TheNewsGuru

Tag: Babajide Sanwo-Olu

  • Wike is very much a “Talk and Do” Governor – Gov Sanwo-Olu

    Wike is very much a “Talk and Do” Governor – Gov Sanwo-Olu

    Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said his Rivers State counterpart, Governor Nyesom Wike is very much a “Talk and Do” Governor.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Governor Sanwo-Olu said this on Monday while commissioning the Orochiri-Worukwo (Waterlines) Flyover, Port Harcourt, built by Governor Wike-led administration.

    The Lagos State Governor charged politicians, political leaders and public office holders across political and ideological divides to come together for the good of the people.

    He said there are lots of things political leaders and public office holders can learn from one another’s experience in different parts of the country if they embrace politics without bitterness.

    Sanwo-Olu commended Wike for his strong commitment to the delivery of physical infrastructure in Rivers State, noting that the governor’s effort has been recognised by all and sundry and has earned him the appellation of “Mr. Projects” within and outside Rivers State.

    He also congratulated the people of Rivers State on the birth of the major piece of infrastructure that will, no doubt, positively change their lives, but also ultimately serve as the crucial springboard into more social and economic prosperity.

    “Governor Nyesom Wike and I belong to different political persuasions, but this invitation today sends a very strong message, that we, as politicians and political leaders, can come together across political and ideological divides, for the good of our people.

    “Infrastructure projects do not discriminate; they belong to everyone, regardless of your politics. They make life easier for all, regardless of who you voted for in the past or plan to vote for in the future.

    “There is also a strong message being made today about expanding our capacity to play politics without bitterness. This symbolic gesture by my friend and brother is one that should become standard practice across Nigeria. There is also a lot that we can learn from one another, and experience that we can translate from one part of the country to the other.

    “Because Lagos and Rivers share a number of similar contexts, it is imperative that we put a lot more work into creating institutional mechanisms for comparing notes and learning from each other, with regards to solving the challenges of urban planning, transportation, climate change, security, revenue generation, business climate and others.

    “Ultimately, we are all in governance to touch the lives of the people for good; to deliver to them the dividends of democracy. There is no doubt that Governor Wike has spent his last seven years focused on this; just as we have similarly been doing in Lagos,” Sanwo-Olu said.

    While commending Governor Wike for his strong commitment to the delivery of physical infrastructure in Rivers State, Governor Sanwo-Olu said: “This Orochiri-Worukwo (Waterlines) Flyover is just one of several impactful projects that the Rivers State Government has delivered over the last seven years, under the watch of His Excellency. I am told that there are around a dozen major flyover projects in all, completed and ongoing, and I am also aware that there are still many other projects across various sectors, which will be duly commissioned within the life of this administration.

    “The new Flyover being commissioned today, as you can all see, is a design and implementation masterpiece, at almost a kilometer long, and a total of eight (8) lanes, supported by a robust flood-control system and underground drainage. Governor Wike is very much a “Talk and Do” Governor.”

    Speaking on the relationship between Rivers and Lagos states, Governor Sanwo-Olu said people are drawn to Lagos and to Port Harcourt as places where economic opportunities abound and where their dreams can be achieved.

    He said: “Rivers and Lagos states share a lot in common. We are both densely populated economic centers, dealing with similar challenges of a rapidly growing population, urbanization, climate change, and increasing pressure on our physical infrastructure. We both have fairly extensive coastlines and coverage by water.

    “Unlike Rivers, however, we are still hopeful that our own crude oil will reveal itself to us in large quantities very soon. People are drawn to Lagos and to Port Harcourt as places where economic opportunities abound and where their dreams can be achieved, and every day, large numbers of people flock to these cities from across the country.

    “Our approaches to solving our challenges have also been similar, focusing on investing in projects that will ease bottlenecks and expand our capacity to absorb pressure, like this Flyover being commissioned today.  It will no doubt improve the commuting experience of the people of Port Harcourt, and by extension the quality of their lives. They will be able to spend less time stuck in traffic, which means more time is available for truly productive activities, and for leisure.”

