Lagos State Government has announced plans to temporarily close Railway Level Crossing at Ilupeju, Ogunmokun, Jibowu and Yaba in continuation of the ongoing Nigerian Railway Modernisation Project (Lagos-Ibadan section) with extension to Lagos Port in Apapa.
The government, in a statement by Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, enumerated that the closure of the Railway Level Crossing is scheduled for November 15, 16 and 18 for Ilupeju; Ogunmokun; as well as Jibowu and Yaba respectively, from 8pm to 7am each day.
The statement noted that the construction works on the designated routes would focus on track stress dispersion and locking at various level crossing joints of the Standard Gauge Railway. It further advises motorists to utilise suggested alternative routes during the daily closure to enhance the free flow of traffic in the axis.
Motorists plying Ilupeju level crossing would be diverted to Ogunmokun, Yaba and Jibowu Crossing to access their desired destinations, while those who intend to use Ogunmokun Road or access other areas from the route are advised to use Ilupeju crossing to Mushin, Oshodi and Surulere to connect their desired destinations.
The statement explained that the identified alternative routes would be used interchangeably to ease movement, assuring that traffic management personnel would be available to ensure the free flow of traffic during the scheduled closure.
While advising motorists to comply with the traffic directions put in place to minimise inconveniences during the period, Lagos State Government reiterated its determination to provide a seamless multi-modal transport system to meet the transportation needs of its large population.
Abia State State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has visited his Lagos State counterpart, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, where he declared that criminals who carried out the last month’s coordinated attacks on public assets and private businesses in Lagos State orchestrated the violence to hurt the whole country.
Ikpeazu condemned the arson, noting that Lagos remains a home for all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, language or religion.
He particularly thanked Sanwo-Olu for protecting the businesses and properties owned by Igbo during the violence.
According to him, “I am here to commiserate and show my concern to my brother, governor of Lagos State, over the event that happened some two weeks ago.
“I’m particularly touched by the level of destruction, which will hurt all Nigerians living in Lagos. This is because Lagos is home to all – commercial city, it is a place where everyone speaks the same language.
“I want to particularly thank Governor Sanwo-Olu for giving protection to our brothers from the South-east during the crisis. This is an indication that our people and their businesses are safe in Lagos. We will continue to live as a united country. With all of us working together, we can keep flourishing.”
Ikpeazu urged Igbo living in Lagos to continue to abide by the laws of the state and eschew actions that may cause mistrust between them and members of their host communities.
L-R: Abia State Commissioners: Hon. Kalu Uduma (Budget and Planning); Dr. Aham Uko (Finance); Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola; Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) and others in a group photo during courtesy visit by the Abia State Governor at Lagos House, Alausa, on Wednesday, November 11, 2020.
He said the political leaders had drawn a number of lessons from the recent youth protests against police brutality, saying governors were now inclined to drive up inclusion in their policies and programmes.
In his remarks, Sanwo-Olu appreciated Ikpeazu for taking the pain to travel down to Lagos from the South-east to identify with the residents over the violence. He promised that Lagos State Government would continue to support business aspirations of the Igbo and protect their rights to live in Lagos.
In a related development, indigenes of South-east and South-south living in Lagos have paid solidarity visit to Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos House in Alausa.
The Igbo leaders, who were led by the governor’s Special Adviser on Drainage and Water Resources, Joe Igbokwe, restated their commitment to the growth of Lagos, while aligning with the move to rebuild the destroyed assets.
Igbokwe said a true Igbo son could not have been part of those who set fire on the public assets, adding that Igbo people are known as builders.
“The attacks are unimaginable in terms of cost and worth. There is nothing that can make a true son of Igbo to participate in destruction of the land where our businesses have been most successful.
“There is an adage that says you cannot go and pass faeces where they put your food. We pledge our loyalty and stand by the Government and the people of Lagos,” he said.
Leader of the South-south indigenes in Lagos, Isaac Emiyade, on his part, said he had lived in the state since 1977 and had never witnessed public protests in which public assets were destroyed at such level.
