administration to close the gap between  enterprises and relevant government agencies.

    She also said that agencies like NAFDAC, Corporate Affairs Commission ( CAC ), Standards Organisation of Nigeria ( SON ), Bank of Industry ( BoI ), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and others serve as facilitators of businesses and not obstacles to business development in the country.

    Similarly, the Ondo State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Timehin Adelegbe, said the implementation of the programme was timely.

    “It is coming at a period that the Akeredolu administration is intensifying efforts at creating a conducive environment for small scale businessmen in the state,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Ogoni cleanup: FG, IOCs, Ogoni leaders sign trust fund agreement

    The Ogoni Trust Fund escrow agreement was signed on Friday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The agreement was signed by the federal government, the international oil companies, IOCs, and representatives of the Ogoni people at a meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

    The agreement signing signaled a major landmark in the Ogoni cleanup exercise.

    It puts in place all the financial arrangements to start draw down of the first tranche of the funding for the Ogoni Trust Fund.

    The total sum expected to be paid by the Nigerian government and IOCs into the fund in the next five years is one billion dollars.

    Speaking during the short ceremony, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said that signing of the escrow agreement “is one that shows clearly that not only are we committed to ensuring that cleanup is done but also that we are committed to ensuring that it’s done transparently.”

    He said the presence of representatives of the international oil companies and the Ogoni leaders at the signing of the agreement showed that government wanted everyone to be carried along in the process as well as to ensure that the process is one that can be audited.

    The Vice President said there had been expressions of interest by companies to be involved in the cleanup of Ogoniland, noting that some of them had been identified as likely parties.

    “We are certainly looking forward to doing something quickly and seeing that this exercise not only begins but is concluded as expeditiously as possible,” he said.

    Professor Osinbajo explained that the cleanup exercise would be expensive while the complete cleanup would take between 25 and 30 years, adding that it showed the “extent of the damage that has been done over decades in Ogoniland.”

    He also spoke on consultations between government and the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, which began in 2017, and has seen him visit oil-producing communities in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s new vision for the Niger Delta.

    He said the new vision “is one that we intend to stick with and one that we intend to execute as faithfully as is humanly possible,” and has resulted in the establishment of the Maritime University in Okorinkoko, Delta State.

    He said the cleanup of Ogoniland is part of the new vision.

    Also speaking, Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jubril, said a complete list of activities has been line up from now to the end of the year for the actual remediation exercise in Ogoniland to begin.

    The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ogoni Trust Fund, Olawale Edun, had earlier in his address, said they were “set for the full roll out of the of the Ogoniland cleanup project.”

    He said the sum of US$170 million has already been put in process as the first tranche to begin the drawdown of money into the Ogoni Trust Fund.

  • Herdsmen: Buhari urges implementation of ECOWAS protocols

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday blamed the non-implementation of two ECOWAS protocols on free movement of persons, goods and services for the lingering herders and farmers conflicts in West Africa.

    Buhari said this while declaring open the ECOWAS Ministerial Meeting on Conflicts between Herders and Farmers in the region organised in partnership with the countries’ ministries of Agriculture and Interior in Abuja.

    Represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the president stated that the protocols were necessary in the discussions to proffer lasting solution to incessant killings in the region as a result of the conflict.

    “Two ECOWAS Protocols are critical to the conversation that we are going to have here today.

    “The 1979 Protocols of free movement of persons, goods, capital and services and the protocol relating to transhumance in 1998.

    “Regrettably, what we have been confronted with over the years is the failure to fully follow and enforce the terms of these protocol and in some cases the failure to activate sections of the protocols.

    “So that where for example transhumance certificates are to be used and endorsed by medical or immigration officials this is not the case; this has to change.

    “We can no longer continue to tolerate the undocumented movement of persons that simply contribute to the escalation of our security challenges.

    “We must be able to track the movement; we must ensure that the protocols are complied with and relevant sections are activated,’’ he said.

    The President said the vision of integration of the ECOWAS founding fathers must not be allowed to be derailed by a failure to comply with the safeguards and conditions that they in their wisdom and foresight embedded in the protocols.

    He said that was why Nigeria had taken the lead in organising the conference bringing together senior government officials with oversight for agriculture and internal security in the region and beyond to proffer solutions to the lingering problem threatening national security and regional security as well.

    Buhari noted that the economic implications were quite worrisome considering that no fewer than 70 per cent of the ECOWAS made a living by agriculture.

    According to him, many of the countries in the region are already struggling with food security and the violence if unchecked will lead to catastrophe.

