All Posts in "Sanwo-Olu"

Igbo Traders Back Sanwo-Olu’s Second Term Bid

Igbo traders in Lagos State have passed a vote of confidence on the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, endorsing his second term bid.

The traders, under the Ndigboamaka Progressive Markets Association, said they unanimously support the governor’s re-election in appreciation of the state government’s business policies and infrastructure development, which support their trades.

The governor got the endorsement at the 2022 All Markets Conference organised by the association in Amuwo Odofin area of the state.

Secretary General of Ndigboamaka Traders’ Association, Chinedu Ukatu, in an address to the governor, said: “Mr. Governor, you have not formally told us whether you are seeking re-election or not, but I want to tell you that all the market leaders seated here today are yearning for a second term for you.

“Anytime you walk, we will walk with you. I have been directed by all market leaders under the auspices of Ndigboamaka Progressive Markets Association in all the 58 dealer markets, to tell you that we have endorsed you for second term to show appreciation for your friendly policy and infrastructure projects initiated to help our businesses.”

Sanwo-Olu described the endorsement as a mark of general acceptance of his administration’s efforts to deliver ‘Greater Lagos’ and strengthen the culture of good governance for which the state is reputed.

The support, he said, comes with an assurance of more development programmes to be expected from his administration.

He said he wont take Ndigbo’s support for granted and reassured them of the state government’s continued collaboration to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

He said Igbo traders remained prominent players in the economic growth of the State, noting that Lagos’ development narrative would not be complete without the mention of entrepreneurial spirit of the Igbo.

He added: “This is another moment for our government to recognise our Ndigbo brothers and sisters for their commitment to the growth and development of Lagos. Certainly, Ndigbo traders have been part of the good story of Lagos; your entrepreneurial spirit is second to none and the Igbo enterprising spirit has become a case study in Harvard, which is the biggest business school in the world.

“Contribution to the livelihood of your host communities have been acknowledged and in Lagos, we have created together an economy that has continued to grow and position our nation as the biggest economy in Africa. Trading is a veritable link between producers and consumers, which is the area the Ndigbo traders have tirelessly worked to define the growth trajectory of our dear State. I’m happy that our modest interventions for more growth in this area are visible and being recognised.”

Pledging that his administration would continue to protect the business interests of the Igbo people, Sanwo-Olu promised to make the state habitable for non-indigenes that abide by the laws of the state.

He said his administration would continue to seek peaceful co-existence among all ethnic nationalities cohabiting in Lagos, stressing that the ethnic groups must see themselves as different sides of a coin that shouldn’t have anything against one another.

He said: “We have to come to the understanding that we all have different roles to play in keeping Lagos safe for business and living. We are all important stakeholders in Lagos project, whether it is Government, traders and private sector individual. We must continue to foster peace and harmony through an avenue like this conference, using the interaction to make Lagos better for everyone of us.”

 

admin by — May 6, 2022 in Ndigbo 0
Ramadan: Sanwo-Olu Urges Muslims To Pray for Peace In Nigeria

Lagos Governor,Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has urged Nigerian  Muslims  to use the ongoing Ramadan period to pray for the country so that peace can reign.
Sanwo-Olu,who gave the charge at the Annual State House Ramadan Tasfir for  2022 ,said it is only in the atmosphere of peace that the nation can witness development.
He was represented at the event by his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat.
 He added that Muslims should pray to prevent  Satan from  taking over the land as anti-social vices such as kidnapping, killing and many more are on the increase in the country.
He said: “I implore all Muslims to pray for this country so that we have peace. And that the spirit of shai’tan does not take over our land. All these killings, kidnapping, banditry and so on, we have to pray that Almighty Allah takes control of our country and bring back peace and happiness because without it nothing can happen. So, we have to pray for peace”
He suggested that in tackling the myriad of challenges facing the country, particularly insecurity, Nigerians need to seek intervention from all spheres and ensure that they do their best to restore peace and bring back humanity that the nation is known for.
In his remarks,Prince Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi, Commissioner for Home Affairs, said the current administration has kept the tradition of identifying with religion as a great partner in governance.
He enjoined all Muslim faithful to commit Lagos State and the Country at large into the hands of God as they pray throughout Ramadan.
He also urged all Muslim to avail themselves the training and serenity that Ramadan affords to cleanse their hearts, enrich their souls with virtues and dedicate themselves to the good of humanity and development of the nation.
In his lecture titled “Building the society upon the principles and teaching of Ramadan, Professor Ahmed Adedeji of the Department of Pharmacology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, stated that the oneness and goodness to one another exhibited by Islamic faithful during the month of Ramadan should be harnessed for the development of the nation.
He further urged clerics to be more involved in governance, adding that religious leaders should support the government through picking areas of the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda set by the government and ensuring proper advocacy.
admin by — April 4, 2022 in News 0
Don’t Displace Us, Apongbon Traders Beg Sanwo-Olu