Emiyade praised Sanwo-Olu for promoting cohesion among all ethnic nationalities cohabiting in Lagos, pledging that people of South-south residing in the state would continue to support move to strengthen peace and progress of Lagos.
Responding, Sanwo-Olu said diversity remains the state’s strongest point, pointing out that the spirit of Lagos to host visitors and be a melting pot for all ethnic group has not been and cannot be dampened, despite violence visited on the state.
“One of our strongest point is our diversity. We must not allow what happened to demoralise our spirit to undertake the responsibilities which Lagos State has taken up.
“Lagos will continue to give everybody living here equal opportunity,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Tuesday unveiled a 2021 budget proposal of N1.155 trillion before Lagos State House of Assembly.
Titled: “Budget of Rekindling Hope,” the Sanwo-Olu administration said it would be investing heavily in the development of human capital, with special focus on youth employment and provision of social safety for young people.
The focus, the governor added, would be raising human capital, creating jobs and strengthening security for businesses to flourish.
Sanwo-Olu explained that the 2021 estimated expenditure is designed for the restoration of economic balance as Lagos State continues to navigate its way out of the negative impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the destruction of public assets, following the hijacked #EndSARS protests.
Governor of Lagos State, Nigeria, Babajide Sanwo-Olu presents a N1.155 trillion budget for year 2021 to the Lagos State House of Assembly, Tuesday, November 10, 2020.
The budget, the governor said, would be funded from a projected Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N962 billion, pointing out that the N192.495 billion deficit would be financed through bond issuance, internal and external loans.
About N704 billion, representing 61 per cent of the total budget, is earmarked for capital expenditure in the proposed 2021spending: an estimate of N451.75 billion, representing 39 per cent, would go for recurrent expenditure, which includes personnel cost and other staff-related expenses.
Sanwo-Olu said the budget was designed to improve the state’s economic conditions and create the social safety needed for the youth and all hardworking residents to flourish. He said his administration would leverage its developmental efforts and focus on sectors with job-creating potential, such as agriculture, construction, technology and security.
According to him, “The year 2021 is one of Rekindled Hope, in accordance with recent events of global and national proportions, especially the coronavirus pandemic, the #EndSARS protests, the general feeling of disenchantment in the polity and the socio-economic yearnings of Lagosians for good governance.
“This budget reflects our desire to rebuild the trust of the people in this government, even as we commit significant human and financial resources to the rebuilding of Lagos, while doing all we can to move on from the destruction and vandalism recently witnessed in the state, barely three weeks ago.
“The COVID-19 pandemic and #EndSARS protests have only heightened the need to urgently implement various programmes under the T.H.E.M.E.S. agenda.
“The 2021 budget will, among other things, provide for youth employment, security, and youth engagement and social works. We are set to improve the economic conditions and social safety needed for our youth to flourish.
“We are committing resources to sectors that need to grow for our people to become self-reliant and economically empowered. In agricultural sector, our food security plan has a cumulative budget of N22.21 billion while we are committing a cumulative budget of N311.43 billion to provide infrastructure.”
Sanwo-Olu revealed his administration’s strategy to keep the cost of governance low in the face of dwindling revenues and general inflation occasioned by multiple factors, announcing the repeal of Lagos State’s Payment of Pension Law of 2007, which provides payment of pension and entitlements to former governors and their deputies.
The governor said he would be sending an Executive Bill to Lagos State House of Assembly for the repeal of the Pension Law, noting that public service would now be predicated on selflessness in the state.
“In light of keeping the costs of governance low, we will be sending a draft executive bill to the House of Assembly imminently for the repeal of the Payment of Pension Law 2007 (Public Office Holder), which provides for payment of pension and other entitlements to former governors and their deputies.
“It is our firm belief that with dwindling revenues and inflationary growth rates, that we need to come up with innovative ways of keeping the costs of governance at a minimum, while engendering a spirit of selflessness in public service,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu also added that the proposed budget would support entrepreneurship and expand the opportunity of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to facilitate socio-economic advancement.
