Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the French government have pumped over N200 million into the Nigerian creative industry. This was made known at the opening night of the 2023…
The post Sanwo-Olu, France pumps over N200m into creative industry appeared first on The Nation Newspaper.
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday, has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress, to shelve its planned nationwide strike protest against fuel subsidy removal.
This is as he reassured residents that his second term will focus more on all-inclusive government through the THEMES plus agenda.
Sanwo-Olu who spoke at the sideline of the second term inauguration thanksgiving service held for him and his deputy, Deputy Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos, said the planned strike won’t resolve the issues of subsidy removal and accompanying hike in prices of pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, known better as petrol.
The governor said, “Strike will not resolve anything; it won’t address the issue. The point should be how to ensure a sustained turnaround in our economy.
“The president mentioned better wages, and we started that in Lagos in January, and I hope other states can key into it. We don’t need to wait for the national government, we just need to reflect on what the challenges are in the country and seek ways to resolve them.
“So I plead with the NLC to not turn the subsidy issue into a political one. The leadership should know they are leading people and so there is a need to restrain themselves.
“Let us be patient and work with the president. NNPC has said it has more than enough fuel to go around, so there is no need to heat the polity.”
Speaking earlier, Sanwo-Olu said the thanksgiving service was important to acknowledge God’s help to individuals, Lagos State and Nigeria, as well as committing the second term of his administration into God’s hand.
He said: “We started by thanking God on Friday at our various divisional mosques and today we are here at church to continue to acknowledge the Almighty God who has helped us as a state and nation. We also want to commit the beginning of our second tenure to ask God for directions and to put everything in front of Almighty God.
“It will certainly be a second term that Lagosians should expect a lot more from us. What we have promised is a THEMES+ agenda which is human-centric. It is an agenda that takes into account everything in THEMES agenda and adds a bigger flavour to it- a plus component, which itself will ensure that no one is left behind.
“We have learned from the last four years and we want to build a better inclusive governance in which not only will we be doing a lot of hard infrastructure but will also want to do a lot of soft infrastructure since that will touch the lives of our people directly; specifically palliatives that will bring succour and better relief for our citizens even in a difficult time with global economic issues.
“Our citizens need to understand that though the government cannot do everything, we need to be able to bring them out of poverty and speak to what their needs are. So it is a purposeful human-centric agenda that will ensure that no one, no gender, no tribe or religion will be left behind. And we are holding ourselves accountable to that.”
In his sermon on ‘Unity: Catalyst for Godly Possibilities’, the Provost of the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Very Revd. Dr. Adebola Ojofeitimi, urged the people to remain united so that things can work effectively.
He urged Lagosians to embrace and work for the unity of Lagos State and Nigeria. This, the Provost said, would help to build a vibrant state and country for the collective good of all.
The cleric said it was through unity that Lagos was able to witness monumental achievements which included the rail projects and robust transportation system in the state among other developmental growth in the first term of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration.
He said: “In Lagos, we have noticed progress because we are united. In Lagos, we have peace because we are united. The last state executive council worked with the Governor and that is why we can celebrate a lot of achievements in Lagos State.
“Let us work for the unity of the Church of Christ, Lagos State and Nigeria. We must work for our collective good. Let us come together to build the Church of Christ, Lagos State and Nigeria.”
Angela Onwuzoo
The Joint National Association Of Persons With Disabilities, Lagos State Chapter, has urged the state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to probe the alleged misappropriation of the N500m Disability Fund by the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs.
The association said the state Special People’s Law established the disability fund to advance the cause of PWDs in the state, adding that LASODA has been receiving N500m annually since 2016 without its members getting the full benefits of the fund due to mismanagement.
The chairman of the association, Dr. Adebukola Adebayo, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing organised by JONAPWD in collaboration with all disability clusters in the state.
Adebayo blamed the failure of the state governor to constitute the governing board of LASODA to monitor the leadership and activities of the agency since he assumed office in 2019 as the major reason for the alleged misappropriation.
LASODA is an agency of the state that was established by the Lagos State Special People’s Law of June 2011 to uphold the rights of all persons living with any form of disability in the state by safeguarding them against all forms of discrimination and giving them equal rights and opportunities.