The Iyaoloja General, Akpongbon/Ebute-Ero Marketers’ Association, Rukayat Olusola Balogun,has pleaded with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu not to displace the traders in the market.
She made the plea  on Monday when Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu assessed  the burnt  Apongbon bridge and the market .
The traders,she said, have occupied the place for 50 years, adding that displacing them from the market means robbing them of their only means of livelihood.
Some of the embattled traders displayed placards with inscriptions such as: “We are not criminals, please help us,” “Don’t displace us, we are traders, “We add value to Nigerian economy,’ among others, the traders said: “This is an ECOWAS market where traders from other African countries buy and sell. “We are begging the Federal, Lagos State and the local governments to pity our condition and allow us to do our legitimate business here.
“There are about five markets operating from here.I don’t think there is anywhere in Lagos State that can accommodate all of us.”
Earlier in his remarks,Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu lamented that the traders have refused to take responsibility for public assets.
He added:“All the things that were happening on that bridge are totally unacceptable.Between the last two years and now, we’ve had eight fire incidents on our various bridges; the one approaching the International Airport, the one towards Mile 2 to the one going towards Apapa, we had an issue with one approaching from Alaka,” he added.
He warned the traders that the government cannot assure them of the safety of the bridge, their lives and property if they remain there.
“This is a clear testimony of how public assets should not be turned to. And so we’ve given seven days’ notice. And I want to reiterate, Wednesday is the deadline for everybody that has anything to have left there.
“We’re going to start excessive clearing of the place. It is after that, that we can even get all the structural engineers. This bridge was built by Julius Berger in 1974. So thankfully, they are still around us. So it’s only after then that they can even come and do the assessment.”
He assured that the state government will do its best to ensure that normalcy is restored as soon as possible.
admin by — March 29, 2022 in News 0
Why We Launched  Lagos Ride Taxi Scheme-Sanwo-Olu