He pledged his administration’s commitment to continuously supporting entrepreneurs in the state through Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), saying this would also strengthen technical and financial support for beneficiaries to generate employment that would stimulate economic prosperity.
The governor said there would be increment in its financial commitment to youth mentoring, mental health support, and substance abuse rehabilitation. This project, he said, would be driven through the Office of the Civic Engagement, and Ministry of Youth and Social Development.
He said: “As we work on reviving the growth of our economy, we must commit resources to our state-wide security architecture, especially in the areas of intelligence gathering and the motivation of all security personnel in the Neighbourhood Watch.
“We will be increasing the size of the Neighbourhood Watch personnel across the state and ensure their training, including community engagement, de-escalation techniques, and proactive information gathering within communities.
“We believe that as the population of Lagos State increases and becomes more sophisticated, so should the training of our security personnel to cope with emerging challenges.”
Despite the slowdown of activities occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, Sanwo-Olu said this year’s budget had performed at 77 per cent, a performance benchmark of 86 per cent was projected by the end of last quarter.
The governor also hinted that his administration has trained 9,000 teachers in modern teaching techniques to boost learning outcomes and provided complementary textbooks and other ancillary teaching aids for over 350,000 students.
Sanwo-Olu said his administration has also spent N25 billion for the construction, refurbishment and equipping of our healthcare centres across the state, in line with its health programmes. He added that the state government built and rehabilitated 589 classrooms, while also providing 1,568-bed hostels in secondary and primary schools.
“We have audacious governance goals, which we cannot achieve without the concerted efforts of all our people. We should not allow the events of the past few months to obliterate our consistent cycles of socio-economic progress.
“Let us begin to rebuild our state with determination and optimism, even as we advance the interests of the electorate and restore their confidence in this government,” the governor said.
In his remarks, Speaker if Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, praised the governor’s courage in the face of the recent challenges that faced the state, pledging the readiness of the legislature to work with the executive arm to rebuild the state.
He promised speedy passage of the budget, assuring the public that the Assembly would properly vet the details in line with its mandate.
He said: “We have all listened with attention how the wealth of the state will be utilised for our common good in Year 2021.
“The responsibility is now on the members of the Assembly to meticulously perform their constitutional duty. I reiterate our commitment as responsive Assembly in working together with the Executive to bring succour to all individuals affected in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests.”
The Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led Lagos State Government has approved the re-opening of schools for all classes in public and private schools across the state beginning from Monday (November 2), while boarding house students in public schools are to resume on Sunday (November 1).
Sanwo-Olu, who disclosed on Thursday through Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Folasade Adefisayo, said this has been an unprecedented year with the recent happenings that have regrettably led to frequent closure of schools with attendant learning disruptions faced by all children.
“We pray and hope that there will be no more disruptions in the academic calendar. However, Lagos State Government will always regard the safety of pupils/students, parents and all staff as a matter of priority.
“We recommend that when schools resume on Monday, teaching and learning should continue unhindered till the end of the term,” Adefisayo said.
The Sanwo-Olu administration, therefore, advised pupils/students to take their studies more serious in a bid to recover the lost period and thereby excel.
Meanwhile, as part of efforts to reduce the rate of unemployment in Lagos State, Sanwo-Olu has approved Internship Programme for 4,000 unemployed graduates in line with his T.H.E.M.E.S agenda for the youth development programme in the state.
Speaking recently on the programme with newsmen, Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Yetunde Arobieke, said the Graduate Internship Placement Programme (GIPP) is designed to give candidates the opportunity to develop employability and work-ready skills that are needed in securing gainful employment.
She added that the Internship programme would be addressing the third and fourth pillars of the Sanwo-Olu administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S agenda, which are: Education and Technology and Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy, while the beneficiaries would be paid a monthly stipend of N40,000 for the six months duration of the internship.
Arobieke explained that at the end of the internship period, interns would have gained valuable applied work experience, built up their professional skills and would have been exposed to possible entrepreneurial opportunities to strengthen their professional skills and interpersonal relationship.