  • Kwankwaso, Atiku, Sanwo-Olu grace party with Daisy Danjuma at 70

    Kwankwaso, Atiku, Sanwo-Olu grace party with Daisy Danjuma at 70

    Elegant Daisy Danjuma’s 70th birthday at Eko Hotel and Suites saw the assemblage of creme de la creme of the society with politicians, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Atiku Abubakar, Governor Sanwo-Olu among other in attendance.

    The event on Saturday, August 6, 2022, at Victoria Island, Lagos, and it had all the trappings of a high society event as Daisy is not only a rich politician, but also elegant.

    Even as her billionaire husband, Theophilus Danjuma was by her side throughout as they played host to several top personalities across different walks of life, including politics and business.

    While former Vice President and the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar; Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; the Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso; may have headlined, the occasion also had the Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku; Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal; Esther Ajayi, popularly known as Iya Adura; Chief Olu Okeowo, and Atedo Peterside and others in attendance.

    Also Read

    TY Danjuma Quits as May; Baker Chairman, Wife Takes Over

    Daisy, who is also an accomplished businesswoman represented the Edo South Senatorial District in the Senate between 2003 and 2007.

    In their separate remarks, the guests described celebrant as a warm, friendly, firm, hospitable, humble, lovable, compassionate, supportive, charitable woman, among other adjectives.

    Atiku Abubakar in particular, had some of the most wonderful things to say about Daisy, for whom he prayed for long life and good health.

    Governors Sanwo-Olu, Ishiaku and Dr Musa Kwankwaso also used the occasion to praise the work Daisy has been doing at the TY Danjuma foundation and enjoined her to sustain the tempo even as they prayed for long life and prosperity for her.

    The celebrant attended the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, where she bagged a degree in Law. She went on to work as an executive assistant at NAL Merchant Bank. Upon leaving NAL, she worked with Nigerian Television Authority as the Company Secretary/Legal Adviser.

    While in the Senate, she served she served as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs and Youth Development. She was also a member of other committees, including health, education, finance and land transport.

    She is a prominent part of her husband’s TY Danjuma Foundation, which has positively impacted the lives of many over the years.

    Among other things, the foundation provides free eye care services as part of its initiative, ‘Vision for a Brighter Future’. It also has programmes in the areas of maternal and child health, neglected tropical diseases, and blindness.

    In the area of education, they provide support for Universal Basic Education through teachers’ training and empowerment. This is even as they award scholarships to indigent students.

    Blessed with both beauty and brain, Daisy is the Chairman of May and Baker Nigeria Plc. She has also served on the board of several companies. Between 1999 and 2003, she was the Chairman of South Atlantic Petroleum Limited. She is a trustee of the H I D Awolowo Foundation; as well as the Chairman, Board of Trustees of Lagos Public Interest Law Partnership.

    In the legal field, she is a member of the International Bar Association, the Nigerian Bar Association, and the International Federation of Women Lawyers.

    In 2021, she was named the ‘Woman of the Year’ at the tenth edition of the Edo Festival and Award Ceremony held in London, United Kingdom.

  • Kemi Nelson’s death a rude shock – Gov. Sanwo-Olu

    Kemi Nelson’s death a rude shock – Gov. Sanwo-Olu

    Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has described as a rude shock the death of Chief Mrs. Kemi Nelson, a frontline leader in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the death of Kemi Nelson, a member of the Lagos Governance Advisory Council (GAC) filtered in on Sunday.

    Governor Sanwo-Olu in a statement Mrs Nelson would be missed dearly by her family, friends and the entire political class, particularly the GAC, chieftains and members of the ruling party across Lagos State and Nigeria.

    The statement reads: “The news of the passing of Chief Mrs. Kemi Nelson, a member of our Governance Advisory Council came to me as a rude shock.

    “I am saddened by the passage of this indefatigable, devoted, loyal, committed, progressive democrat and team player who played remarkable roles in the success of our party at the state, zonal and national levels during her lifetime.

    “She was a former Commissioner in Lagos State served our state and party with passion and extraordinary commitment.

    “She was a consummate politician and contributed immensely to the growth and development of our great party as APC Women Leader in Lagos and South-West.

    “She also did her best for our dear Lagos State during her tenure as Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

    “She will be missed dearly by her family, friends and the entire political class, particularly GAC, chieftains and members of the ruling party across Lagos State and Nigeria.

    “May her family, associates and friends be comforted as I pray for the repose of her soul”.

