Tag Archives: Akinwunmi Ambode

Governor Ambode lauds Fashola’s achievements as Lagos Ex-Governor.

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The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Saturday lauded his predecessor in office and Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola for his achievements during the eight years he spent as Governor of the State.

In a meeting at the governor’s office, Governor Ambode, who spoke when he received Fashola and some top officials of the Ministry on a courtesy visit at the Lagos House, Ikeja, described the visit as historic, adding that it was gratifying to receive the Minister for the first time at the Lagos House, Ikeja since he left office on May 29, 2015.

“We want to say that whatever it is that we have done in the last 22 months is just more or less a fall out of the great achievements the former governor had already put in place.

We have decided that we would carry on with a sense of continuity in all the things that have been done.

I had always said that what we wanted was this continuity of the last 18 years, but continuity with improvement and we are happy that all that has been done in the last 22 months is just a continuation of the template the former Governor left behind.”

“We are happy that the sense of collaboration that we have expressed here is what we believe can carry whatever it is that Lagos stands for, moving forward. As you may be aware, Lagos is celebrating its 50 years of existence this year.

“The last 18 years has been so dramatic and historic in terms of the growth and development that we have seen in Lagos, commencing from 1999 when Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu came into office and the eight good years spent by you and the two years we have done. So, obviously, there is a remarkable change between 1999 and now,” Governor Ambode said.

Minister Fashola who described the visit as home-coming for him, said he had come with his team to Lagos as part of a nationwide project monitoring exercise to inspect the job done so far on Federal Government projects.

He assured that the Ministry had made representations to the Federal Executive Council on modalities to pay debts owed State Governments including Lagos State for rehabilitation of federal roads over the years, saying that the debts would be paid through bond instrument.

The Minister also expressed readiness to assist Lagos State power initiative, especially in the rural areas.

Bode George praises Ambode’s performance as Lagos governor.

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A leader of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bode George, has lavished praises on the Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, for the infrastructural projects he has undertaken in some parts of the state.

Mr. George, a former deputy national chairman of the PDP, spoke with journalists at the Sheraton Hotel Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday, during the first Annual Lecture of Swaaya Limited, publishers of Freedom Online newspaper.

He said he was in awe of Mr. Ambode for the infrastructural development the governor had undertaken in Epe Local Government Area of the state. He urged the governor to replicate same in the former’s local government of Lagos Island.

“I have never met this young man, but I must say that I am impressed with his performance so far, especially in the area of infrastructural developments,” Mr George said.

“I don’t know everywhere in Lagos because I hardly go round, but I must sincerely commend him on what he is doing in Epe Local Government. I am very proud of what he is doing there.

“I passed through Epe recently and I thought I was in a different state. I want to appeal to him that when he is done with Epe, he should head back to my local government, which is Lagos Island, so that when he leaves office, not only will Epe people remember him for his performance, but the entire Lagos will remember him and say: ‘Yes, there was one Governor that passed through here and his name is Akinwunmi Ambode.”

Mr. George, a fierce critic of Mr. Ambode’s last two predecessors, Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola, said the incumbent has also done exceedingly well in the area of traffic management in the state.

“I also must commend him in the area of traffic management, especially in the area of traffic decongestion in the state,” he said.

He, however, quickly added that his party will outperform the governor if given a chance to govern the state.

“He is a Yoruba man and he is doing his best, but I know that we as opposition will do better when we get there,” he said.

Since the return of democratic rule in 1999, the PDP has tried but failed to get elected into government house in Alausa, Ikeja.

On Thursday, the opposition leader was, however, more concerned about advising the incumbent governor.

“My advice to him is that he should ensure that the standards of living of Lagosians are improved, especially in the areas of education and healthcare. I must commend him because it is not easy governing a state like Lagos. Lagos is like the New York of the United States,” he said.

Lagos State Government to embark on Local Government assessment tour

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As part of the plans to ensure communal growth and development across the State, the Lagos State Government is set to embark on an assessment tour of Local Government Areas across the State.
This development was announced during a briefing with press men by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communications and Communities, Hon. Kehinde Bamigbetan.

 

According to Bamigbetan, “the assessment was conceived due to the need to ensure that all Local Government Areas, LCDAs and communities in the State key into the plans of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode towards morphing Lagos into a Mega City.”

 

It was also gathered that the assessment tour of LGs/LCDAs across the state will include physical checks on markets, roads, monumental structures among several others.