The commissioner implored interested candidates to apply through the dedicated link for the programme: gipplasg.lagosstate.gov.ng, noting that interested applicants must possess NYSC Certificates or letters of exemption, and must be registered residents of the state with Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA).
While pointing out that over 50 off-takers have shown interest in having the Interns work in their organisations, Arobieke maintained that the selection process would be transparent after successful candidates would have taken an online test and be trained on employability skills for two weeks and evaluated.
She added that the candidates would subsequently be placed on six months paid internship with private organisations and selected public agencies in line with their qualifications.
He also visited the Bode Thomas police station where he met with men of the Nigeria Police.
Describing the sad events as a harrowing experience, the Speaker said: “I will support all steps of the Lagos state Government to help ensure we rise above this ugly episode”.
The Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led Lagos State Government has ordered an investigation into reports of live ammunition fired at peaceful protesters at Lekki Toll Plaza Tuesday evening.
This was coming as Sanwo-Olu has urged residents to remain calm.
Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, in a statement, said the shooting would be investigated immediately.
“There have been reports of shooting at Lekki Toll Plaza, following the 24-hour curfew imposed on Lagos State to stop criminals who hid under the #EndSARS protests to unleash mayhem on innocent citizens.
“The state Glgovernment has ordered an investigation into the incident. Governor Sanwo-Olu has advised the security agents not to arrest anyone on account of the curfew, which he urges residents to observe for the peaceful atmosphere we all cherish.
“He advises Lagosians to remain calm and not allow criminals, who have hijacked the noble protest of our gallant youths, to succeed in their evil plan of turning our dear state upside down,” Omotoso said.
In his usual heart-led leadership qualities, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Monday again appealed to the youths demonstrating against police brutality in the state to leave the roads and embrace the dialogue for the resolution of their agitations.
Sanwo-Olu said his administration has shown sincerity and willingness to address all concerns raised by the protesters, given the actions taken so far, including the constitution of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry and setting up of compensation funds for the victims.
According to him, “We have shown unprecedented commitment to the complete overhaul of the Nigeria Police Force. The inauguration of Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry is only the first step in a long line of reformative actions that will lead to a thorough revamp and reorientation of the Nigeria Police.
“I believe that some of the actions we have taken should, to a large extent, show our sincerity and willingness to address all your concerns.
“Let me reiterate that I am on the side of the young people out there. I understand your pain and I know your concerns are genuine and legitimate. While we are able to immediately acquiesce to some of your demands, some others will require time. We ask you to bear with us as we dutifully work on your demands.
“I will, therefore, like to renew my appeal to you to suspend the protests and create an atmosphere for the resolution of all pending demands. I encourage everyone brutalised by the disbanded SARS, including the families of those who died, to present their case before this tribunal.”
Sanwo-Olu made the appeal during the swearing-in of members of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution at the State House in Marina.
The governor’s appeal came on the heel of violent dimension assumed by the #EndSARS protests in some parts of the dtate.
Reiterating his solidarity with the protesters’ demands, Sanwo-Olu urged the protesters to be part of the process of implementing the reforms they clamoured for in the police, adding that continuous blocking of roads, government and private offices would slow down the procedure of implementing their demands.
He admitted that the task of reforming the police was achievable, but required the input and cooperation of the youth to accomplish task.
He commended the cohesiveness of the “resilient” young people who stood their ground in the last two weeks. Their tenacity, Sanwo-Olu said, has made the much-desired change in the policing system become inevitable.
Speaking about the judicial panel, the Governor said he was convinced that its outcome and recommendations would open a new chapter in police-citizen relationship.
He promised that his administration would ensure that all wounds are healed, justice served to victims of abuse, and guilty police officers prosecuted.
At the time of the swearing in of the panel members, the representatives of the youth in the panel had not been nominated by the protesters.
The Sanwo-Olu administration had, last Friday, reached out to the protesters to forward the name of their nominees into the judicial panel. The protesters, however, pleaded for more time to send the names of their nominees, four days after the request.
The Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led Lagos State Government Friday said a total of 181 students and members of staff of a private boarding school located in Lekki area of the state have tested positive for the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The Sanwo-Olu administration disclosed that the positive cases were detected during surveillance and case investigation in the school.
