2019: Vice Chairman of APC reveals what will happen if Ambode does not get party’s ticket

The vice-chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Central Senatorial District in Cross River, Cletus Obun, has insisted that the party will still win Lagos State, even if incumbent Akinwunmi Ambode does not get the ticket.

Obun claimed that only politician that matters in Lagos is the the APC’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who he hailed as “a master strategist”.“Lagos State and Ambode are not synonymous with APC. Indeed, on the contrary, APC is synonymous with progressive politics and what its leaders represent, which is personified in the person of Asiwaju Tinubu, who has continuously shown that he is a master strategist by his contributions.

“If Ambode does not get the ticket, APC will still win Lagos State.“The manifesto and its programmatic execution is what APC is all about. It is not about persons.“If Asiwaju now sees that there are three persons and they are qualified, clearly any of them that wins is going to execute the programmes and manifestos of the APC,” Obun told The Guardian.

Tinubu has reportedly dumped Ambode and picked Jide Sanyaolu Sanwonolu as his prefer red candidate for the next gubernatorial election.

57 Council Chairmen Endorse Ambode For 2nd Term

The Chairmen of 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of Lagos State have unanimously endorse the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode for a second term in office.

Rising from a meeting with the Governor at Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja, the council chiefs said their decision to support Ambode for another term was on account of the need to allow him continue with the massive infrastructural renewal and transformation of all parts of the State.

The governor had in recent time received series of endorsements for a second term in office from critical stakeholders and sectors in the State which just means he is going for a 2nd term!

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode leads walk against sexual and gender based violence in Alausa Ikeja

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (5th left); his wife, Bolanle (middle); Chief Judge of the State, Justice Opeyemi Oke (5th right); Chief Whip, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Rotimi Abiru (4th right); Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem (3rd right); Commissioner of Police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal (right); Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule (4th left) and others during a Symbolic Walk Against Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Alausa, Ikeja, on Monday, March 12, 2018.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode alongside his wife, Bonlanle Ambode and other important dignitaries participated in a Symbolic Walk Against Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Alausa, Ikeja, on Monday, March 12, 2018.

Continue Reading | HERE

[Naija News] Governor Ambode releases N841m to pay retirees pensions in Lagos State

Lagos State Governor, Akinwumi Ambode has released N838 million to pay accrued pensions to its retirees for February.

A statement by the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC), signed by its Director-General, Mrs Folashade Onanuga, said that the amount was paid to 141 retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

He gave the assurance that the payment of the accrued pension rights would continue monthly under the current administration. “The payment is well structured, transparent, efficient and based on the law of equity. I assured all the retirees that the Pensioners’ Identity Card is in progress and wilk be provided as soon as the necessary approval is obtained,” she said.

Also in a statement, Dr. Benson Akintola-Oke , the state Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, said that N34, 781 billion had been paid into Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA) of 8,548 retirees since 2015.

Akintola-Oke, who represented Ambode at the 48th Retirement Benefit Bond Certificate Presentation (RBBCP) ceremony, implored retirees to put their money only in businesses they could manage. Akintola-Oke said that the state government was committed to providing retirees with incentives that would give them peace in retirement.

“Ambode focuses on payment of pensioners and other entitlements, and this has earned the state accolades.  “This priority is to eradicate poverty amongst the elderly in our society,” he said.

Lagos extends Oshodi-Int'l Airport Road reconstruction to Ladipo Axis

Approves Construction Of Pedestrian Bridge At Toyota Bus Stop…As Ambode Orders Spare Parts Traders To Vacate Construction Sites.

The Lagos State Government on Monday approved the extension of the ongoing reconstruction of the International Airport Road to Ladipo International Market axis along Oshodi Apapa Expressway.

The Government also announced plans to construct a pedestrian bridge at Toyota Bus Stop in response to the yearnings of traders and residents of the area, with the contractor expected to begin work on the bridge next week.

State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, who disclosed this during an extensive inspection of ongoing projects across the State, said the extension was to complement the Airport Road reconstruction in line with the regeneration of the entire Oshodi axis.

“There is no point doing the Airport Road if we don’t extend that contract to where I am standing here and so I want to do it from Oshodi to Guardian Newspapers axis; I want to rehabilitate the road and turn it to a modern road. The only way I can do it also is if you don’t do any trading on the road.“I promise you I will also do a Pedestrian Bridge at Toyota Bus Stop.

So, the contractor that is doing the Airport Road will commence work on the Pedestrian Bridge and this road next week if you allow me. That is why I have come here personally; I was here yesterday. I don’t want to inconvenience you but I have come to appeal to you; just be patience with us; we will bring growth and development to this place,” the Governor said.

Governor Ambode, who also inspected ongoing construction of roads around Ladipo International Auto Spare Parts Market, called on traders to leave the road to enable the contractor complete the projects. Accompanied by key members of his cabinet, the Governor expressed concern that the presence of traders displaying their wares on the road was hampering the construction work and delaying the completion on schedule.

Addressing thousands of traders who came out to hear from him, he said he had come out personally to appeal to them to leave the road to enable work continue and that if they comply, the project would be delivered by May 2018.“When I came here last year and I went through the Ladipo Market, I promised you I will do all the roads within the market and you will all cooperate with me. So, last year August, I fulfilled my promise; I awarded the contract of Akinwunmi Street, the Ladipo Street and then the other streets on the adjacent side.