 

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Hon. Bamigbetan while commenting on this said “the officials will do thorough checks on major markets, deplorable roads, monuments and other structures across the various local governments to determine the nature and also ensure that rehabilitation works are done in conjunction with the LGs involved where necessary.”

 

The Special Adviser reiterated that the assessment tour is in line with the mantra of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode who he said is poised to ensure the Mega City status of Lagos is achieved.

 

While commenting on the timeline on the tour, Hon. Bamigbetan said the process will commence in few weeks

 

Source: Inside Mainland

NGO names Akinwunmi Ambode Best Transparency Governor.

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The Citizen Anti Corruption Volunteer Corps, CACVC, a non-governmental organisation, has honoured Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State for distinguishing himself in the fight against corruption, bribery and fraud in the state and Nigeria at large. The group also honoured Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly and Monday Onyekachi Ubani, second vice president, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA.

Others recognised by the anti-corruption group are Chris Nwaokobia, director general, Change Ambassadors of Nigeria; Great Imo Jonathan, human rights activist, and Jude Akagbusum, president, Institute of Good Governance of Nigeria.

Harris Chuma, executive director, CACVC, said Governor Ambode was honoured as the best governor on transparency and good governance after a painstaking exit survey conducted by the group. He said the honour was in recognition of his sterling performance in office since the inception of his administration in 2015.

“Transparency and good governance merit award, TGMA, has become a meeting point where anti corruptionists converge to brainstorm and lead discussions on varied strategies in curbing the menace of the scourge called corruption. This year marks the observance of CACVC anti corruption, bribery and fraud awareness campaigners’ day, which is set aside to raise awareness about the impact of corruption upon our society.

“We are dedicated to the mission of reducing the incidence of corruption in Nigeria, estimates that a typical governmental ministry loses more than five percent of its revenue each year to corruption. States, local, and federal governments are frequent targets of fraud and corruption. An instance of fraud in government undermines the good work and reputation of all state employees who complete their assigned duties with integrity and honesty, and decreases confidence in public officials,” Chuma said.

The CACVC director said the passionate resolve of his group to encourage and celebrate personalities that had exhibited utmost good faith in the renewed campaign against corruption would continue to occupy a place of interest in the overall configuration of the organisation’s annual anti corruption lecture series.

Nwaokobia, who delivered a keynote address on ‘The Quest for Good Governance, the Lagos Experience’ said the country could achieve the desired good governance if it understudied Lagos State. He said Lagos under the current administration was very transparent in ensuring that it published its monthly revenue generation in the state.

According to him, Governor Ambode’s engagement of the citizenry on a quarterly basis has made him to interact and understand the primary needs of the people. “This has made Lagos the best state in the country. Lagos is a state without land but it has gone into agreement with Kebbi State to produce rice for the state consumption,” he said.

Labour Certifies Ambode, ElRufai, Abdulfatah, Others, “Labour-Friendly” Governors.

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Organized labour has hailed state governors that “promptly pay” monthly salaries of workers and pensions of retirees as it charges defaulting governors to put an end to what it calls “crisis of workers’ compensation” in their respective states. Comrade Issa Aremu, General Secretary, Textile Workers’ Union and member NEC of NLC in a statement in Kaduna at the weekend commended the renewed energy of NLC leadership to ensure public employees in states are paid as at when due. Comrade Aremu also backed the joint Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) 30-day ultimatum issued to Kogi state Government to pay 7-month outstanding workers’ salaries failing which the state faces total labour protests as he also urged government ministries at Federal and State levels to remit contributory pensions of their workers to Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).

 

Comrade Aremu singled out  Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode of  Lagos State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, ALHAJI ABDULFATAH  AHMED OF KWARA STATE and Malam Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State as “labour-friendly” state governors who pay salaries, pensions, promotion increments and yearly increments of their civil servants. According to the labour leader “the greatest assets of states are their employees” saying governors can only demand for discipline and improved productivity from their employees if their workforce are well motivated.

 

Aremu observed that nothing including declining oil revenue could justify delayed or non-payment of workers’ salaries adding that payments of salaries and pension are legitimate entitlements and mark of corporate responsibility of any employer and urged governors to reorder their resources in such a way that labour is seen as a critical factor of development before anything else. “Who ever employs must pay the working man or woman as at when due” he said. He likened non-payment of salaries to what he called “economicide”, which he describes as “a systemic destruction of lives of workers on account of lack of means of livelihood adding that many workers have died due to non-payment of salaries that were never adequate even when promptly paid”.