  • Nigeria cannot afford to make mistakes in 2023 – Gov. Sanwo-Olu

    Nigeria cannot afford to make mistakes in 2023 – Gov. Sanwo-Olu

    Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State said on Monday in Ikeja that Nigerians could not afford to make mistakes at the 2023 general elections.

    Sanwo-Olu said this at the Lagos House, at the Year 2022 Eid-ul-Adha celebration by the First Family of Lagos State, organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Home Affairs.

    Represented by the deputy governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, he said that Nigerians must choose rightly in 2023 because it was about the country’s future.

    He noted that the outcome of the 2023 general elections would greatly determine the future of Nigeria hence Nigerians could not afford to make mistakes in electing their leaders in 2023.

    He stressed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential flag bearer, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is the right choice for 2023 because he had built bridges across Nigeria.

    He said that Tinubu had worked with persons from different regions and groups in the country, noting that he looked out for quality people to work with.

    Sanwo-Olu called on residents to be loyal and obedient to the state and to country, stating that patience, obedience and loyalty were important duties residents owed the state.

    According to him, parents must train their wards in godly manner and instil in them morals to be obedient, loyal and patient.

    In her remarks, the governor’s wife, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, said Eid-ul-Adha, the spiritual exercise celebrated annually exemplified the virtue of love, faith and obedience.

    She stressed the importance of peaceful coexistence, noting that Lagos State was growing in leaps and bounds because of peaceful coexistence by various groups in the state.

    She encouraged residents to continue to pray for peace in the country, live with the fear of God and love one another.

    Sanwo-Olu said love must reflect in inter-personal relationships and advised parents to live and lead by example which their children could emulate.

  • Gov Sanwo-Olu orders probe into fatal Lagos boat accident

    Gov Sanwo-Olu orders probe into fatal Lagos boat accident

    Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has ordered a probe into the July 8 Mile 2-Ibeshe fatal boat accident in which lives were lost, while expressing deep sadness by the incident and commiserating with the families who lost their loved ones.

    This was contained in a statement released by Gbenga Omotoso, the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy.

    “The police are probing what went wrong and treating the sad incident as criminal. The boat, which is said to be unlicensed, obviously broke the waterways rules of “no night travel” and no overloading,” Omotoso stated.

    According to the statement, not all of the passengers wore life jackets and the boat did not take off from a government-approved jetty.

    The statement further reads: “The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and others are assisting the investigators.

    “Anybody who is found to have contributed in any way to this tragedy will surely face the law to ensure that we do not have any such incidents in future.

    “The waterways rules and regulations are clear; they must be respected in accordance with the greatest value that the Sanwo-Olu administration places on human life.

    “Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. May The Almighty strengthen them in this difficult time”.

  • BREAKING: Sanwo-Olu, Fayemi, Akeredolu storm PH to woo Wike

    BREAKING: Sanwo-Olu, Fayemi, Akeredolu storm PH to woo Wike

    Three Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday stormed Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital to visit the Governor of the State, Nyesom Wike as there seems to be no end in sight to the crisis currently rocking the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the three APC Governors are the Governors of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, and Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu.

    The Governors, who arrived in the State capital in the afternoon met with the Rivers State Governor behind closed doors. The meeting is ongoing as of the time of filing this report.

    Although details of the closed-door meeting are yet to be known, however, speculations are rife that it may not be unconnected with the 2023 presidential election.

    Speculations have it that the APC Governors are in Rivers to woo the State Governor, following the fallout that occasioned the presidential primary election of the PDP and the eventual dumping of Wike for the position of vice presidential candidate.

     

    Details shortly… 

  • BREAKING: Gov Sanwo-Olu suspends Lagos abortion guidelines

    BREAKING: Gov Sanwo-Olu suspends Lagos abortion guidelines

    Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has directed the suspension of the state’s guidelines on safe termination of pregnancy.

    Prof. Akin Abayomi, the State Commissioner for Health made the disclosure in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.

    Abayomi noted that the guidelines had generated immense public interest which necessitated escalating it to the Governor.

    He said that the governor advised further sensitisation of the public and key stakeholders to ensure a clearer understanding of the objectives of the guidelines.