    The President stated that the grazing of cattle along long distances and the whole transhumance experiences needed to be reviewed in favour of ranching.

    He said ranching was a more productive way of breeding cattle rather than work long distances, adding that the region must explore all the options and look for new and creative solutions to resolve the problem.

    He said the solution should be holistic from law enforcement to climate change and reforms in current methods and practices of crop and animal production.

    “We simply must move with the times and modernise our thinking and approach to the issues that face us,’’ he stated.

    Buhari said that the federal government and states were collaborating to work out an acceptable plan to quell the conflicts by proper management of land resources.

    “We just concluded the work plan jointly put together by the States and Federal governments on the sustainable resolution of herders/farmers’ conflicts and we are now at the point of implementing that plan,’’ he said.

    Gov.Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, told correspondents that he was grateful to the Ministry of Interior and other sister ministries backing the conference as well as the regional governments for participating.

    “There could not have been a better time for this conference having been bedeviled throughout the sub region with the crisis of farmers/herdsmen.

    “There is the need for cooperation/collaboration and synergy amongst all the states and countries within the sub-region to find lasting solutions to this problem.

    “We have been with the farmers/herdsmen crisis from time immemorial and as things are changing daily, urbanisation, population explosion, limited land for farming and difficulties in getting grazing to take place effectively due to climate change.

    “There is need for time-to-time for collaboration between the constituting states to come together to find lasting solution,’’ he said.

    The governor assured that governors, especially those whose areas were being affected by the crisis, would ensure the implementation of decisions of the conference to curb the conflict.

    NAN

  • Osinbajo decries religious killings

    Deeper Life Bible Church inaugutrates new auditorium

     

    The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has decried killings of clerics and bombings of Mosques and Churches, saying it was the highest level of wickedness.

    He spoke on Tuesday at the inauguration of the new auditorium of the Deeper Life Bible Church Headquarters in Gbagada, Lagos state.

    The Church also unveiled its new logo. The event was witnessed by dignitaries across all walks of life; clerics from Nigeria, Africa, Europe and the United States also stood to be counted.

    The ultra-modern auditorium, with about 30,000-seat capacity, has a big main bowl consisting of a four-story amphitheater with central air conditioning units, chiller farm and air handling units, among other things.

    According to Osinbajo,, the right to freedom of worship is also a right to build the church.

    He said it is devilish for anyone to kill in a place of worship, noting that all the killings going on in the name of herdsmen or Boko Haram were a ploy by the devil to cause religious war in Nigeria.

    He urged the Christians must not lose focus, but do more in propagating the gospel of Jesus Christ.

    “Nobody can stop the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord is building His church and the gate of hell cannot prevail against the church.

    He urged the church to pray for the nation and the government, saying that running a government is like a spiritual warfare.

    “It is the duty of the Church, as we are to pray for those in government because governance is a spiritual warfare. If anyone does not know that, I know. I ask the Church to pray for every one of us in the position of authority in this land.

    “We are called to bring men and women to salvation, even those who kill. The enemy wants us to stand on our pulpits and preach hate but we will obey the Lord Jesus Christ, who said we must love our enemy and pray even for those who persecute us. There is no person born or yet to be born that can stop the gospel of Jesus Christ.

    “I see this great place being dedicated for the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ and worship of the saints. There will be peace in this place. The time for the return of Jesus Christ is near and we must propagate the gospel.”

    Osinbajo commended the Deeper Life Bible Church, for the new auditorium, describing it as a building with modern technology and well equipped facilities.

    He noted that the surroundings were investments in the community with the connecting bridge, street lights and greatly improved access roads.

    He also commended the General Superintendent of the Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, for his humility and commitment to spread the undiluted gospel of Jesus Christ.

    Lagos state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Lola Akande, described the project as an achievement, a labour of sacrifice over the years, adding that it is one to be proud of.

    He commended the Church for the multi-level car park and bridge constructed in the community, adding that the church has  impacted positively on the state as a mega city.

    “Let me reassure every one of our commitment to ensure  harmonious relationship among all residents in the state. We will continue to uphold and respect the rights of every citizen to freedom of worship and ensure that other people’s rights are not infringed upon.”

    Kumuyi, who said the edifice was due to many sacrifices of the Church members within and outside the country, prayed God to continue to reward and bless His people.

    He commended the Lagos State Government and residents of Gbagada for their support, adding that the Church was mindful of its social responsibilities to the community.

    He urged the gathering that as Christ lives in them, they should also express the Christ in them.

    “The ways of God are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. He will build his Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”