 

Meanwhile Comrade Aremu also urged Governors who regularly pay their core civil servants to ensure their local government employees and teachers are also regularly paid. He said “state workers are not divisible” when it comes to compensation just as when it comes to workers’ service delivery and productivity to the state. He said governors can only be certified “labour friendly” if all workers in their states, private and public sectors, local and state employees are equally dignified with prompt salaries payment.

 

While hailing President Buhari for bailing out debtor states in meeting the pay obligations to their workers, he said state governors must apply same principle to debtor-local governments adding that 1999 Constitution says that the primary  duty and responsibility as well as the primary purpose of government is the security and welfare of the people which can only be made possible with “suitable and adequate shelter, suitable and adequate food, reasonable national (minimum) living wage, old age care and pensions, and unemployment, sick benefits and welfare of the disabled”.

 

As the economy is officially acknowledged to be in recession, the labour leader urged Buhari administration to intensify move towards reindustrialization through diversification and what he called “wage-led economic recovery”.  He observed that Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) had raised the alarm about low demand for locally produced goods, leading to high inventories and low capacity utilization. “Nigeria can only diversify its economy if workers as consumers are well paid to patronize locally produced goods and services”. He also observed that Anti-corruption campaign cannot be sustained when workers do not receive adequate salaries on time. “A hungry worker is not only angry but vulnerable to graft. There is a link between economic growth and wage payment” he noted.

A Meal A Day Programme In Schools Begins 2016 – Ambode

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Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Thursday said that the government’s “A-Meal-a-Day” programme in the state’s Public Primary schools would commence in 2016.

 
Ambode said this while presenting the year 2016 budget proposal to the Lagos State House of Assembly.

 
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor presented a budget proposal of N662.58 billion.

 
Ambode said that the programme would be done in collaboration with the Federal Government, which would provide 60 per cent of the funding. He said that the state government would provide the remaining 40 per cent.
“This programme promises not only to improve the daily nutrition of our children. It will also create an economy of its own, with opportunities for job creation, income generation, poverty alleviation, and so on,” he said.

 
Ambode said that the state government’s intervention in education would continue in the areas of maintenance of public school buildings and facilities, and provision of basic instructional materials. He listed other areas of intervention to include free textbooks for schools and mandatory capacity building programmes for teachers in public schools.

 

“We intend to launch an advocacy programme `Kick Illiteracy out of Lagos’, starting from year 2016. I am happy to inform you that in 2016, we will develop our e-Curriculum, leading to the distribution of Ibile tablets to students in our public schools,” he said.

 
Ambode said that the revolution at the secondary school level would set a new standard in the educational system.
He said that it would also enhance the knowledge of the children, to enable them to compete effectively with their peers in developed countries. On transportation, Ambode said that the plan in 2016 was to fully operationalise the multi-modal transport system.

 

He said that this would be through the construction of new jetties and completion of work on the Blue-Rail Line project from Mile 2 to Marina.

 
“We will deliver this project in year 2016,” Ambode said.
On security, Ambode said his government would not relent in its efforts at making the state very secure for all residents and visitors in 2016. We will continue to support our security agencies with the necessary tools to fight crime. We will build on the existing cordial relationship with the private sector in ensuring that Security Trust Fund is efficiently utilised to make our state very safe,” he said.

 
Ambode said that a Medical Park would be established in 2016 to make the state a key destination for medical tourism.
“We had also promised earlier to deliver Ayinke House, our foremost facility for mothers, in the second quarter of 2016,” he said.

 

On roads, Ambode said that construction of new roads would commence across the length and breadth of the state in the coming year.

 
“We will place the completion on-going road construction projects and pedestrian bridges on our priority list in year 2016. He said that the government would promote environmentally friendly habits among the populace and complete on-going drainage projects.

 

 

On Agriculture and Food Security, Ambode said that state would collaborate with other states in the development of a commodity value chain, specifically for rice production.

 
“In 2016, we will invest more in Ayobo Fish Farm Estate at Alimosho to boost fish production and provide employment opportunities for our people. In order to secure ourselves food-wise, an Agric Park will be established in 2016,” Ambode said.

 

 

(NAN)

Ambode Inaugurates C’ttee To Boost Power Supply

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Governor Akinwunmi Ambode,Thursday, inaugurates committee to boost household and business power supply, with a charge on them to work assiduously to create an enabling environment that will ensure 24-hour power supply to residents in the state.

