•Governor, again, inspects State-owned metro project

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday, again went on an extensive inspection of the ongoing construction activities around the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line project.

It’s the fourth time in a year the Governor would be inspecting the pace of work on the 37-kilometre-long rail infrastructure wholly started by his administration, with Sanwo-Olu assuring Lagosians that the rail project would be delivered on its scheduled completion date.

The transport infrastructure being developed by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) will have the capacity to transport over 500,000 passengers daily when it becomes operational in the first quarter of next year.

The Red Line will traverse on standard gauge from Agbado to Oyingbo, in the first phase, while terminating at Iddo in the second phase. It has eight stations and it is expected to reduce travel by over two hours.

Sanwo-Olu, joined on the project tour by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and members of cabinet, first stopped at the multi-level Agege Terminal, where he inspected completion work on the facility.

The Agege Red Line terminal shares the same yard with Babatunde Raji Fashola Station built by the Federal Government, but stands about 300 metres apart.

The Governor also inspected the staff quarters built by the Lagos Government for the railway workers in the employment of the Federal Government.

Sanwo-Olu, thereafter, led the team to the iconic Ikeja Station of the Red Line, where 80 per cent of the civil work had been completed. The Governor also checked the progress of the overpass being constructed on Awolowo Way axis to ensure non-interference of vehicular movement on the rail passageway.

The Governor stopped at Mushin terminal, to inspect the station and overpass, which stretches between Kayode and Ogunmokun streets, being developed there, before proceeding to Yaba and Oyingbo stations.

After the exercise that lasted for four hours, Sanwo-Olu expressed satisfaction on the quality of the work done, disclosing that most of the difficult tasks had been completed.

The entire construction, the Governor said, has moved into the finishing phase in which precast beams and other concrete fittings are being coupled to the constructed structures.

He said: “The Red Line is a project conceived and started by our Government, which will be delivered in the lifetime of this administration. We have given our commitment to ensure the project is completed by the end of this year as promised. This is our fourth inspection trip on this project within the year alone and each time we come, there is significant progress that the contractor achieves along the rail corridor.

“Along the rail corridor, there is massive regeneration that is taking place and we have paid extensive amount in terms of compensation, far more than anyone else, for those affected by the construction activities. That is why we don’t have problem with members of the communities on this corridor. After inspecting the Agege station, we went on to check the Ikeja terminal, which happens to be the iconic station of the Red Line. Its size is almost about the size of three football fields together.

“As we have seen, all the stations inspected are at the roof level, moving into the completion stage. The civil work has been completed, it’s just the finishing job we are doing at the moment. All the activities are on schedule and we are hoping the best entire project will be completed by the end of the year. There are places that were particularly challenging for the contractor to do drilling due to high vehicular density. All the challenges have been overcome; what is left is concrete in-situ and placing of precast beams.”

Sanwo-Olu said the construction work on the overpasses were at different stages of completion but assured that all work would be done by December.

He said the work on the bridge on Awolowo Way onto Agege Motor Road and inward Mongoro Bus Stop remained on track and would finish by the end of October.

Sanwo-Olu said the Mushin overpass, which crosses from Kayode Street at Ikorodu Road to Agege Motor Road in Mushin, and the one at Yaba from Tejuosho exiting onto Murtala Muhammed Road, would be completed by November.

To eliminate human interference with the rail corridor, the Governor said the rail passageway would be walled off the residential areas. This, he said, would also prevent encroachment and unapproved commercial activities around the corridor.

SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
07 AUGUST 2022

2023: No zone will be cheated in PDP administration – Okowa

Gôvernor Ifeanyi Okowa and Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday said he was on the party’s presidential ticket because “it’s God’s will”.

He said the PDP rescue mission for Nigeria was a divine project, and assured that no geopolitical zone in the country would be cheated in a PDP-run Federal Government.

Okowa gave the assurance while addressing PDP stakeholders in Anambra at the Constituency Office of Senator Uche Ekwunife in Awka.