“The contractors have gone to work; I have just inspected the project at Akinwunmi Street and the drainage has been completed. You were the ones that told me I should come and do the roads; I have asked the contractors and they are promising me that Akinwunmi Street will be delivered by May but I have an issue and that is why I have called the Vice President of your association to stand by my side here.

“Now, the only reason why that contract will not be completed on schedule is that some of you are trading on the roads that we want to repair and you were the ones that said we should come and repair the roads and so you need to talk to yourselves; I don’t want any trading on that road until we finish it.

This is February, in another three months, we will finish it. So, the leaders in this market, please talk to your people, they should vacate the roads; let us bring development to your market.“I have come to appeal to you. If you don’t do it by way of appeal, you know I also have the power to close the market but I don’t want to do it and so let there be peace and when there is peace, there is progress and there is development,” he said.

Responding on behalf of the traders, Vice President of the market, Mr. Jude Nwankwo commended Governor Ambode for delivering on his promise to transform the axis, assuring that they would cooperate with the government and vacate the roads to enable the contractor complete the project on schedule.“We would cooperate with you,we do not have any reason notto cooperate with you because all that you have promised to do, you have done it. Moreso, we are all beneficiaries of all the good work you are doing inLagos,” Nwankwo said.

Governor Ambode also inspected the ongoing construction of the Oshodi Transport Interchange where he was briefed on the level of work done so far by the contractor and Managing Director, Planet Projects, Mr. Biodun Otunola.

He also inspected the ongoing construction of roads, walkways, laybys and solar powered street lights in Agboyi Ketu Local Government area expected to be completed within two weeks.

While responding to an appeal by some of the residents for the construction of a market in the area, the Governor promised to collaborate with the Local Government to see the possibility of acceding to the request.

Besides, the Governor and his team also inspected the ongoing construction of the Eko Theatre in Oregun Ikeja, one of the five theatres currently under construction across the State, assuring that the adjoining land space would be converted to a recreation centre for children and a car park.

SIGNED HABIB ARUNA CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY FEBRUARY 12, 2018

[NEWS] Lagos State government issues 20-day ultimatum for markets clean up or risk closure

The Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode has expressed displeasure with the present state of various markets across the State, saying that leaders of the various markets must prevail on their members to clean up their dirty surroundings within the next 20 days or risk closure of their markets.
The directive was issued in Alausa during a stakeholders forum with market leaders in the 57 local governments and local council development areas of the State.

Governor Ambode, who was represented at the event by Commissioner for the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr. Muslim Folami said the present administration abhors the dumping of refuse on roadsides, medians, bus stops as well as markets, urging market leaders to promptly rid their environment of waste.

He said dumping of refuse within the market environment poses health hazards, discourages customers and residents from patronising stalls within the markets, thereby reducing economic activity within the market environment.“You have 20 days to clear the refuse in your markets.

The State Government would not hesitate to shut down any market that is dirty because we will not be happy to see any market within our metropolis dirty”he stated.Ambode emphasised that the State Government’s resolve to ensure a cleaner and healthier Lagos informed the Cleaner Lagos Initiative and the recruitment of street sweepers across the State. He urged the market leaders to prioritize the cleanliness of their markets and cooperate with Visions cape officials by ensuring prompt and proper packaging of their waste for easy disposal.

He admonished the market leaders to ensure their members desist from street trading and urged all traders to get shops within the markets so as to ease the flow of traffic and prevent road accidents.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr. Fola Padonu solicited the support of market leaders to justify the huge resources already committed to the Cleaner Lagos Initiative by the Lagos State Government.“All markets must be kept clean, the State Government has spent so much on various projects and we want you all to be partakers of these benefits. Work with us to ensure Lagos is cleaner.”the Permanent Secretary said.

Governor Ambode - I Spent N15bn on Security in 2016

The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has said his administration spent over N15bn in 2016 to beef up security in the stateAmbode, poke at a dinner held at the Lagos House in Ikeja, in honour of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, who was on a two-day working visit to thestate.

Thanking the former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Musiliu Smith, who was the pioneer Chairman of the LSSTF,Ambode said that the model he midwifed in 2007 has changed the face of security in the State.“That same template that he (Smith) brought to Lagos that we have continued to use in the last 14 years and it’s been working and in different forums, he has shared how he started it and how we havealso improved on it.“Like the Inspector General of Police said, the template we are using to run the security trust fund is worthy of emulation and he has also averred that they would like to replicate it in other parts of the country and also for men of the Nigeria Police Force,”Recommending the LSSTF model to other states, Ambode revealed that out of the N15bn spent on security last year, the private sector contributed over N5bn.For us to be having the private sector, justto give you a very clear example, as at lastyear, we have spent as a government close to the region of N10billion, but the private sector has actually contributed more than N5billion of their own money into the Security Trust Fund. “There is no way the private sector would do that if they don’t believe in the cause of our Security Trust Fund. So I want to recommend it also to others, it is something that could work in other States. Like you said, funding is a major issue for security in this country and then we can have partnerships with the private and public sector to also help in securing the country,” Governor Ambode said.