Adebayo said, “The Lagos State Government needs to urgently address alleged misappropriation of the fund currently ongoing in the LASODA, thereby denying over 2.5 million persons with disabilities in the state their rights.
“The Lagos State Special People’s Law (SPL) established the Disability Fund to advance the cause of PWDs in the state, and since 2016 has been receiving 500 million naira annually.
“However, the lack of transparency in the process of administering the 500 million naira disability fund has further worsened poverty and exclusion in the community.
“Since the dissolution of the LASODA Governing Board in 2019, there has been no governing board to provide oversight and administrative function to the agency, as provided by the SPL.
“This lacuna has helped the gross mismanagement of funds to foster within the agency as there are no consequences for misconduct.”
Adebayo also accused LASODA of non-adherence to the state’s Procurement Law, noting that the award of contracts by the agency was a gross violation of the law.
“Specifically, LASODA awarded contracts to a company with no legal or corporate identities—and some not eligible for the award they got,” he said
Continuing, he said persons with disabilities in the state were being owed empowerment and social security support funds.
He explained, “Some of the eligible beneficiaries of the 100,000 and 50,000 naira empowerment and social security support fund are yet to receive the fund till now, despite that LASODA claimed to have spent 10 million naira on that already.
“There are other instances where monies have been approved for PWDs, but after the public announcement and token shared before the media, nothing is ever heard again.
“For example, the 12 million naira given to select PWDs present at the one-day with the Governor in December 2020 were not given to all beneficiaries. While some attendees got N100,000 each, some were given N50,000 each and some did not receive anything.”
He urged Sanwo-Olu to address their concerns within the next 14 days or PWDs would be forced to embark on protests until the government harkens to their cry.
He further said, “We demand that the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwoolu urgently, constitute the LASODA Governing Board with all disability clusters represented to give direction and inclusiveness in the management of the agency and avoid the mismanagement of funds which has further led to the impoverishment of over 2.5 million PWDs in the state.
“Initiate an independent audit of the agency and its managers to expose the fraud and corruption in the execution of projects and non-compliance with the Lagos State Procurement law.
“Ensures the immediate disbursement of unpaid N100,000 and N50,000 empowerment and social security support funds respectively to all beneficiaries.
“End the favoritism in allocating funds to specific disability clusters, which have led to the marginalization of some disability groups in the state.”
When contacted, the General Manager of LASODA, Mr. Dare Dairo, described the allegation as cheap emotional blackmail, noting that the N500m disability fund that the association was talking about was in the state government coffers.
Dairo said, “My agency is under a ministry and the government has a structure. All those things that they said are not so. Adebayo is alleging that I have mismanaged N500m right, let him bring his evidence. What is happening is a deliberate attempt to run somebody down. Whatever they are saying does not represent the general impression of all people with disabilities in Lagos State.
“Now, in government, there are processes and procedures for everything. There is a statutory provision in the law for the N500m. It does not mean that the N500m was put in LASODA’s account. Let them go and find out from the appropriate authority how much has been released to LASODA. Adebayo knows this, he was on the previous board. Their allegation is just emotional blackmail. For those that were being owed, the payment is ongoing.”
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The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has ordered the demolition of three two-storey buildings in Banana Island following the collapse of a seven-storey building in the area.
Sanwo-Olu gave the order on Saturday during his visit to the site of the collapsed seven-storey building and inspection of other infrastructure around the Island.
At 310 Close, he ordered the demolition of the two-storey building because it was an illegal structure, without approval.
Also at 306 Close, the governor ordered the removal of two-storey buildings adjacent to each other because they were constructed under the powerline and under water.
While speaking at the site of the collapsed seven-storey building, he blamed the unfortunate incident on the irresponsibility of the developers and some of the citizens that just wanted to make quick money.
Sanwo-Olu also blamed the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and National Inland Waterways Authority, for allegedly granting extension of the line of Banana Island.
According to him, the incident shows that the Lagos State building officers are not alive to their responsibilities, and officers found culpable will also be sanctioned.
“We are at the site of the last unfortunate building collapse in Banana Island Lagos. Like it has been reported before now, there has been a lot of investigation that is going on right now and you can see that they are still clearing the rubbles at the site.
“We have given an order to stop work, not only at this site but also in all of the construction sites in Banana Island.