Lagos  Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu,has  rolled out the first batch of 1,000 brand-new GAC-branded automobiles in the state.
Codenamed: “Lagos Ride”,the scheme was launched in order to ensure the take-off of safe, comfortable and modernised taxi scheme in the state.
The initiative is a partnership between Lagos State-owned IBILE Holding Limited and CIG Motors Company Limited, with the objective to provide clean and reliable means of taxi movement across the metropolis at affordable cost, using brand-new vehicles.
According to the state government,operators are required to make about N1.9 million down payment, of which the sum covers the 20 per cent equity of cost of vehicle, registration and insurance.
 Each car being used in the scheme,the government said, comes with technology-enabled security features that monitor every journey undertaken.
Launching the scheme, Sanwo-Olu said the state had moved another step forward in its drive to develop an efficient transportation model in tune with modernity and comfort.
The governor said the aim was not to run existing hailing ride operators out of the business, but to offer safer alternatives and clear the roads of rickety cars being used for taxi business.
The scheme, he said, will provide opportunities to the operators to become owners of the vehicles within a three to four years period.
He added: “The need to provide better, dignifying and more rewarding means of transportation and livelihood for unemployed and underemployed population gave birth to the new ‘Lagos State Taxi Scheme’, which will be operated on a lease-to-own basis. Under this arrangement, a beneficiary will be provided a brand-new car which will become the driver’s property after completion of the payment of the vehicle’s subsidised cost.
 “This taxi scheme will complement the various bus services which are making significant impact in the lives of our people; the water transport service, which is recording unprecedented patronage, as well as the Blue and Red Line Rail services which are on course to commence commercial operations between the last quarter of this year and the first quarter of 2023.”
To improve riders’ and passengers’ security, Sanwo-Olu said a full security gadget, including a 360 dashboard camera that will give 24-hour audio-visual feeds to the control centre, had been pre-installed on each car deployed for the scheme.
He added that each car came with a physical panic button that could be used by anyone on board in case of assault or emergency. The panic button, the Governor said, is also on the mobile application and is connected to the Control and Command Centre.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the automobile assembly plant being set up in Lagos – another component of the partnership between CIG Motors’ and the State Government – stood at 60 per cent completion, with anticipated launch and start of operations expected in September.
He said: “What we are witnessing today is that Lagos is moving away from the era of rickety kabu kabu to brand-new, comfortable and safe transport systems. The multiplier effect of this singular initiative on job creation, youth employment and economic growth and development in the State cannot be overstated.”
Commissioners for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladehinde, described the scheme as “another milestone achievement” by the State Government, noting that the initiative had joined an array of other innovative solutions initiated in the transport sector, which were targeted at redefining public transportation.
To make the rides affordable, the Commissioner said the technology on which the scheme is operated had made ride-sharing possible for passengers, who would agree to share ride and share transit costs.
Chairman of CIG Motors in Nigeria, Diana Chang, said the roadmap for the urbanisation of the transportation system in Lagos started in November 2019 when the Governor and members of his cabinet visited the Republic of China for bilateral partnership. The launch, she said, is the glorious end of the partnership sealed with Chinese investors.
 “We are using this partnership to promote a Greater Lagos where opportunities abound for citizens of the State, while creating a win-win model for all stakeholders,” she said.
Managing Director of IBILE Holding, Abiodun Amokomowo, said over 5,700 drivers had downloaded the driver’s mobile apps as of last Tuesday, out of which 1,786 drivers submitted applications.
Main Admin by — March 24, 2022 in News 0
Sanwo-Olu Performs  Ground  Break For Oak Heights On Eko Atlantic City

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has broken the ground for the commencement of the construction of Oak Heights
The Oak Heights is projected as a colossal residential high-rise of 33 floors befitting the class of the affluent and flush.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The Oak Holdings, Mr. Olukayode Olusanya explained that  the Oak Heights is designed to be the tallest residential building dotting the skylines of Eko Atlantic City.
He also said the development manifests architectural magnificence in luxury buildings and finesse in real estate engineering.”
He added:“The apartments boast of the opulence of fine spacious living where residents can enjoy about 50,000 square metres of expansive building area, 75-foot long pool, spa rooms with an ambience of ease, top of the line fitness centres, tranquil and lavishly appointed conference rooms, maisonettes and villas with suspended pools, apartments with generous living spaces and ultra-luxury finishes.”
He said the Oak Heights brings to life a new type of structure that perfectly embodies the 21st century age of technical ingenuity and extreme inequality, adding that the building represents a heady confluence of engineering prowess, architectural phenomenon and an unparalleled concentration of personal wealth.
He also introduced the evolved operational and management team; led by Engr Elie El-Rassi as the Chief Operations Officer; Engr Ali Hashie; Project Manager; who has built a minimum of 2 towers within the Eko Atlantic City.
Commenting, Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, implored private operators in the built environment to collaborate with the state government in bridging the housing deficit in Lagos.
He said the Lagos State Government is building housing schemes as part of an effort to increase the housing stock in the state in fulfillment of its promise to provide decent houses to the citizenry on a continuous basis.
The governor said the state government is encouraging the private sector and also supporting individuals with a robust mortgage system.
According to him, in some of the housing schemes, the state government is encouraging the citizens to pay five percent of the cost of the building and move in, while the balance is defrayed over time.
He said, “We are set to commission not less than four housing schemes before the end of the year in line with our plans to increase the housing stock in the state. This is in the fulfillment of the promise made to the people that provision of decent housing will be a continuous activity.”
Main Admin by — March 22, 2022 in Property 0