    “To this end, we are suspending the implementation of these guidelines in the meantime for the Executive Council to deliberate on this matter and ensure adequate public sensitisation and stakeholder engagement to reach a consensus required for a successful guideline development,” he said.

    According to him, the ministry is seeking different methods to eliminate illegal abortions and ensure that a mother does not die at childbirth, thereby disrupting an entire family unit.

    The commissioner said that illegal abortions and high risk pregnancies leading to unresolvable complications rank high among the several factors that contribute to maternal mortality.

    “In this regard, it became imperative to examine, in keeping with existing National and State laws and policies, if there are indeed justifications and medical reasons to offer abortion to a woman whose life is threatened by a pregnancy,” he said.

    He noted that following this, the guideline was developed over four years through painstaking work by experts in Law and in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

    Abayomi noted that the guidelines focus was on creating the opportunity to reduce maternal mortality in line with existing laws.

    He said that the ministry remains committed to planning, devising and implementing policies that promote qualitative, affordable, and equitable healthcare services to the citizens.

    The 40-page document titled: “Lagos State Guidelines on Safe Termination of Pregnancy for Legal Indications,” was issued by the ministry’s Directorate of Family Health and Nutrition.

    The document released on June 28 sets out guidelines for safe termination of pregnancy within the ambit of the criminal law of Lagos State.

    Dr Olusegun Ogboye, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, at launch of the document, said that the document would provide evidence-based data and information for health workers in public and private sectors with requisite skills to provide safe termination of pregnancy to reduce preventable deaths.

    Ogboye said that while therapeutic termination of pregnancy was permissible under the state’s law, absence of clear guidelines had stalled the effective implementation at appropriate levels of care resulting in preventable deaths.

  • Lagos residents consume N4.5bn food daily – Sanwo-Olu

    Lagos residents consume N4.5bn food daily – Sanwo-Olu

    Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State says residents of the state consume about N4.5 billion worth of food daily just as he reiterated commitment to food security.

    Sanwo-Olu said this at the opening ceremony of a two-day zonal sensitisation workshop with the theme:  “Implementation of Food Systems Transformation Pathways in Nigeria 2022,”  on Monday in Lagos.

    The workshop was organised by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning in collaboration with Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Lagos Ministry of Economic, Planning and Budget.

    Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti are participating with a Lagos as coordinating state for Southwest goepolitical zone.

    The governor represented by Mr Sam Egube, Commissioner for Economic, Planning and Budget, said that the state had decided to take the bull by the horn in guaranteeing food security for people with different agricultural and food value chain.

    According to him, Lagos has a rich history of economic growth and transformation.

    “Although it covers only 0.4 per cent of Nigeria’s territorial land mass making it the smallest in the country.

    “It accounts for over 60 per cent of industrial and commercial activities. Lagos is a coastal state and has an extremely limited arable land space and home to about 21 million people.

    “Its residents consume about N4.5 billion worth of food daily and 50 per cent of beef produced in the country running into several billions in other trading activities with markets cutting across all the local government areas in the state,” he said.

    He called for joint collaboration among Southwest goepolitical zone to implement the Food Systems Transformation Pathways 2022.

    Sanwo-Olu added that improving the food systems would influence positive changes and as well address multiple challenges being experienced in the country.

    He said that the state agric roadmap was a deliberate effort to develop the agricultural sector by way of interventions from the public and private sector, international technical and donor organisations.

    “I am aware that the need for states across the six geopolitical zones to be adequately sensitised on the implementation of the National Food Systems Transformation Pathways is the basis for this workshop.

    “It gives me great pleasure to note that Lagos State was selected to host the South West geopolitical sensitisation which I consider as an acknowledgement of the positive impacts our policies and efforts are making in the agricultural sector.

    “As a state government, we will continue to provide infrastructure and incentives to support all private sector initiatives where required.

    “History has shown that any society that is unable to provide food guarantee, its security is open to abuse and utmost danger,” he said.

    The governor commended the efforts of the Federal Government on its unrelenting efforts to ensure that the food systems summit in conjunction with the United Nations is developed.

    “I assure you that the Lagos State Government is fully committed to achieving a food secured Lagos and Nigeria through partnership with all national and sub-national entities as well as private sector and international technical and donor organisations.

    He urged all participants at the workshop to show commitment by sharing ideas and opinions on the selected programmes slated to kick-start implementation.