 
The Governor who spoke at the Lagos House, Ikeja while inaugurating the Power Committee said it was a common knowledge that power supply is a major challenge, adding that it must be addressed in order to achieve sustainable economic growth and development in Nigeria and Lagos State in particular.

 
He said that in view of the importance of the Lagos economy to the nation and the concerns that have been expressed particularly by the business community, his administration has considered it expedient to constitute an advisory committee on power, adding that no state in the federation is more affected by the state of the power sector than Lagos.

 
The Governor said that Lagos State accounts for over 60 percent of the industrial and commercial activities in Nigeria, emphasizing that the energy requirement for the state is estimated at about 5,000 Mega Watts of which only about 1000 Mega Watts is currently being supplied; hence the need to inaugurate a committee that would ensure the power need of the people is met.

 
He said members of the Committee consist of representatives from the State Government and industry experts from the private sector urging them to provide a sustainable guide in the development of a roadmap for reliable power supply in the state, foster collaboration and develop a congress or platform for all major power stakeholders in the state and the private sector.

 
Members of the Committee include the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Wale Oluwo, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem and the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde.

 
Other members of the committee include representatives of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Transmission Company of Nigeria, Gaslink Nigeria Limited, Falcon Corporation Limited and Egbin Power Plc.

 
Governor Ambode, shortly after the inauguration tasked the committee to make electricity available to Lagosians for both business and domestic use, just as he expressed confidence that they would not disappoint Lagosians.

 
The Governor also hinted that in order to underscore his administration’s commitment to security of the lives and property, his administration has embarked on an aggressive programme of lighting up Lagos and explained that major highways and streets are being connected from point to point using Independent Power Projects (IPPs) and other means effectively.

 
He also encouraged individuals, private homes and corporate organizations to take up streets or roads of their choice and light them up with connections to their meters and generators, assuring that the state government will reciprocate the gesture by giving concessions to them in the payment of their annual Land Use Charges.

 
“In addition, they shall receive Special Commendation letters from the Governor. Such projects will also be commissioned by government officials and Community Development Associations. We believe that this initiative will promote a new culture of co-operation and ownership”, he said.

 
Earlier, Commissioner for Energy, Mr. Wale Oluwo said with the success of the IPPs, the state which provides 24-hour power supply to public facilities, the state government is working towards ensuring that residents in the state can enjoy regular power supply in their homes.

 

Credit : Vanguard

Insecurity: Lagos To Install CCTV In public places

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Reiterating his commitment to protect the lives and property of the people of the state, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has assured that security remains an important area of focus for his administration emphasising that the state needs Close Circuit Cameras, CCTV, in all public places and data of all suspected criminals.

Ambode, made the remarks at a dinner organised in honour of outgoing and incoming board members of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, held in Lagos.
The governor added that it was important for police stations to have the technology to access data from all over the world towards easy tracking of criminal elements.
The governor also stressed the need for the private sector to scale up their support in complementing government’s efforts against insecurity.
According to the governor there was a serious need for the private sector to scale up their support towards government’s effort to tackle insecurity.
He said that it became necessary for the private sector to collaborate with government with the reality that there are not enough security operatives to secure the state, “the next level is to invest in the right technology which will help in the fight against crime.”
The governor, who said that to Police a state with over 21 million people requires a lot more than just additional policemen, urged both members of the Trust Fund and the private sector to help in the area of investing more on technology, which he admitted is not cheap, hence the need for massive support for government.
Commending the outgoing members of the Board for a job well done, Ambode recalled that since November 2007 when the Board was inaugurated after the passage of the law establishing the Fund, a strong partnership has been forged between the government and the private sector to address the security challenges facing the state.
He said: “This fund has generated over N4 billion as well as donations of patrol vehicles and other security equipment by individuals and corporate organisations. This fund has contributed significantly to improve operational capacity of our security agencies particularly the Nigerian Police, thereby increasing the safety of our state and residents.
“I commend the outgoing Board, led by Mr. Remi Makanjuola and the indefatigable, Fola Arthur-Worrey, for the strong foundation they have laid and the establishment of the Fund as a credible institution worthy of support by the private sector. Due to your diligence, commitment and dedication, the Security Trust Fund has become a template of private sector participation in security funding for other States of the Federation to emulate.
“You have made the task of the present Board easy as they will be inheriting a well-established structure and their objective will be to build on what you have done,” the Governor said.
Ambode also expressed confidence in the ability of the new Board to build on the achievements on ground with a view to keeping Lagos safe and secure.
The governor, while reminding the in-coming board members of the enormous task before them, assured the members of the support of the government.
The new Board include: Mr. Oye Hassan Odukale (Chairman), Dr. Abdulrazal Balogun (Executive Secretary), while members are Mr. Herbert Wigwe, Mr. Opeyemi Agbaje, Mr. Yemi Idowu, Mr. Philip Oduoza, Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG, Israel Ajao, Mr. Gbolahon Lawal and Prof. Ademola Abass.