He said that the presidential election in February, 2023 would be won by the PDP “because of the things that are I know and I see and whole lot of things going on”.

“Looking at what I am seeing this afternoon, I am worried because both APGA and Labour Party are in trouble.

“I must thank the men and the women here for standing strong for the PDP. The party in Anambra will come out alive and will remain strong .

“I can assure you that actions are being taken to ensure that we do the right thing in Anambra State. Nobody will right off Anambra when you have people like these in the party.

“I know that there is a Presidential candidate from Anambra but I know that Anambra and Ndigbo will play a major role in the next political dispensation as no zone will be left out and no zone will be cheated because we have equal opportunities for all.

“In the last seven years the South East had not gotten its fair share in his country and we cannot afford to continue in that route.

“When we went to Osun State they never gave us a chance but when the result came we had a very wonderful result.

“By God’s grace we will win that election by a landslide because if God had not endorsed it, He would not have allowed me to be on the ticket,” he said.

He commended the Anambra party stakeholders for standing strong for the party, saying “I must thank all of you for standing strong because in politics it takes a man who has knowledge and wisdom to know the direction to take their people to.

“A lot of people are being deceived and when we speak about the need to unite Nigeria people think that we are mistaken.

“I have political wisdom that God gave to me because I understood politics very well and it is not possible to have an accidental President.

“When people talk about Muslim-Muslim ticket am being careful because I don’t want to get involved in religious politics.

“But Nigeria is better off standing united as we are and it behoves on all Nigerians to be on board to dig us out of the pit that the APC has put the country.

“It is for us to stay committed stay strong to that structure that God has given us to enable us take back power from the ruling party.

“The insecurity and economic challenges facing Nigeria today requires a united people to resolve it.

“Nigeria must work for all with everybody participating in the working and sharing of the dividends and we must work as a team to rescue and redeem Nigeria.

“My principal and I understand all the issues and I can assure you that we have all it takes to bring a fair deal for our people and other parts of the country.

In his welcome remarks, Senator Ben Obi lauded Governor Okowa for always identifying with the PDP in Anambra and for always helping them to resolve issues in the party.

He pledged that the party would reciprocate Okowa’s kind gesture by supporting the Presidential ambition of Atiku Abubakar and Dr Ifeanyi Okowa.

Senator Representing Anambra Central, Senator Uche Ekwunife said the party is formidable in Anambra despite losing out from the last governorship election in the state and assured of the support and goodwill of the people of Anambra to the Atiku-Okowa project.

Insecurity: Okowa, Soludo deplore South East economic condition

Delta Governor and Vice-Presidential Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and his Anambra counterpart, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, have challenged people of South East to unite towards reviving the region’s economy being battered by insecurity.

The governors made the call on Sunday at the 60th birth anniversary thanksgiving service of Archbishop of Awka Diocese of Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev’d Alexander Ibezim, held at Cathedral Church of Saint Faith, Awka.

Okowa said that the South East was destroying its own economy with home-grown insecurity, including a sit-at-home ordered and enforced by non-state agents.

He called for deep soul-searching by all the actors, and urged them to unite and resolve the empasse.

He congratulated Governor Soludo for his efforts at tackling insecurity since assuming office and urged the people to support him to end the challenge which had impacted negatively on the economy of the State and region.

“I am glad that the people are supporting the governor because I can see a lot of changes and I believe it is well with our people because I know that the more we have sanity, the more the economy of the people of the South East will grow.

“We cannot afford to destroy our economy with our own hands, and may God not allow us destroy our own selves with our hands.” he stated.

Okowa said he was glad to honour the Archbishop’s invitation to the service, adding that with the security and economic crisis rocking the nation, it was difficult for people to feed.

“There is no doubt that in our nation, Nigeria, as it is today it is not easy to shepherd the people because the times are difficult and families are finding it difficult to eat.

“But, I know that the Archbishop is a very prayerful man and it is well with the people and the diocese.

“At a time like this, I always urge church leaders to continue to pray because the prayer of the righteous does more than the people think it does.