    Mr Mathias Schmale, the Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator, United Nations, commended the Federal Government for its consistent efforts toward sustainable food systems in the country.

    Schmale who was represented by Mr Isiaka Ibrahim, UN Coordinator in Lagos, reiterated that the UN would continue to work with government and as well strengthen collaborations with all stakeholders in support of this transformational journey.

    “Today marks another important step in the highly anticipated transformational change we have worked for in partnership.

    “The zonal sensitisation workshop is designed to onboard all of us as we begin to bring synergy across states and regions.

    “The momentum at which the Federal Government is accelerating the national food systems transformation pathways is highly commendable.

    “Today, the government has identified three critical priority actions to be addressed at all levels to achieve food security and reduce malnutrition among the most vulnerable and at-risk populations in Nigeria.

    “They are to achieve a sustainable food system that works for all;  to ensure the achievement of all SDGs in the next decade.

    Mrs Olusola Idowu, the National Convener/Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, said an implementation team made up of key stakeholders had been constituted to develop an implementation plan.

    Idowu noted that the workshop provides an opportunity to present and discuss the identified priority actions selected for implementation from January 2022.

    She added that it would help to define and assign roles and responsibilities for effective implementation of the priority actions.

    Idowu noted that the workshop was being held in all the six geopolitical zones concurrently from July 4 to 8, focusing on three low hanging fruit programmes and 80 priority actions.

    “Please, I make this passionate appeal that we all ensure that  this implementation stage is truly for implementation.

    “Wherein, we do less talk and more action so that we can impact lives of Nigerians,” she said.

    M. Abisola Olusanya, the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, said that food systems remained an important part of the national economy.

    Olusanya said that effective food system had contributed to a variety of solutions to developmental challenges.

    She said that there had been dialogues amongst all relevant stakeholders across the six geopolitical zones of the country since 2021 which gave birth to the National Pathways for Sustainable Food Systems.

  • Legalization of abortion in Lagos State – By Sonnie Ekwowusi

    Legalization of abortion in Lagos State – By Sonnie Ekwowusi

    The abortion directives issued last week by the Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to the effect that Lagosians can now “safely” kill their unborn babies without any qualms are illegal and therefore null and void. Frankly speaking I don’t know why Mr. Sanwo-Olu has allowed himself to be drafted into the simmering, highly-sensitive political, cultural, religious, moral and contentious issue of abortion. I don’t know any Nigerian politician who had promoted abortion without his or her political career being completely ruined. So why is Governor Sanwo-Olu toying with his political career?. Already the Sanwo-Olu’s abortion directives have sparked off demonstrations in Lagos and Abuja. The Governor’s abortion directives fragrantly violate sections 145, 146, 147 and 201 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State (as amended in 2011); sections 228, 229,230, 297, 309, 328, of the Criminal Code Act CAP C38 (and their equivalent provisions in the Penal Code); sections 3,4, and 17 of the Child Rights Act 2003; Child’s Right Law of Lagos State 2015: sections 17 and 33 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution; Articles, 3, 4 and 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights; Preamble to the 1990 Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) (ratified and adopted by Nigeria). Therefore, as earlier stated, the aforesaid abortion directives issued last week by the Lagos State Governor are illegal and therefore null and void.

