The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on Sunday urged entrepreneurs to tap into investments opportunities in the state, saying the Lagos International Trade Fair has always been an eventful experience for buyers, sellers, producers, consumers, and government both locally and internationally.
He noted that not only has Lagos state government and the indigenous entrepreneurs actively participants at the fair but that the fair has been hosted in Lagos state consistently for over three decades.
Ambode said the numerous trade experiences which the fair has helped to facilitate will translate to increased the GDP for the state, enhanced socio-economic capital for citizenry through job creations, new investments, business opportunities and network that sprung up for the past ten days.
Earlier in his welcome address, president, Lagos chamber of commerce and industry, Mr. Babatunde Ruwase, applauded the governor’s disposition and commitment to the promotion of close collaboration between the Lagos State Government and the organized Private Sector in Lagos State.
"We also appreciate his inclusive approach to governance. Every segment and part of the state is feeling the positive impact of his governance”.
He reminded the governor on the request for a permanent Trade Fair facility in Lagos.
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s quest to be re-elected as Lagos State Governor for a second term may have run into troubled waters as 50 council chairmen loyal to Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Ambode’s estranged godfather, have met and pledged their support for Jide Sanyaolu Sanwonolu, who is alleged to be Tinubu’s preferred choice.
This comes a day after Ambode, alongside some members of his cabinet, stormed the headquarters of the APC in Abuja to get Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for his 2019 bid.
The council chairmen are the most influential grassroots mobilizers under the direct primary system adopted by APC, to pick governorship candidates.
On the other hand, Sanwonolu and Obafemi Hamzat, two prominent members of the APC in Lagos, also picked nomination forms for the governorship election of 2019.
Sanwonolu, who served as a commissioner under Babatunde Fashola, Ambode’s predecessor, is currently the managing director of Lagos State Property Development Corporation (LSPDC).
At a meeting held after he picked up his nomination form, James Odunmbaku, an ally of Tinubu known as “Baba Eto” in the political circle, said “Sanwololu is the incoming governor of Lagos.”
The video below obtained by Daily Post, shows all 57 local government chairman as they signed up to support Sanwonolu.
Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode Inspects the on-going road construction in Igbogbo, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Gberigbe and Agric-Isawo in Ikorodu.
The progress is audacious. The good people of Ikorodu will heave a sigh of relief very soon. #ItesiwajuEko
Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday reshuffled his cabinet, sacking 3 commissioners and appointing 5 new ones.
In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Tunji Bello, the three affected cabinet members are Adebimpe Akinsola, Femi Odubiyi and Anifowoshe Abiola.
The newly appointed cabinet members are Hakeem Fahm (Ministry of Science and Technology); Ladi Lawanson (Ministry of Transportation); Segun Banjo (Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget); Olayinka Oladunjoye (Ministry of Commerce and Industry), and Hakeem Sulaiman (Communities and Communications).
The cabinet reshuffling also included removing some commissioners from heading some ministries and appointing them to others.
Rotimi Ogunleye has been moved from Commerce and Industry to Physical Planning and Urban Development; Steve Ayorinde from Ministry of Information and Strategy to Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture; Kehinde Bamigbetan from Communities and Communication to Ministry of Information and Strategy; Babatunde Durosinmi Etti from Ministry of Wealth Creation to Ministry of the Environment; Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf from Ministry of Youth and Social Development to Ministry of Wealth Creation; Agboola Dabiri from Central Business District to Ministry of Youth and Social Development.
Others include Samuel Adejare from Ministry of the Environment to Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development; Ade Akinsanya from Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development to Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.
In the same vein, Benjamin Olabinjo has been moved from Special Adviser Commerce and Industry to become Special Adviser Civic Engagement, while Kehinde Joseph moved from Special Adviser Civic Engagement to become Special Adviser Housing.
Deji Tinubu, Special Adviser, Sports has been redeployed as Special Adviser to the Governor on Commerce and Industry and Anofiu Elegushi moves from Special Adviser, Transport to become Special Adviser, Central Business District.
The new Commissioners are expected to be cleared by the State House of Assembly while the other redeployment and postings take immediate effect.
Bello said the new appointments and redeployments are intended to create a new vigour and vitality for service delivery which has been the hallmark of the Governor Ambode administration.
The Lagos State Government on Tuesday sealed off the premises of #Chisco Transport, #Ifex Express Limited, and #GUO Transport, among other major commercial transport operators in #Jibowu area of #Yaba, Lagos.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of #Transportation, Olufemi Salami who ordered the seal-off with the approval of the Acting Commissioner for Transportation, Anofiu Elegushi, said the move has become imperative in view of the need to enforce the state government's relocation plan for all inter-state buses to be moved from Jibowu to #Ojota.