“As politicians, we also belong to the body of Christ and the more our people pray rather than despair, the more likely the nation will turn around because there is nothing God cannot do.

“And, we must allow God to lead us this time because mistakes have been made in the past but we do not want to make mistakes again.

“People are happy with you and they have come to celebrate with you but to me it is more work for you because it is time to pray more for the people and the country,” he said.

On his part, Soludo said it was a moment of rededication for the people of South East, adding that known and unknown gunmen had no place in Anambra.

“It is a moment of rededication for the South East to realise how Nigeria politics works because what we are looking for in Igbo land requires hardwork, dedication and building strategic alliances.

“I have said that for me, I will not celebrate until when we tackle insecurity to almost near zero, when all our schools work, when all our hospitals and roads are fixed then i will celebrate,” he declared.

He congratulated Archbishop Ibezim for 38 years of impactful life in the service of God, assuring that his administration would continue to work for the peace and development of the state.

“We will continue to work hard to rid Anambra off miscreants disturbing the peace of our state because known and unknown gunmen have no space in Anambra.

“I urge Christians to come together and work for the growth and development of the state and country through the spirit of Ecumenism.

“On behalf of the good people of Anambra, I welcome all of you from the nooks and crannies of Nigeria to Anambra State,” Soludo added.

Archbishop Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba, in a sermon, said no matter what the country was facing, God had promised solution if the people can seek Him through faith.

He urged Nigerians to keep believing God with faith for a solution to the nation’s challenges, adding that “contentions and trials will surely come but God who kept us until now will keep us throughout these trying times,”

He described the celebrant as a humble, articulate and persevering priest who had contributed immensely to the growth and spiritual development of the Awka Diocese and beyond.

Chairman of the occasion, Senator Ben Obi, described Archbishop Ibezim as an undisputed prayer warrior whose spiritual contributions to the Awka Diocese and Province of the Niger was unparalleled.

The celebrant, Archbishop Ibezim, thanked the Primate and invited guests for honouring him, assuring that he would continue to dedicate his life to the service of God and humanity.

Wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs Oluchukwu Ibezim, Senator Uche Ekwunife and Senator Victor Umeh among others, attended the thanksgiving service.

LIRS Partners Deloitte To Boost Transparency In Tax Administration With Whistle-Blower Initiative

The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has said its Whistle-Blower Initiative will deepen transparency, and accountability and uphold a high standard in the administration of the tax system in the state.

The Executive Chairman of the LIRS, Ayodele Subair, at the official launching of the initiative in Lagos on Friday, said the platform was introduced to encourage the reporting of illegal actions or financial crimes, through the appropriate channel, with a view to correcting the violations and optimally boost the tax administration in the state.

He said the scheme, an initiative of the state government, will be driven by Delloite Anonymous and the Confidential Whistle-Blowing facility, a platform run by a globally recognised accounting and audit firm, Delloite Nigeria.

He added that the whistle-blowing facility will promote the reporting of acts of commission or omission that borders on unethical conduct of the LIRS employees, management and other stakeholders through the designated channels to the authorities.

“The facility is designed to ensure that concerns about wrongdoings or malpractice observed in the LIRS administrative and operational activities can be raised by any stakeholder without fear of victimisation, subsequent discrimination, disadvantage or dismissal.

“This facility does not only provide the avenue to report but ensures the credibility of reports through investigation, feedback to the whistle-blower and ensures protection for such whistle-blower from possible reprisals or victimisation for all disclosures made in good faith.”

“The whistle-blowing initiative is a two-way affair; even though it is aimed at exposing the LIRS staff involved with misconduct, employees of entities who want to report employers who circumvent tax laws or even members of the public who wants to raise the alarm on persons or entities who willfully commit financial crimes leading to revenue loss for the state can make use of the whistle-blowing platform,” he said.

Subair said Deloitte’s engagement as an independent assessor was to ensure an objective and unbiased review of issues raised.