    Therefore the Lagos State Governor is humbly advised to withdraw the abortion directives. Why? Because the abortion directives or policies cannot be enforced or obeyed in Lagos State. It is trite law that directives or policies that are ultra vires the existing laws of the land or do not fall within the ambit of the laws of the land or are in violation of the laws of the land cannot be enforced or obeyed in the State. Only enacted laws or Acts can be enforced or obeyed. Governor’s Directives that are in flagrant violation of the laws of the land cannot be enforced. The combined effects of sections 145, 146, 147, 201 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State (as amended in 2011) and sections 228, 229,230, 297, 309, 328, of the Criminal Code Act CAP C38 (and their equivalent provisions in the Penal Code) is that anybody who, with an intent to procure the miscarriage of a woman or intents to abort or kill her baby in the woman by unlawfully administering on her any noxious substance or contraceptives or pills or drugs or instruments or by inserting instruments into the womb of the woman and crushing her baby to pieces in order to achieve the aforesaid purpose is guilty of a felony punishable under the various sections of the Criminal Code of Lagos or the Criminal Act of the Federation. In fact, section 328 of the Criminal Act prescribes life imprisonment for killing an unborn child. The section stipulates: “Any person who when a woman is about to be delivered of a child prevents the child from being born alive by any act or omission of such a nature, that, if the child had been born alive and had then died, he would be deemed to have unlawfully killed the child, is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for life”. Section 17(1) of the Child’s Right Act 2003 clearly provides for the right of the unborn child. It states: “A child may bring an action for damages against a person for harm or injury caused to the child willfully, recklessly, negligently or through neglect before, during or after the birth of that child”. In similar fashion, section 16(1) of the Child’s Law of Lagos State 2015 clearly provides for the right of the unborn child. It states thus: . “Right of the unborn child to protection against harm, etc. (1) A child may bring an action for damages against a person for harm or injury caused to the child willfully, recklessly, negligently or through neglect before, during or after the birth of that child”. The preamble to the CRC states: “Bearing in mind that, as indicated in the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, “the child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth”.

    The deduction from the forgoing is that abortion is outlawed under our laws. In fact, both sections 16(1) of the Child’s Law of Lagos State 2015 and 17(1) of the Child’s Right Act 2003 clearly provide that an unborn child can bring a legal suit, of course via locus parentis or guardian ad lite, against any person for damages for harm or injury willfully or negligently inflicted on the child before its birth, during its birth and after its birth. So, you can see that the unborn child enjoys enormous the right to life under our laws. Therefore unless the aforesaid laws are amended to permit the killing of unborn babies, the Lagos State Governor has no right to issue directives approving the killing of the unborn babies in Lagos State. It is instructive to note that section 201 of the Criminal law of Lagos State erroneously relied upon by abortionists to argue that medical abortions are permissible in Lagos State to “save the life and protect the physical health of the woman” does not by any stretch of imagination prescribe abortion. Section 201 merely states that a person or a medical doctor is not criminally liable for any surgical operation performed in good faith and with due diligence on any person for his benefit, or upon an unborn child for the preservation of the mother’s life. Therefore section 201 is not an exception allowing the procurement of abortion in Lagos State. Equally section 297 of the Criminal Act is worded exactly like section 201 of the Lagos State Criminal law. Again section 297 is not an exception allowing procurement of abortion. The Dublin Declaration on Maternal Health 2012 and other declarations unequivocally state that abortion is not medically necessary even to save the life of a pregnant woman. So why are these abortionists misinforming the Lagos populace? In any case, assuming section 201 of the Criminal law of Lagos State permits medical abortion in Lagos State, it would be inconsistent with the provisions of the Criminal Act and other federal laws, and, to the extent of that inconsistency would be null and void. By virtue of the doctrine of covering the field, the Criminal Act and other federal law have outlawed abortion in Nigeria.

    Therefore Sanwo-Olu’s directives or any Lagos Law “legalizing” abortion in Lagos State, would, to the extent of their express or implied inconsistency with the Criminal Act or other Federal laws, be held null and void and no effect whatsoever. In other words, in the event of any inconsistency between the Lagos law on abortion and the Criminal Act and other federal laws on abortion, the latter will prevail to the extent of the inconsistency. Those who pretend or feign ignorance of the right of the unborn child forget that in the U.K, and, I think in other criminal jurisdiction, any person who kills a pregnant woman is charged for double murder, that is, he is first charged for the murder of the pregnant woman, and, then separately charged for killing the unborn child in the woman’s womb. If the fetus in the womb is not a human being, why is the murderer of a pregnant woman charged for double murder or homicide?