The state government, however, did not disclose the name of the school.
“181 students and staff members of a private school located in a suburb of Lekki tested positive to COVID19 during surveillance and case investigation in the school.
“There are 441 students and staff in the school.
“A 14-year-old SS1 female student fell ill on the 3rd of October and was sent home after receiving first aid at the school.
“The student subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday 6th of October in one of the accredited private labs in Lagos.
“There is a total lockdown and movement restriction in the school with the Epidemiology and Surveillance Pillar of the EOC and Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area State Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (DSNO) reporting at the school daily to conduct further investigation.
“Positive students and staff have been isolated on the premises and given the COVID-19 home-care treatment packs and are being monitored in isolation within the school premises,” said a statement by Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, entitled: ‘Lagos confirms COVID-19 infection in a private school.’
A driver of the Bus 240-171, Mayowa Olajide, owned by Lagos State Bus Service Limited (LBSL), which was allegedly used for carrying thugs to disrupt the #EndSARS protest in Alausa, has spoken up in order to set the record straight.
Olajide, who spoke during a live briefing held on Thursday by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the State House in Marina, explained how the alleged thugs attacked the peaceful protesters.
According to him, “I took passengers from Berger Bus Stop and we were heading to Oshodi Bus Stop.
“On getting to Alausa under the bridge, there was a protest going on there. I had to stop moving the bus to allow the protesters leave the road, so that we could pass.
“After about three minutes, we saw another group of youths, whom we presumed to be protesters, disembarking from yellow minibuses. They were armed with machetes and axes. They moved towards the protesters who blocked the road and started attacking them.1
“Upon sighting the armed youths, the passengers in my bus and I became frightened. They asked me to open the doors, so that they could flee from the scene. I opened the doors; some of them ran out, while others remained in the bus. I also abandoned the bus and ran away from the scene, because I didn’t know what was going on.
“After some minutes, normalcy returned to the scene. Some of the passengers remained in the bus when I came back. Some left. We continued our journey thereafter. Nobody was injured in the bus and the bus was not destroyed by the hoodlums.”
Also speaking on the matter, Sanwo-Olu said the police had been on the trail of the hoodlums who attacked protesters in Alausa.
He reaffirmed that his administration would continue to identify with the demonstrators who conduct themselves peacefully.
The governor, therefore, directed Lagos State Police Command to ensure adequate security for citizens who respect the law and orderliness in the cause of their protest.
Meanwhile, LBSL Managing Director, Idowu Oguntona, has suspended all bus operations for the safety of passengers following the #EndSARS protest in the city.
Oguntona said the suspension was due to a viral video on social media about thugs who purportedly alighted from its bus 240-171 to attack protesters at Alausa Secretariat.
While dismissing erroneous narrative in various social media platforms, Oguntona said the bus was heading towards Oshodi from Berger around 8am when some armed individuals disembarked from a particular yellow vehicle in front of the bus at Alausa Secretariat Bus Stop.
The Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led Lagos State Government has directed all remaining classes in both public and private schools to resume academic activities on October 19.
The governor explained that the physical resumption, which is for the year 2020/2021 academic session, would now include pupils in pre-primary institutions such as daycare, kindergarten and nursery schools.
Sanwo-Olu, in a statement by Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Folasade Adefisay, said the decision was taken after careful deliberations and consultations with relevant stakeholders, including safety professionals and nursery school providers.
The Sanwo-Olu administration advised all public and private schools to put safety first by adhering to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) safety protocols and hygiene guidelines prescribed by Lagos State Government, pointing out that the Office of Education Quality Assurance would continue to monitor and evaluate schools’ preparedness.
“The necessary resumption protocols must be adhered to and cleared ‘satisfactory’ by Office of Education Quality Assurance,” the statement pointed out.
While welcoming and wishing the students a successful and fruitful academic session, the state government enjoined school owners and managers of all private schools to ensure that clearance is obtained from the Office of Education Quality Assurance before physical resumption.
Idowu Sowunmi
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