Also speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Finance Dr Rabiu Onaolapo Olowo said the Whistle-Blower Initiative of the LIRS is a pilot scheme of the Lagos State Speak-Up programme aimed at encouraging feedback mechanism from the general public, boosting their confidence and trust in the operational activities of government.

Dr Olowo said it is logical to choose the LIRS as the pilot scheme for the initiative because it is responsible for more than half of the revenue generated by the state and due to its multifaceted interactions with the members of the public, the Lagos government could use the channel to boost its message of openness and transparency.

He said: “In our pursuit to make transparency, accountability and openness count in governance in the last three and half years, this is one step to help us to wrap up some of the things we have been doing to take government down to the people. We have to appreciate Governor Babajide Sanwoolu for approving this Speak-Up initiative. It will further help us to effectively discharge the policy thrust of this government and we believe it will promote and engender trust and citizen engagement.

“The reason we have chosen the LIRS as the pilot MDA for this scheme is quite obvious because it is the major revenue-generating agency for the state. Today, LIRS accounts for almost 75 per cent of Lagos’s revenue and it engages with the public at multi-faceted levels. Thousands of people across the world see infractions every day but they decided to remain silent because they feel there is nothing they can do to change the situation, but today, we are launching a channel that will encourage and remind people of their civic responsibilities to speak up when they observe unethical behaviour, especially in the process of conducting their businesses with the government.”

Joining the conversation, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Samuel Egube, believes citizen participation in governance invariably stimulates public trust which consequently enables the government to make the right investment decision on behalf of the people.

He stated that the channel will further open the Lagos State government to scrutiny and the openness and transparency that the initiative generates will lead to more development.

“We believe this channel will enable citizen participation in governance which will surely stimulate the trust of the people in what we do with their investment. You cannot talk about development in South Korea, Singapore or Dubai in the United Arab Emirates without working out how that is connected to the United Nations Citizen Participation Index which states the line of relationship between the citizens and government and this is what this channel has addressed. Since we have launched the 30-year development plan this is another attempt at making the people of Lagos State work together with the government to make the plan works,” he said.

Beulah Adeoye, Partner, Deloitte Nigeria, said the whistle-blowing service provides multilingual, multiple reporting channels including a 24-Hour toll-free hotline (0800TIPOFFS and 0800 847 6337).

He said users can also use Delloite’s web portal (https://tip-offs.deloitte.com.ng); Email (tip-offs@deloitte.com.ng) or download the app (Deloitte Tip-offs, and Anonymous App) on the mobile app store.

Signed:
Monsurat Amasa,
Head, Corporate Communications

2023: God Forbid BAT-hings (Part 2)

By Erasmus Ikhide

SOME three months ago, Bola Amhed Tinubu (BAT) was spotted in wetted diapers in Ogun State at a ceremony. It prompted medical experts’ reactions who said he may be suffering from chronic urinary incontinence after a video emerged from his visit to some top traditional rulers in Ogun State showed a wet patch around his lower region. The embarrassing incident put to rest the arguments whether or not BAT is way sicker than we ever thought than Buhari has ever been. In a serious country, this should put an end to his presidential ambitions.

The people goading him on on his pitiable presidential voyage should be sympathising with the sickly BAT by advising him to bow out so that the nation can move away from the tragic experience of voting into office another near-death individual who should be attending to their great grandchildren at home in retirement. The BAT-ists should be feeling sincerely sorry for the Octogenarian former Lagos State Governor — at the same time— feeling more sorry for a country that considers someone like him as an option to be President after the indescribable havock another sick President of the same APC cast is currently wrecking on the country.

Tinubu has come under public scrutiny in recent times over his frequent medical trips as well as misleading and incoherent comments, raising doubts about his declared age of 69 years and concerns about the state of his health. For example, while encouraging Nigerians two months age to get their voters’ cards to enable them exercise their franchise during elections, he insisted that the cards were only valid for a stipulated period before expiration.

“Take one family member, two family members, knock on all doors and make sure that the new registration… Because they may not announce to you on time. The PVCs you have has expired,” Tinubu said.