Other transport companies sealed off included God Is Good (#GIG) and #Peace Mass Transport, were ordered to immediately stop operation of cargo services around Jibowu.
Elegushi said the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, had earlier this year asked all transporters operating around the Jibowu and the stretch of Ikorodu Road, to relocate their operations to Ojota, where the government had provided a land to accommodate them, now known as ‘Ojota Luxury Bus Station’.
According to him, the Ojota luxury bus station was being made ready by a concessionaire with whom government had entered into an agreement to build it, with modern facilities, provided, adding that all that the transporters were required to do was to comply with the government’s directive to relocate to the new station.
The Permanent Secretary however said that the transporters would be expected to pay the concessionaire, to use the new bus station, but that the amount to be paid would be negotiated.
The Lagos state government has started evacuating articulated vehicles parked along the Apapa-Oshodi expressway.
Olawale Musa, the general manager of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), said the step is a bid to ensure safety and a free flow of traffic on the route.
Musa said the government began clearing the tankers off Apapa-Mile 2 axis on Wednesday. According to him, no responsible government would fold its arms and allow lawlessness and impunity to reign.
He added that the administration of Akinwunmi Ambode, the state governor, is up to its responsibilities and would not shy away from attending to the plight of the people.
He said a special task force comprising the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigerian navy, police, civil defence and LASTMA had been given the duty to rid the road of the tankers.
“This made them park on the main carriageways for days and in the process impeding the free flow of traffic,” Musa said.
“This was largely due to the fact that shipping companies that were supposed to provide holding bays for the empty containers in accordance with the license issued for them to operate in the country have either refused to provide or the ones existing were inadequate.
“The stakeholders have therefore resorted that henceforth, these vehicles are to use the following holding bays and terminals which includes, Comet Terminal, Joatelim, Ballore Transport and Logistics, HBX Terminal, Unity Bonded Terminal, Falcon Terminal, Port and Marine services and Duncan Terminal for their activities.”
He also said all the trucks currently loading at the port would be issued a docket, indicating where they should return their empty containers instead of waiting on the roads to return them.
Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has inaugurated “the first state-owned DNA Forensic Centre in West Africa”.
Governor Ambode expects the facility to go a long way in resolving all forms of crimes, paternity issues, and others through technology which is the modern trend across the world.
See photos below;
In a bid to restore Lagos to its original state, the government has mandated conductors to start wearing uniforms and badges with name tags and identification numbers for easy identification of registered conductors. This move is to check high increase in criminal activities in the state and make the conductor’s job attractive, respected and dignified.
Colossus Gists sought the reactions of Lagosians on the recent move by the state government.
Here are their responses…
Mr. James Tobi
I think it’s a nice one but personally I will suggest that the state government should also devise more means because that alone can not solve the criminal activities in Lagos state.
Eniola Ade
My question is, how do they want to stop crimes by rebranding bus conductors? Let us watch and see their next line of action because I don’t think they can achieve anything of such by mere giving uniforms to bus conductors.
Madam Esther Bisi
I am happy with Ambode’s move to stop all the criminal activities in the state. At least, we will stop hearing cases of ‘one chance’ and the like. I am in support of the new development. The Lagos state government is working.
Mr. Joseph
If Ambode or the Lagos state government thinks it is the right step to go, kudos to them. I don’t have a say on that but I want the Lagos state government to look for other ways to fight criminal activities in the state because Lagos state as a whole is known for that singular act.
Mrs. Agnes Ameh
I don’t support that move, after giving them uniforms what next? Whatever wants to happen will still happen, the uniform will never stop the crimes in Lagos. I advice Ambode to do other new things and stop deceiving us.
Miss Franca Adama
Personally, that’s a good one but I fail to understand the essence of the uniform because with or without uniforms criminal activities will always take place. We have policemen on uniforms but still crime is on the high side. Let us see what comes out of it.
Oby Nnaemeka
I am in support of the new development, at least we will stop having cases of ‘one chance’ and kidnappers in the state. But more means should be introduced because I think with that alone criminal activities can never be halted.
Pastor Akin Gbadebo
The Lagos state government is trying their possible best. I believe now that conductors will duly be respected by Lagosians. This is because they are seen as touts and people who have no future but with the recent move, there would be more credit to their job.
David Gbenga
That’s crazy! Let’s see how they hope to achieve it. I think they should look for other areas to tackle the issue than going so low to the level of bus conductors to curb out crimes in the state. They should dream big and think of something better.
Yemisi Badmus
I think that will help stop crimes to some extent, but I still pledge the support of the government to still look into other areas to fight this criminal activities in the state. This is because it has damaged the great image of Lagos state, people now identify Lagos with criminal activities. I believe they are doing a good job but they should also act fast on other things to help strengthen the state and give the state a new name.