    What is most unacceptable about the Governor’s abortion directives is that the critical stakeholders such as the Churches, Mosques, traditional rulers, purveyors of Nigeria’s cultural heritage, security agents, anti-abortion legal practitioners, anti-abortion medical practitioners were not consulted or invited in the fashioning out of the 40-page abortion directives. The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins has just issued a press statement condemning the legalization of abortion in Lagos State and stating that the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos was never invited or consulted in the making of the abortion directives. Neither were Muslims in Lagos invited or consulted. The Pentecostals were not consulted either. Only abortionists, pro-choicers and pro-abortion institutions, namely, Marie Stopes abortion clinics, the Federal Ministry of Health, Society for Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Nigeria (SOGON), Population Reference Bureau (PRB), Ministry of Health, Lagos, Prof. Innocent Ujah, Prof. Ayodele Atsenuwa were consulted in the making of the abortion directives. I have crossed paths with SOGON, Prof. Ujah and Prof. Atsenuwa at Conferences, and, I would tell you that they were vehemently campaigning for the legalization of abortion in those Conferences. SOGON is a notorious abortion NGO. The Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja is another dangerous abortion organization. Last week the Health Minister Dr. Osagie Ehanire said that last 1% of the Nation’s health budget is allocated for abortificients and contraceptives to facilitate abortion. You can now see what I am talking about. A country in which her citizens have no access to basic primary health care is budgeting huge amount of money for abortion. The PRB is an international abortion agency that has been promoting population control in Africa through abortion. Marie Stopes is a notorious U.K abortion clinic with abortion clinics in Nigeria.

    Acting on a petition written by a concerned body about the illegal abortion activities of Marie Stopes in Lagos State two years ago, the Police raided the Marie Stopes abortion clinic in Surulere, Lagos. During the raid, the Police confiscated the abortion files and abortion instruments such as Manual Vacuum Aspirators found in the clinic. On opening the abortion files the Police discovered to its chagrin that the clinic had aborted under-aged girls below the age of 17 without the consent of their parents. The Police handcuffed Dr. Bernard, one of the abortion doctors found on duty in the clinic on that day. The police later took him and the abortion files and Manual Vacuum Aspirators to their station. The funny aspect was that as the Police tried to arrest the clinic’s security guard who was manning the clinic’s gate at the material time, the poor man knelt down and swore to high heavens that he did not know that Marie Stopes performs abortion at the clinic. He was obviously lying to avert police arrest and detention. It is scandalous that the Lagos State government is consulting Marie Stopes, the largest global abortion provider in the English-speaking world. According to the Marie Stopes website, Marie Stopes aborted over 700,000 women in 2018, meaning that it killed 700,000 Nigerian babies in 2018. Marie Stopes abortion clinics had been shut down in Niger Republic, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Togo, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso. To fully understand what I am saying, just google “Marie Stopes abortion clinic”.

    Now let’s examine the content of Sanwo-Olu’s abortion directives. The content of the directives is the singsong of the abortionists and pro-choicers in Nigeria over the years. They argue that legalizing abortion makes it “safe” because when abortions are legal, it become “safe” because women can seek out competent medical doctors to perform them unlike when abortions are illegal the abortions will be performed by quack medical doctors and medical personnel in “unsafe’ conditions and by doing make abortions “unsafe” for women. Therefore they argue further that abortion or termination of pregnancy should be made “safe” and “lawful” for those women. In summary, the Sanwo-Olu directives are aimed at making abortion and termination of pregnancy in Lagos State “safe” and “lawful” because according to abortionists “unsafe” abortion leads to the death of women. This is false. All abortions have serious negative impacts on women. 17% of women undergoing the so-called “safe-abortion” or legal abortion procedure experience physical complications (such as abdominal bleedings or pelvic infections) after the abortion. The percentage is likely higher with long-term physical and psychological effects of abortion such as heavy bleeding (requiring blood transfusion), nausea, abdominal cramping, heart attack, perforation of the uterus, miscarriage of future pregnancies, death (it is estimated that 20% of maternal deaths result from abortion), guilt, anger, depression, suicidal thoughts, memory repression, eating disorders and sleep disorders are considered.

    The truth of the matter is that abortion is a medical procedure, and, as with any medical procedure, abortion is fraught with health risks, even if it carried out by the most competent medical practitioner and under the best medical conditions especially in Nigeria and other developing countries. Therefore prefixing or modifying abortion with “safe” is not only misleading but medically inaccurate. “Safe-abortion” is not only an oxymoron: it is a medical impossibility since every abortion is always unsafe for the unborn baby because it kills the unborn baby. The notion “unsafe-abortion” is also misleading because it implies that some abortions done by competent medical doctors are “safe” or without risks. This is a big lie. All abortions carry serious risks for the aborted woman regardless of the quality of medical care employed. The abortion kills the child. How can you say that abortion is “safe” when it claims the life of an unborn child? More importantly, abortion is a crime in Nigeria. Therefore you cannot modify abortion with the prefix “safe” in the same way you cannot modify stealing with the prefix “safe”. You cannot say “safe-stealing”