In another viral video from his address at the 12th colloquium organised in his honour in March, he said that the military were understaffed and suggested that 50 million youths should be recruited to boost the force, irrespective of their educational backgrounds.

“Recruit 50 million youths into the army, what they will eat — cassava, corn, yam, will grow here. Don’t talk about illiteracy, anybody who can hold a gun, who can handle a gun, who can cock and shoot is technically competent to repair a tractor in the farm,” Tinubu stated.

Between July 2021 and January 2022, Tinubu has made several medical trips to the US, UK and France, and reportedly underwent at least two surgeries. Although his media team has stated that the trips and subsequent therapies were for ‘knee injury,’ many Nigerians believe the situation is more dire than he admits. This is why Nigerians are asking for open declaration of the medical status of BAT to avert emergent of another ancestor in Aso Rock, come 2023, or a dead one in power, to avoid constitutional crises like the one we had in the past.

BAT should be prevailed upon to stop subjecting himself to further public humiliation over his presidential ambition and take care of his delicate health. Nigerians are sick and tired of a similar experience like the death of former Nigerian President Umar Musa Yar’Adua in May 2010 after spending at least 109 days seeking medical help for a heart condition known as pericarditis from several hospitals across the continents of Europe and Asia. In the same vaine, Nigeria’s current president Muhammadu Buhari has consistently sought medical treatment in the UK for ‘a persistent ear infection’ and other undisclosed ailment since he was elected into office in 2015.

The honourable thing to do at this crucial stage of the national calamity APC/Buhari have visited on Nigerians and the self-evident frailties is for BAT to offer himself for permanent medical treatments in the United Kingdom and remain there for the rest of his life. The reason is simple. In the last few years, BAT has been jockeying globally with his undisclosed ailments treated since he couldn’t build a single hospital for him to be treated in the last twenty three years as both de jure and de facto Governor of Lagos State. The situation is even made worse by his false entitlement claimant to the nation’s presidency which he called “it’s my turn to rule”.

In all, the on-your-face-boorishness being exhibited by BAT and his ostrich followers, who are saying all is well with Nigeria under APC administration which he helped to put in place is truly disturbing and devastating. Sadly, there is nothing on ground to suggest that BAT is bringing fresh ideas about on how to improve the lot of Nigerians to the table or a novel vision of societal transformation, apart from his annoying slogan of “I will continue from where Buhari stopped”.

BAT’s Presidency — tragically — will unleash another cancerous and obdurate social disorder that will become a terrible nightmare to the people, after numerous unfulfilled promises Buhari’s administration to protect the citizenry from hunger, misery and the vicissitudes of human existence, currently reverberating in APC nemesis government.

BAT-ists constant insistence on BAT presidency is chipping away at the foundation of the nation’s economy development. Nigerians are aware that the APC and its presidency are undermining and subverting every attempt to restore sanity to the nation’s litany of woes because they’re the ones profiting from the security crisis and others crises too numerous to mention. If BAT wins, his adherents and everyone of us will then become casualties of the forces that they have helped to unleash, as it is with President Buhari’s present mayhem, like a silent turbo locomotive.

It is this BAT’s self-abnegation, self-debasing intra-elite scuffle and deception to attain power rather than being patriotic and allowing the nation to move forward that has becomes the nation’s Achilles heel, despite BAT’s contributions to the emergent of the Fourth Republic, is his major undoing. Like Buhari, BAT’s emergent will be another chronicle of a tragedy foretold in the land of the deaf and dumb. That’s why we’re saying unequivocally, God Forbid BAT-hings, comes 2023!