Despite the heavy downpour witnessed across Lagos State, the governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, cast his vote at about 9:31 am, leading scores of electorate to the venue.
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode cast his vote at unity 10, wold A6, Ogunmodede juniors college in Epe Ambode, who was the 12th person to cast his vote among the 458 accredited voters at Ward A6 unit 33, Ogunmodede College, Papa, Epe Local Government, arrived the voting center at about 9:31 am, Worried by the turnout few minutes before casting his vote, the governor appealed to residents to defy the heavy downpour and troop out to perform their civic duties.
Addressing reporters shortly after casting his vote, he said reports from across the state indicate that the whole process has been peaceful.
It would be noted that the heavy rainfalls of today has caused a low turn out of voters in Lagos for the Local Government poll with a lot of areas being heavily flooded by the outcome of the downpour.
The Lagos State Government has announced the restriction of vehicular movement during the Local Government and Local Council Development Areas elections holding across the state on Saturday, July 22, 2017.
The State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, in a statement on Sunday, said the restriction of movement across the state will be enforced between 8 am and 2 pm on Saturday, July 22, to allow for a smooth conduct of the polls and unhindered participation.
He explained that the restriction will allow the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission and the security agencies to distribute electoral materials in good time and ensure the sanctity of free and fair electoral process.
According to the Commissioner, the state is known for the peaceful conduct of elections. He, therefore, urged residents to be peaceful and orderly on Saturday and cast their votes in their respective wards for Chairmen and councillors who are expected to drive development at the third tier of government.
“The police and other security agencies are ready to ensure that the electioneering campaign and the voting on Saturday are conducted smoothly without public disturbance. Every political party, candidates and their supporters and the general public are hereby assured of safety throughout the period of voting and collation.
“However, the government solicits the cooperation of voters and the general public by obeying the restriction order and the general electoral rules in order to ensure a peaceful conduct before, during and after the elections,” Ayorinde said.
The release also quoted Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as urging Lagosians to perform their civic obligations by trooping out with their Permanent Voters Card “to once again demonstrate their belief in the tenets of participatory democracy and the importance of development at the local government level.”
In reaction to the huge menace from the flood that submerged Lekki, Ajah, Epe and other cities of Lagos state, the Lagos government has now advised the residents of the affected areas to either remain indoor or move out entirely if it becomes unbearable.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Commissioner of Environment, Dr. Samuel Adejare.
“You are implored as much as possible to stay indoors unless it is essential to your safety and livelihood. However we strongly advise those who live in lowland and close to water bodies to move upland”, the statement said.
He added that officers from the Ministry have been deployed to coastal areas and sites that are susceptible to flooding as part of efforts to protect the lives and properties of the people.
A section of the road leading to the popular Lagos wharf in Apapa is to be shut down for a year to enable reconstruction budgeted at a whooping sum of N4.34 billion.
Minister of Works, Babatunde Raji Fashola announced that the N4.34bn project is jointly sponsored by Dangote, Flour Mills companies and Federal Government.
The two kilometres road construction between the Nigerian Port Authority and end of the bridge is expected to take one-year starting from Saturday.
He explained that the use of AG Dangote for the construction was to give the road a better outlook with the use of concrete.
According to the minister, the construction is to resolve the challenges usually encountered on the road.
While commending the sponsors of the project, the minister appealed to road users and stakeholders to persevere.
He said:
“We are embarking on what will be the final solution to the massive inconvenience. Businesses and residents in Apapa and its environment have had to endure for a couple of years.
“I like to acknowledge the leadership role of Dangote and Flour Mills who are operators and have also contributed to make this reality. They are doing this as a total Corporate Responsibility without asking for tax holiday or reduction. We are also working on how to ensure free access to Tin Can Island.
“From today that we are handing over the project, the road will take one year to be completed. We need the cooperation of all the stakeholders. There will be some discomfort on the way but we appeal for tolerance and perseverance. It will continue to get better, people should please ensure more to solve the challenge.”
Engr Joseph Makoju from Dangote, said it was co-sponsoring the project to provide an enabling environment for businesses in the area.
He said:
“This is part of our CSR. Businesses have to engage the community where they operate. Today’s CSR has gone to a higher level where we find ourselves embarking on a major infrastructural project.”
The Lagos State Government on Thursday announced the opening of its website to register intending applicants for the 2017 edition of Ready.Set.Work(RSW) scheme.
The scheme is an entrepreneurship and employability initiative designed to equip final year students of tertiary institutions in the state with the right skills to add value to the society.
Special Adviser to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Education, Obafela Bank-Olemoh, who disclosed this at a news conference, said interested applicants would be able to access the website – www.readysetwork.com.ng from June 16, while the training will run from July 1 to September 16, 2017.