    Consequently, the Lagos State Governor is humbly advised to rescind the abortion directives. The directives are coming on the heels of the recent upturning of ROE V WADE by the American Supreme Court. ROE is the famous abortion case law that hitherto had legalized abortion in America. If the U.S is rethinking and outlawing abortion, why should Lagos State be setting pace in legalizing abortion through the back door? I like this quotation recently sent to me. “Man’s laws cannot make moral what God has declared immoral. Even if a sin is legalized, it’s still a sin in the eyes of God” (Dallin H. Oaks). The killing of an unborn baby, whether euphemistically self-styled “safe-abortion” or “post-abortion care” or “termination of pregnancy” or “interruption of pregnancy” or “women’s reproductive right” or “women’s health” is a crime punishable under our laws. We must stick to our own cultural and religious values in Nigeria. It is suicidal to import foreign practices and lifestyles which are alien to Nigeria and seek to impose them as directives simply because money has exchanged hands. The consensus reached at the various United Nations Conferences, is that the law passed in every developing county including Nigeria must reflect the diverse social, economic and environmental conditions of that country, with full respect for their religious, cultural backgrounds and philosophical convictions.

    Abortion is anthitectical to the religious, cultural and philosophical convictions of the Nigerian people and therefore cannot be imported into Nigeria. There is no Nigerian culture that endorses the killing of an unborn baby. Termination of pregnancy is murder simpliciter. The Bible condemns abortion or termination of pregnancy. In Islam, Quran 17: 31 stipulates: “slay not your children fearing a fall of poverty; we shall provide for them and for you, lo the slaying of them is greater sin”. Every country is interested in protecting what it holds dear or its cherished values. The West can continue killing their children. But we love children in Nigeria. Abortion is a complete break with the Nigerian cultural heritage.

  • BREAKING: Lagos State announces increase in BRT fare

    Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has approved a flat rate increase by N100 in bus fares for all Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Standard Routes with effect from July 13.

    The Assistant Director, Corporate Communication, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Mr Kolawole Ojelabi confirmed this in a statement in Lagos on Thursday.

    Sanwo-Olu said  the increase was to sustain the operations of regulated bus services in Lagos state.

    “The increase, which will come into effect on July 13, is aimed at ensuring sustainability of the BRT and standard route schemes.

    “These measures are indispensable in the current global economic and environmental reality to ensure the sustainability of the BRI operation.

    “With the increase, a bus ride from Ikorodu – TBS will now cost N600 from N500 while Berger to Ajah is now N700, up from N600.

    “Oshodi to Abule Egba will cost N450 from N350 and Abule-Egba-CMS-Obalende will attract a fare of N600.”

    Ojelabi said the operations of the transport scheme, of late, had been hampered due to rising cost of inputs required for sustainable service delivery.

    He noted that this was also due to the attendant high number of buses out of operation as a result of lack of spare parts.

    The BRT official offered an explanation that for instance, the exponential increase in the pump price of diesel from N187 to N830/litre between August 2020 and June 2022.

    According to him, this  has greatly affected optimal performance of the bus operating companies leading to the withdrawal of buses from operation and longer waiting time at bus stations.

    Ojelabi noted that the governor in consenting to the fare increase,  also approved a proposal for a bail out for the bus operating companies.

    He added that this was to cushion the effects of the harsh operating environment and safeguard private partnership investment and forestall the demise of formalised bus operations in the state.

    The BRT official said: “In view of the economic situation, the government is also providing support for the Bus Operating Companies in view of the continuous increase in fuel price.

    “This is to ensure that the increase to the passenger is kept to a minimum. The fare increase notwithstanding.

    “Government noted that whatever support this will  provide to the operators, it will  still not cover the cost of fueling, thus likely to put the continued survival of the bus operations on a tight rein.”

    Ojelabi said the governor also approved the appeal by LAMATA for the conversion of the current diesel buses in operation to the use of compressed natural gas (CNG).

    He added that this was a shift to different economically viable and environmentally friendly mobility energy solution, adding that they were cost efficient.