“I think that the exercise we are doing today is not really just about this location. You have all seen the extent of what I will call unapproved extension into the water, at the back of each of the land that is abutting water.
“You can see that the original line for Banana Island is even not where we are. It’s way in front there and you can see that there are several extensions that have been granted by both the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and NIWA.
“These are the two federal agencies that have been culpable for those extensions.
“From what I have been told all of the four buildings at the back have never even applied for approvals. The illegality is real and so that is why we are going round other properties in Banana Island.
“Excuses have been given that they don’t have access and this is not acceptable. This is a total recklessness of all of the developers and we will make a strong point out of this place and all-around Banana Island and in other developments that we have,” he said.
The governor said that an external seven-member committee had been set up with two weeks mandate to independently ascertain what had gone wrong.
He said that the outcome from the committee would further strengthen the government to be able to come up with a robust workplan that could be enforced going forward.
“We have had to change staff here and there so that we can bring forward a robust and very strong monitoring offices. But we believe that we are still far from, we are still short on it, I must say.
‘“We will continue to do what we need to do to ensure that we keep the lives of our residents safe at all times,” Sanwo-Olu said.
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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led Lagos State Government on Wednesday vowed to prosecute anyone rejecting old naira notes as legal tender across the state.
In a statement by the state’s Commissioner, Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, the governor said since the Supreme Court judgment was yet to rule on the matter, the old N200, N500, and N1,000 still remain legal tender.
The statement read, “The Lagos State Government wishes to put on record the patience and calmness of Lagosians following the controversy generated by the Naira shortage crisis.
“The State Government has joined the dispute at the Supreme Court, which today adjourned the hearing of the matter till February 22. When the matter first came up on February 8, the apex court said the old notes remained legal tender.
“That position has not changed. The State Government hereby warns those rejecting the old notes to desist from doing so or face prosecution. It is against the law to reject the old notes as doing so is contrary to the position of the Supreme Court.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu urges Lagosians to remain law-abiding and shun mischief makers who may exploit this temporary situation to promote their anti-people agenda. He is confident that the Judiciary will resolve all the issues around the currency shortage crisis.
To cushion the effect of the Central Bank of Nigeria directive on the old notes, especially on the vulnerable among us, Lagos State has started the distribution of the food packs promised by the governor. The 50% fares slash on all state transportation facilities continues, as directed by Mr Governor.”
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Grace Edema
The wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has emphasised that the availability of efficient and accessible Primary Healthcare will safeguard the health of the people.
Speaking at the commissioning of a PHC named after her; Dr. Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu Primary Health Centre, Omotoye Estate, built by the Orile Agege Local Council Development Area Chairman, Mr. Johnson Babatunde, explained that no government should downplay or trivialise Primary Health System.
She said, “In all of these, the State Government perfectly understands the importance of a strong, efficient, and accessible Primary Healthcare System to the overall goal of safeguarding the health of the people.
“As a matter of fact, no government worth its salt should downplay or trivialise Primary Health System. Being the first point of call for the people in our communities, we cannot afford a situation whereby the PHC system is not effective and functional.
She added that the availability PHC system would reduce pressure on secondary and tertiary health facilities, saying it helped to keep people well and improve their quality of life.
“We certainly cannot cope with the consequences of not getting it right at the PHC level, as it has the overall mandate of supporting people to manage their health and achieve better health for all.”
Johnson whose administration commissioned two other projects on Tuesday, within the LCDA, including Orile Primary School and Taofeek Adaranijo Event Centre, explained that since 2017, it had embarked on numerous infrastructural, developmental, human and educational programs and projects that would impact the lives of the people.
He said, “In all, our aim is to renew, restore and rebuild on the existing legacies, as an administration that is passionate about the well-being, educational and economic growth of Orile Agege LCDA. We embarked on numerous projects and programme. “
The speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa, said, “The LCDA has become so important to us in Lagos State. Looking at what we have here in our Primary Health Centre, you can see the different projects that are being done here in Orile Agege.”
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Some passengers of the Bus Rapid Transit in Lagos State, on Friday, commended the state government for giving them succour as the seven-day 50 per cent fare slash on state-run buses got underway. The passengers spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos as Nigerians continued to face the cash and fuel scarcity gripping
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