 

Credit : Vanguard

Gov. Ambode Hosts Nelson Mandela’s Widow

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Mrs. Graca Machel Mandela, wife of late South African president, Nelson Mandela has arrived Nigeria. She met with Lagos governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday, 13 November.

 

Graca’s late husband, Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999.

 

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Tinubu Hails Ambode, Fashola As Mile 12-Ikorodu BRT Operation Flags Off

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Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Thursday reassured that he would effectively address the issue of traffic congestion and improve road networks in the state.
Ambode spoke at the commissioning and launch of the Mile 12-Ikorodu Road widening and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) operation. He said the projects showed the government’s commitment to the infrastructural renewal and development of the state.

 

 

“The commissioning is a milestone in public transportation system in the state.
“It is a delivery of world class transport infrastructure that will bring comfort and convenience to commuters, particularly Ikorodu residents,” Ambode said.
He said that the BRT system was initiated as part of strategies to modernise the public transport, like other major city states in the around.

 
“It is intended to provide efficient service that will encourage patronage by the middle-class thereby reducing the number of private vehicles on our roads.
“Today, the BRT system has to a large extent lived up to that expectation,” Ambode said.

 
He commended the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and other stakeholders for a job well done in the development of the project.

 
Also speaking, a National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bola Tinubu commended Ambode and his predecessor, Mr Babatunde Fashola for being creative, intelligent and making Lagos a model city.
Tinubu expressed optimism that Nigeria would succeed beyond people’s imaginations.

 
“We are in the front row now and we will ensure that Nigeria is turned around and succeeds beyond your imagination,” he said.
He urged Lagos residents to embrace, peace, discipline, accountability and continuity.

 
Present at the event was Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun among others.

 

(NAN)

Lagos State Govt. Promotes 150 Firemen

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Gov. Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State, has promoted 150 officers and men of the state Fire Service as part of efforts to save lives and properties.

Ambode, who decorated some of the officers with their new ranks on Monday in Lagos, said the safety of Lagosians and their properties would not be taken for granted.

Represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Seye Oladejo, he described the job of the firemen as dangerous.

Ambode said that the promotion was part of government’s commitment to the improvement of the service and the officers’ welfare.

“The Lagos State Government is indeed very proud of the state fire service.

“The approval of such number of officers for promotion at the same time in one organisation is a sign that the government is proud of their commitment.

“At the same time, I want to assure them of the government’s support to the service. We promise to always improve on the equipment and the welfare of the officers.

“As a government, we have also noticed improvement to response by the firemen to different incidents which is worthy of commendation.

“We are aware of the risk attached to your vocation, we promise to always provide the needed support,’’ Ambode said.

The governor, therefore, urged the promoted officers to put in more efforts as more was required of those that had benefitted.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs Ibironke Sodeinde, urged the officers for more commitment to service, noting that there were people watching the performance of individuals.

Sodeinde said that any one that had done well would be rewarded by man and God.

The Director of Lagos State Fire Service, Mr Rasak Fadipe, commended the governor for the promotion, noting that the exercise would serve as a booster to his men to be committed.

Fadipe said that one Assistant Director was promoted to Grade Level 15, six Chief Fire Superintendent to level 14 and five Assistant Chief Fire Superintendent on level 13.

Also, 47 Principal Fire Superintendent on level 12 were among the promoted.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 114 of the promoted officers were jointly decorated with their new ranks by the commissioner, permanent secretary and fire director at the Ministry’s board room, Alausa Secretariat.

 

(NAN)

Watch Lagos Governorship Aspirants go Head to Head

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The major contenders for the office of the Lagos State governor , PDP candidate, Jimi Agbaje and APC candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode battle it out in a debate, which was hosted by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday, January 23, and announce their individual plans for the state.

Credit: news24.com.ng/ OligarkiTV