Erasmus Ikhide can be reached via: ikhideerasmus@gmail.com

PRESIDENT BUHARI CELEBRATES TEAM NIGERIA AS MEDAL GALORE INCREASES TO 35 AT 2022 COMMONWEALTH GAMES
As the curtain draws on the 22nd Commonwealth Games, Birmingham 2022, President Muhammadu Buhari celebrates the athletes that represented Nigeria gloriously in the competition.
The President joined millions of other sports loving Nigerians to watch some of the colourful and spectacular moments in the 11-day competition, which had no fewer than 5,000 athletes representing 72 nations and territories, competing in 280 medal events.
Saluting the memorable display of Team Nigeria athletes, the President commends the 94 worthy ambassadors that proudly flew the Nigerian flag in nine sporting events, and for those exciting moments when the medalists brought smiles to our faces by breaking world, national and games records, as well as achieving personal bests in their career.
With 35 medals, including 12 gold, 9 silver and 14 bronze harvested already on the late evening of the 10th day of the Games, and more medals likely for the country on the last day, the President thanks the shining stars of Nigeria for competing among the best in the world and displaying the God-given attributes of the real Nigerian- never give up, strive to the end.
According to the President, it is noteworthy that majority of the medals so far, including 12 gold for the country, were championed by our talented young women and girls, including multi medalist Tobi Amusan (100m Women’s Hurdle and 4x100m Relay), Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma, Grace Nwokocha (4x100m Relay); Miesinnei Mercy Genesis (50 kg), Blessing Oborududu (57 kg) and Odunayo Adekuoroye (57kg) in Women’s Freestyle wrestling; as well as Adijat Adenike Olarinoye (55kg) and Rafiatu Folashade Lawal (59kg) in Women’s weightlifting.
Other gold medalists are Folashade Oluwafemiayo, Women’s heavyweight Para Powerlifting, Eucharia Iyiazi, Women’s shot put, Chioma Onyekwere and Goodness Nwachukwu in Women’s Discus throw, and Ese Brume, long jump.
‘‘We are proud of these achievements and the memories will linger with the nation forever and for me this is a special moment and a fitting parting gift, being my last Commonwealth Games as Head of State,” the President says.
The President also lauds the coaching crew and team officials for the passion towards the development of sports in the country, assuring them that history will remember them for all their contributions in making our athletes shine in the international arena.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 7, 2022

PRESIDENT BUHARI PLEDGES SUPPORT AS NIGERIA HOSTS MAJOR CULTURAL, TOURISM AND LITERARY EVENTS
President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged full support for three major international events scheduled to hold in Nigeria in October and November this year, saying they are opportunities to showcase the nation’s rich heritage in culture, arts, tourism and entertainment as well as advancements on media freedom.
Nigeria will be hosting the 2022 UNESCO Global Media, Information Literacy (MIL) Week in Abuja, in October, the first Global Conference on Cultural Tourism and Creative Industry in Lagos, as well as the 2nd Global Association of Literary Festivals Conference, Abeokuta, in November.
Welcoming the decision by UNESCO, United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the Global Association of Literary Festivals to grant Nigeria the right to host these separate historic events, the President assures all relevant stakeholders and participants of the warmth and hospitality of the people of Nigeria.
On MIL Week, the President Buhari notes that it is instructive that Nigeria is attracting positive international attention as a country that promotes media freedom and freedom of expression, recognizing the important roles information literacy and media education play in sustainable development.
On the first Global Conference on Cultural Tourism and Creative Industry, the President says the rapid growth of Nigeria’s film, fashion, music, and ICT sector, and the increase in international appeal and acceptance would continue to spur government to devote more resources to the sector.
Among other initiatives, he recalls that the Creative Industry Financing Initiative (CIFI), established by his administration and managed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee, has provided single-digit financing to many young Nigerians in the fields of fashion, film, music and information Technology.
The $100 million re-development of the National Theatre, Lagos, into a world-class Creative Park is also ongoing, following the handover of the facility to CBN and the Bankers Committee.
The Nigerian leader trusts that the literary world will find many good things to celebrate about Nigeria when they meet in the historic city of Abeokuta, homeland and birthplace of one of Nigeria’s finest literary icons and Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.
President Buhari is delighted to welcome international visitors to Nigeria and urges fellow compatriots to use the period to exhibit the values “that make us a unique, friendly and peace-loving people.”
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 7, 2022