He said as an improvement on the initiative, which started in 2016, students of six tertiary institutions in the state would benefit, while three centres have been designated to host the training.
The six institutions, according to Mr. Bank-Olemoh are Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (ACCOED), Lagos State College of Health Science (LASCOHET), Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Lagos State University (LASU), Michael Otedola College of Education (MOCPED) and University of Lagos (UNILAG).
Bank-Olemoh said out of the 12, 000 students, 2,000 final year students would be selected for the training at the three designated centres, while the remaining 10,000 would be selected from students in their penultimate year at the institutions and trained through the online platform and also registered for the RSW Academy.
He said: “When the administration of Governor Ambode came on board, one of the issues he was confronted with from the private sector was that there were major gaps in the work readiness of graduates, and his immediate response was to come up with a scheme to equip graduates from our tertiary institutions with the right skills needed to add value to the society.
“And so, the vision of the RSW is that every graduate from a tertiary institution situated in Lagos must have the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to gain meaningful employment or be self-employed and our plan is to train all graduates in tertiary institutions through the RSW.”
He said beneficiaries of the scheme would be selected to participate only on competence, and would be trained for 13 weeks on labour market, mindset reorientation, 21st century skills, entrepreneurship, employability skills and teacher track.
The aide noted that about 750 of the beneficiaries would be helped to secure internship placement and given skill for life, while there would also be seed funding for winners of the business pitch competition to be held as part of the training.
On sustainability of the scheme and the need to accommodate other tertiary institutions in the State, Bank-Olemoh said plans are afoot to integrate the RSW into the education curriculum of the state, and also expand the modules as well as the benefiting institutions.
Out of the 500 students that were registered for the scheme in 2016, only 422 graduated after the rigorous training with Sarunmi Oluwafemi and Dada Samuel, who emerged overall winners of the pitch competition, walking away with N6million seed funding and N100, 000 monthly working capital for six months.
The second and third place winners also got N500, 000 and N250, 000 respectively with N100,000 working capital for six months.
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, yesterday, vowed to rescue the six kidnapped students of Government Model College, Igbonla, Epe and end activities of abductors in the state.
He made the statement at this year’s Children Day celebration held at Agege Stadium. He described the gunmen as disgruntled elements and clearly stated his administration will not allow the gunmen to disrupt activities in the state.
He said residents need to pray for the safe return of the students and that the celebration would not be complete without rescuing the captives.
We sympathize with the parents of children kidnapped in Igbonla but with the conviction that our military and police force will do their work and rescue our children from this disgruntled elements and bring them back to us safely. We will do all the needful to get them back alive and unhurt”, Ambode said.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, said his administration was committed to protecting children from any form of abuse, child labour or molestation by religiously implementing the Child Rights Law and the Executive Order on Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.
Source
Vanguard
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said the Lagos State Governor does not have the right to push the Corps off the roads.
Assistant Corps Marshal and Zonal Commanding Officer of the commission, Shehu Zaki, said it has the right to operate both on the highways and within the cities.
Lagos Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, had earlier asked the FRSC to limit its activities to only the suburbs of cities and the highways.
According to our source, Zaki said,
“The Governor cannot force us out of the roads, but he can advise us as he has already done.
“That policy of the Lagos state government is even going to help us more and allow us to effectively deliver on our mandate on the highways, even more than before.
“Safety is something that has always been at the heart of FRSC operations and we are doing effectively both within the cities and on the highways,” he added.
Zaki said Ambode’s order had negative implications.
“The implication is that even some members of the public who do not know how we operate have started telling some of our officers to leave the roads, in line with the governor’s call,” he said.
“There are certainly some negative implications to this statement, coming from a state governor and we are mindful of that.
“It did not come as a surprise because it was our own concept; we felt that such a policy will help us to serve the people better,” he added.
Source
Daily Post
Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has terminated the N844b contract for the construction of the 4th Mainland bridge, barely a year he signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a consortium of firms to build the bridge.
Speaking at a ministerial briefing at Alausa, Ikeja, the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Adebowale Akinsanya said the government is now looking at other investors who have shown interest in the contract.
‘Due to the slow pace of work, the contract was terminated. We are now looking for many investors, though interest is very high. ‘The state government has started the proposals.
We have such investors from South Korea, Europe, and the United States, among few others. What we are doing now is vetting the proposals. We do not want to waste any further time. So works are in top progress on the 4th Mainland Bridge.
The investors would be named very soon, the state government will enter into a concession agreement with appropriate investors that deliver the project, he said.
The MoU for the 36 km bridge which was signed on the 25th of May, 2016 was to be financed by Africa Finance Corporation, Access Bank, and other private investors before it was terminated.
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